http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27/section/11AFirearms Act 1968An Act to consolidate the Firearms Acts 1937 and 1965, the Air Guns and Shot Guns, etc. , Act 1962, Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 and certain enactments amending the Firearms Act 1937.1978-08-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-03-25Expert Participation2026-03-22 Part I Provisions as to Possession, Handling and Distribution of Weapons and Ammunition; Prevention of Crime and Measures to Protect Public Safety Special exemptions from sections 1 to 5<Addition ChangeId="key-e580bafcf9712ccf38e7c6916ff7aae3-1508372561349" CommentaryRef="key-e580bafcf9712ccf38e7c6916ff7aae3">Authorised lending and possession of firearms for hunting </Addition><Abbreviation Expansion="Et cetera" xml:lang="la"><Addition ChangeId="key-e580bafcf9712ccf38e7c6916ff7aae3-1508372561349" CommentaryRef="key-e580bafcf9712ccf38e7c6916ff7aae3">etc</Addition></Abbreviation>11A1A person (“the borrower”) may, without holding a certificate under this Act, borrow a rifle or shot gun from another person on private premises (“the lender”) and have the rifle or shot gun in his or her possession on those premises if—athe four conditions set out in subsections (2) to (5) are met, andbin the case of a rifle, the borrower is aged 17 or over.2The first condition is that the borrowing and possession of the rifle or shot gun are for either or both of the following purposes—ahunting animals or shooting game or vermin;bshooting at artificial targets.3The second condition is that the lender—ais aged 18 or over,bholds a certificate under this Act in respect of the rifle or shot gun, andcis either—ia person who has a right to allow others to enter the premises for the purposes of hunting animals or shooting game or vermin, oriia person who is authorised in writing by a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) to lend the rifle or shot gun on the premises (whether generally or to persons specified in the authorisation who include the borrower).4The third condition is that the borrower's possession and use of the rifle or shot gun complies with any conditions as to those matters specified in the lender's certificate under this Act.5The fourth condition is that, during the period for which the rifle or shot gun is borrowed, the borrower is in the presence of the lender or—awhere a rifle is borrowed, a person who, although not the lender, is aged 18 or over, holds a certificate under this Act in respect of that rifle and is a person described in subsection (3)(c)(i) or (ii);bwhere a shot gun is borrowed, a person who, although not the lender, is aged 18 or over, holds a certificate under this Act in respect of that shot gun or another shot gun and is a person described in subsection (3)(c)(i) or (ii).6Where a rifle is borrowed on any premises in reliance on subsection (1), the borrower may, without holding a firearm certificate, purchase or acquire ammunition on the premises, and have the ammunition in his or her possession on those premises for the period for which the firearm is borrowed, if—athe ammunition is for use with the firearm,bthe lender's firearm certificate authorises the lender to have in his or her possession during that period ammunition of a quantity not less than that purchased or acquired by, and in the possession of, the borrower, andcthe borrower's possession and use of the ammunition complies with any conditions as to those matters specified in the certificate.S. 11A inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 130(1), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(f)