The law states that you can do if it is on private land, but there are other laws that infringe this like disturbing the peace and such which you can get ASBO's for.
BUT..... if a neighbour fears that some one is firing a fire arm they can call the police, and the police will only send 1 thing and that is their armed officers.... bear in mind these people are trained to kill and never get the chance they are always wanting to have a go.... like that tube terrorist incident.... So my advice is to just let the neighbours know... and get their permission first and be as friendly and co-operative about it as you can.
P.s. Always wear a mask... and don't shoot around anyone that isnt.
This is pretty much what I would have written.
Some consider me to be the Authority on such things around here, though there are others, but they just don't talk about it as much as me
The reason it is a good idea to inform your neighbours first, is because it's polite. They are the ones who are likely to be frightened, shocked, bothered etc and will be the ones who call the old bill.
Offer them a go if you like, that can help too.
It's the same as having a party, you tell your neighbours first as it's polite and this can go a long way. It's the principle of it.
A point worth noting, is that Markers are "not to be considered Firearms", in the home Office Guidelines to Police, that is used when interpreting the Amended Firearms Act.
Air Rifles/Pistols, are considered Firearms, but naturally have different rules regarding their legal use, than a Shotgun or Rifle etc.
Real guns are not illegal! I should know, I have quite a few. However, the rules regarding their legal use are more stringent. You can't just get a Firearm certificate, buy a Barrett .50 BMG, then go plinking in your back garden.
With Rifles, you have to demonstrate a reason to have each rifle and each calibre, you have to have somewhere that THEY deem safe to use it, unless you have an Open Certificate, which you can't get for at least 5 years in usual circumstances.
You can use a Shotgun anywhere really, though if you were breaking clays in your back garden, in your little street, you would likely be in the sh!t!
Meaning, you don't have to specify where you intend to use them and you can buy what you like, so long as you have the means to store them safely.
So yeah, inform your neighbours. Try and shoot from cover, so as to reduce noise of firing. Try and shoot into something soft (I use a dustbin on its side, with cardboard in the bottom, loosly) which will reduce impact noise.
Demonstrate a responsible attitude, because even if nobody says anything to you, they may well be watching and if you are overlooked and they see you being a a tw@t, they are likely to call the Police for their safety, yours and anyone nearby.
If you do get confronted by a neighbour, remain calm. It is very tempting to get on your high horse, but remember, you are the minority and are also likely to be considered "a young kid". Advise them politley of the law, stop it if they really want you to or as soon as possible and inform them that you will knock and inform them, next time.
Of course, if you had done that in the first place, they likely wouldn't have knocked
Finally, do not rely on a Police Officer knowing the law. They do not know everything. My father in law, who can be an argumentative Ba$tard at times, has recently retired as a Detective Sergeant in CID.
He spotted a box of Shotgun cartridges in the back of my car one day and told me that he could have arrested me for it. I told him to go for it.
Firstly, the box was closed and in fact was empty!
Secondly, while you require a Shotgun Certificate to purchase them, you do not require one to be in possession of them, therefore they are not required to be stored in the same manner as Rifle or Pistol Ammunition.
Which means, if I accidently left a couple rolling around in the back and my wife was driving, she would be fine.
He then stated that he could arrest me under the "intended" section of the law. Meaning "made, adapted or intended". I suggested that, they had not been "made", in the manner of a Gheto weapon, had not been adapted and seeing as there was no means to actually fire them, was not intended either.
He shut up after that.