In the second part of exclusive interview with zbrojnice.com, Callum talks more about his personal relationship to firearms.
Rozhovor v češtině si můžete přečíst zde:
Zbraně & Callum Long-Collins, anglický zbraňový aktivista
Zbrojnice.com is a Czech language website that deals with practical, legal, cultural and social issues of civilian firearms ownership. This interview was conducted in English and thus you can read it also in original language version below.
First part: Callum Long-Collins: A man whose guns were confiscated for committing a thought-crime
Callum, when was your first experience with firearms? What was your relationship to firearms before you became a gun owner?
The first firearms I shot were with the Imperial College Rifle and Pistol Club. To be honest I was a little nervous at first, all my life guns had been presented as dangerous. With the excellent instruction and friendly environment at the club it was not long until I had shot everything in the armoury and was applying for my own licenses.
I suppose you must have had quite a few firearms before they were confiscated. Are there any guns you were particularly fond of?
I owned 8 guns before they were confiscated. The ones I was fond of are being stored for me, until I have my licenses back. First and foremost is an unknown branded single barred 12g shotgun, which I’ve never shot. It was my grandads who passed away last year.
There is then a Beretta Silver Pigeon, the first firearm I ever owned. Out of the guns that were sold off, the one I miss the most is a Mosin Nagant, it was incredible to shoot and always got attention at the range with the fireballs it would produce.
How often do you shoot? What type of shooting do you practice?
Very often! Funny enough more than I ever did while having licenses. Working in the gun industry full time now I’m on the range most days.
Training is focused on IPCS practical shooting and 3 Gun, handgun, shotgun and rifle. I try to visit countries that handguns are legal to train as much as possible, I’m due to visit Northern Ireland shortly for that which I’m very much looking forward to.
The idea of three-guns competition is interesting given the range of firearm-prohibitions in the UK. Could you explain what firearms are typically used? How do they differ from “normal” guns, what are the difference from “normal” three gun competition rules?
Before losing my licenses I used a Beretta 1301, GSG 1911 (Long Barrelled Pistol, and S&W 15-22 for 3 Gun competitions here. The way in which they differ are the handguns and rifles. Handguns are banned, which lead to long barrelled firearms. Modified handguns that have 12” barrels and an extension rod making
the overall length 24”, these are then legally rifles and can be owned on an FAC.
Our semi-auto rifles, type typically used for 3-Gun are also limited. Restricted to .22 rimfire since full-bore semi-auto rifles are banned also.
Are there any particular drills that you train?
Anything that has cost me in a match previously! Usually I will drill reloads, dual and quad loading for shotguns and mag changes in the rifle and pistol. Long range is a weakness of mine so I try to give as much time to that as well.
Otherwise it’s just creating stages on the range and running them through with friends, trying to prepare for any scenario I might come up against in competition.
Could you please describe your favorite firearm? How did you choose it, what are its main advantages and drawbacks?
Favourite would be the S&W 15-22, a .22lr AR-15. I’ve shot it more than any other gun and it’s certainly given me the most smiles, either through competition wins or fun with friends. I chose it mainly because it’s cheap, but had a reputation for being incredibly reliable and being almost fully mil spec allows you to upgrade and customise it.
Advantages for competition is that it’s very light, making it fast on target acquisition and I never feel tired or fatigued holding it. It’s only drawback for me is the aesthetic, it’s a polymer gun and feels like a toy. Closer to an airsoft gun than a .223 AR15.
Thank you very much for the interview. Any final words towards Czech gun owners’ community?
Thank you for your interest in my shooting and British shooting sports. Whilst I avoid politics and the 2nd amendment debate where possible now, I would say to anyone within a country that affords you the right to own firearms for self defence to never take it for granted. You are very lucky to have a government that trusts you in such a way, and equally your government is lucky to have you, don’t let them forget that and certainly don’t let them take it away.
Firearms & …
- Jim Smith, Delta Force operator from the first „Black Hawk Down“
- Vítor Teixeira, Portuguese sport-shooter, police instructor and a court expert on firearms
- Firearms & Mike Lindsay, expert on British firearms legislation
- Pia Clerté, four-time Swedish national IPSC champion
- Hans Deutsch, bavarian reservist, self-defense instructor and sportshooter
- Tomasz W. Stępień, president of Firearms United Network
