It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that overall the average age of people in the Australian shooting community (clubs, recreation etc) is quite high.

It is pretty much impossible for a junior to get involved in shooting without a parent who is already involved. They can't just go down the local park and throw a footy around or shoot hoops at the local basketball court.

The barriers to entry just keep growing with club membership costs, application costs, firearms and ammo costs, etc etc

Painful licensing processes and public perception of firearms owners doesn't help.

Many clubs have 'elder' members in senior positions who definitely take their gatekeeping seriously, even though you will find a lot of amazing people in clubs.

The phrase i hear a lot if you want to get into shooting is "you gotta really want it" because it isn't an easy journey.

With all of the changes in licensing by governments, honestly if they just give it 20-30 years, there will be hardly anyone left anyway. So many of the current shooting community got started decades ago when things were much easier.

It's a real shame because there have been virtually no deaths in shooting sports and very few in recreational shooting, yet many deaths in motor sports and even more deaths from regular driving but no one targets fast cars or motor sports to be banned.

More people die playing footy than participating in shooting sports.

Good Evening All,

I paid a deposit for my first centrefire on Thursday, opting for a Tikka T3 lite in .308.

I've heard a lot about finding out what your gun likes as far as ammo goes, but given the volume of Tikka 308s, could anyone recommend some starting points for me? Brands you like or what to stay away from?

When they say to try them out, do you typically go for a range of projectile weights, or do you try to for example, find the 150gr that shoots the best, and then look for a 165gr, 130gr etc?

Thanks for your advice.

Gday

What would cause the trigger group to not budge even after the retaining pin is removed? Seems bloody tight

https://preview.redd.it/3txm1hu8bszd1.png?width=1055&format=png&auto=webp&s=9123d79a1e5d8a172b8beab24dcdc977f8518ab7

Hey all, I'm looking at picking up a SCSA Taipan X in .300 black out soon and am planning on pairing with a red dot + magnifier. I've seen good reviews for both the holosun and vortex combos, but want to see if anyone here has a recommendation one way or the other.

Does anyone know any VIC Gunshops, Dealers or Armourers that can process ACT PTA's ? Most NSW Dealers can process ACT PTA's but don't know of any VIC ones.

I've bought a rifle from a VIC Auction and would like to get it sent locally for processing.

Or alternatively can I submit a VIC PTA using an interstate gun license?

cheers,

u/Redfrets916

r/AusReloaders , r/AusPistols

A friend of mine put his firearms on his partners license. They broke up.... She isnt giving them back.

How does the law look at this. Can she do what she likes with them as she is seen as the owner from the police perspective?

Vic residents & lisence holders for reference.

Cheers.

So this was in with my dad’s ammo I inherited. I assume it’s cordite, and so corrosive? If not I guess I’ll run it, unless there’s a market for this type of thing?

Hi all, I'm new to the gun world and recently went on a 1.5 week long hunting trip out in West QLD. Lots of fun. I have a shotgun and I am looking to buy a Ruger.

When out West I also shot a lot of 223 (pigs, roos). Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems I can shoot 223 from a 5.56 barrel but not the other way around. So for versaility I am thinking it's a better idea to go the Ruger American Predator in 5.56, (so I can shoot both types of ammunication. However the barrel for 5.56 is 16" vs 22" for the 223.

Are there any issues with this? Will a 16" barrel affect shooting 223?

Ranch 5.56 16" barrel specs
https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanchGenII/models.html

Predator 223 22" barrel specs
https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredatorGenII/models.html

For a General Category Handgun licence, Im looking into what I need gun safe ways once I acquire at home. I have an old 1960s industrial safe (locks with key) weighs 250-300kg++

My question is would this be suitable as a home gun safe storage?
One of my concerns is that it has welded external hinges, would this be a problem?

Reading the Firearms Act it seems this may only be an issue for a FIrearm Collectors Licence

How accurate are the QLD weapons licensing website wait times? And do they include weekends? Or just business days?

Hello everyone,

Hope everyone is having a good week!

I have a question about mental health. In 2017 I was hospitalised involuntarily for attempted self harm. This happened in my final year of high school. I was hospitalised for a few hours before being let go. I voluntarily saw a therapist for the rest of that year and for 2018.

Since then I turned my life around, finished high school with a good ATAR, went to university and found friends that I finally felt a connection with, did internships throughout my degree first at an energy utility and then csiro towards the end of my degree, and I finished my degree. Throughout my degree and now, I’m also very active in my professional aerospace circles (AYAA and SGAC) and more general volunteering such as the St Vincent de Paul society. Now I work in the public service.

Recently one of my friends suggested I should get a category A/B firearms licence and join his club.

I wonder if there is a possibility I will get a firearms licence or if it is impossible for someone like me?

I intend to be completely honest and transparent in any forms or interviews which may happen.

Thank you all for reading

Edit: since there have been a couple of questions, I am from South Australia.

Gday Whats the procedure with selling an A/B magazine in Qld ? Post to the buyers nominated dealer or does it need to be sent by your dealer to theirs ?

Hi all,

I (SE QLD resident) recently received my Cat H licence approval and am now faced with the decision of whether to buy a rimfire or centrefire pistol? I am very eager to get into IPSC shooting however I have heard people say that using a rimfire such as a .22 for a year helps a shooter get the basics right before going up in calibre to 9mm, .38 etc. I have used .22 handguns about 7-8 times now and have used a 9mm twice. I enjoy both and feel confident with both. As I obviously can only buy 1 handgun in the first 12 months of having my licence, should I stick to a .22 or should I go and buy a 9mm for IPSC? Anyone currently doing IPSC, any suggestions would be great! Any recommendations on IPSC guns cheaper than a shadow 2 would be great also...

Cheers

New second hand gun. Have put the brush through half dozen times twisting a lot and then the cotton through on the Jag. Keeps appearing dirty. Do I need to do more of the brush? Never had this issue before. Latest next to finger

Does anyone know a good gunsmith that can CNC cut the Holosun mount on a 1911 slide. I’ve seen some really dodgy “gunsmith” work lately and would like some that people have had experience with.

Looking for some of the cheaper ways to get started! Any help appreciated

Labor reopens gun buyback across State, with up to $1000 compensation per firearm. (Paywalled).

Labor has reopened its gun buyback for dealers and individual owners, despite rejecting previous calls to keep offering payments during the first round.

Under the second program, running until January 17, gun dealers will be able to be compensated by up to $1000 per firearm they hold in stock.

Despite warning gun owners repeatedly during the first buyback there would not be an extension or a second chance, Police Minister Paul Papalia said the program would also be opened to individuals through their dealers.

The first buyback — which saw 3195 handguns, 9908 shotguns, and 25,339 rifles surrendered — ran over six months between February and August, with Mr Papalia adamant during the process it would not be extended.

“The licensed dealer gun buyback provides an opportunity for the industry to hand in their weapons before our tough new firearm laws come into effect,” Mr Papalia said.

“I encourage anyone who didn’t take part in the previous buyback to consider selling their unneeded firearms to a dealer prior to the January deadline.

New photos, to be released on Monday by the State Government, show the massive stockpile of 10,000 firearms set to be destroyed — representing half of the total handed in.

“Almost 40,000 guns were handed back to police as part of our voluntary gun buyback program and we anticipate thousands of additional guns to be offloaded by licensed dealers in the coming months.”

The six-month buyback program was launched ahead of the passage of Labor’s firearm laws, which imposed tough limits on firearm ownership in WA — between five and ten depending on license holders’ purposes.

Owners will also face tougher health and mental health checks, storage requirements, and changes to the property letter system, which allowed licence holders to be endorsed for gun ownership by farm owners for vermin control.

Kimberley gun owners hand in more than 300 firearms in WA buyback scheme

However, the system became the subject of abuse, with letters made available for purchase — just eight properties authorising 15,000 gun licences.

Under the new laws, property owners will still be able to provide letters, but numbers will be capped, from five on properties of less than 1500 acres, through to 15 for properties larger than 15,000 acres.

Mr Papalia said a modernised licencing system would mean savings for licence holders of almost $300 over five years.

Premier Roger Cook, Police Minister Paul Papalia and Assistant Commissioner Peter Healy inspect a pile of more than 10,000 firearms returned as part of the gun buyback.

It comes as the Liberal leader Libby Mettam was forced to defend her party’s position to back in the laws if elected, amid “horsetrading” from the Nationals.

Her comments came after Opposition Leader Shane Love told The Bunbury Herald “redrawing” the firearm laws would be a key part of the Nationals’ conditions on forming a coalition government with the Liberals.

Liberal Party accuses WA Nationals of leaving door open to supporting Labor amid row over gun laws

After being goaded by Premier Roger Cook in Parliament, Ms Mettam called a late afternoon press conference on Wednesday to declare the Liberals would not repeal or redraw the laws.

But shadow police minister Peter Collier, who is retiring, said a future alliance government would send the Firearms Act to a parliamentary committee to consider “unintended consequences”, and would consider any amendments.

Basic question here, qld, at my safety course they said for storage of bolt action you can simply remove the bolt and have it on the floor of the safe in the same compartment as the rifle. Is this legitimate? I had thought the bolts had to be stored separately to the rifle, and not just loose in the same compartment.

Thanks for the help.

My licence was up for renewal and I did the right thing and reported I was seeing a psychologist for 12 months because I lost my father. Just had the police turn up at door with a suspension notice and took my rifles until I complete a medical report. If I was a risk my psychologist would've reported me as I explained to the bloke on my first visit. Contrary to what we were all taught as kids. Honnesty is not always the best policy...

I've got a trip planned to a country where firearm regulations are a lot more laxed.

What would the process of bringing back a firearm part/accessory? I've basically got my eyes on a flash hider as it's a lot cheaper over there.

Thanks and happy shooting :)

Hi all, It’s been about 9 weeks, so I’m anticipating getting my license soon. I’m not sure which rifle to get, though. I have an A/B license and will primarily be hunting pigs out west and a lot of walking with probably 100metres of visibility, but I may also hunt deer occasionally and a bit more distance.

I am thinking something like a weatherby vanguard in .308, is this a solid choice?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Just heard that a gun dealer in Melbourne has lost their licence and has been ordered to push their stock out the door ASAP. Wasn't told which one though and am wondering if anyone else has heard rumours about this?

Edit: I was told this my an employee at a gun store in Melbourne's south east, don't want to out him as he wasn't meant to tell me apparently. I wasn't given anymore than the above.

It says 3 weeks but it’s said the same about applying for my licence which ended up taking 3 months.

Also how long does the pta take for first rifle ?

So yeah, a family friend came to me asking if I could help him value and sell his collectable. This black powder comes with 40 rounds and is in relatively good condition.

Wondering if anyone out there could recommend a valuer and potential buyer.

Cheers 🍻

Hello, I work for a high quality ammunition manufacturer and we are trying to get our product into the Australian market, and I was wondering if you could help me with understanding what the average Australian hunter wants to see in their ammo? A few distributors there have told me that you are all just looking for the cheapest options possible and that isn’t us but I wanted to ask the actual consumer. Do you believe this to be the case or are they just trying to get me to go cheaper?

So I put in an additional a month ago, just went to check the status of the application online but noticed that the application numbers that we used to use have now changed. Is there something I have missed or a trick to using the new numbers on the portal?

Thanks in advance.

Can anyone recommend a good practical deer hunting course for beginners or guided hunts in VIC?

What gun safe do you have and do you recommend it?

I've heard negative things about the Bunnings safes -- anyone had a good experience?