Recreational Shooting in Australia

[TM262]

Two weeks ago a fellow co-worker arrived at the office from Australia. During the week, he inquired about guns and shooting. So the first weekend of his visit we (Team Swiss and fellow shooters – thanks Mike and Marty) introduced him to a little Southern hospitality and his first IPSC match. He did not shoot the match, but at its conclusion he was given an open pistol, shotgun and ammo to shoot.

He was grinning from ear to ear after knocking down his first piece of steel. He can been seen here starting at 4:30.

I have been looking around on the Internet and it appears that in 1996 gun laws in Australia became extremely strict. My new ‘redneck’ friend lives in Brisbane, AUS.

As best I can tell, you can purchase a gun in Australia after completing the following abbreviated steps at a cost of about $600.00 US:

1. Contact the Firearms Registry customer service department to begin the application process for License.

2. Advise the customer service operator your "Genuine Reason" for why you want to own a firearm.

3. Let the operator know what types of guns you'll be using to determine the category of license.

4. Continue giving all information required by the operator.

5. Fill out and submit all of your forms.

Is this information correct?

How difficult is the process?

What are the most popular pistols?

How difficult is it to get a semi-auto pistol?

Are there any public or private ranges in Brisbane?

Do public ranges offer rental guns? Can anyone rent them?

What shooting activity can he do without a permit?

What can he do while he is waiting on a permit?

What ammunition is available? Caliber?

Roughly, what can a person expect to pay for 100 rounds of ammo?

In general, what does he need to do to enjoy an afternoon of shooting?

Many thanks

[Mumbles]

G'day TM262,

Good to see you are taking an Aussie out for a shoot. From the looks of it he was a fairly quick learner after a couple of muzzle and finger warnings.

The issue of Australian "national" gun laws is complicated, each of the states and territories have their own take of supposely national gun laws, but I will try to give you the guts of it. From this point on abandon all sense of common sense because you will not need it to understand some of the restrictions.

First of you can tell Brad to enjoy the semi-auto shottie while he can because back in Australia he will probably not get to use one again. Also add pump action shotguns to that as well. Only exceptions are for security guards, primary producers and some special conditions in the state of West Australia and the Northern Territory.

For any firearms license he will need a "genuine reason" to own. This can be (again depending on the state) membership of a club, a letter from a landowner of sufficient size to hunt or a hunting permit for hunting reserves, waterfowl permit etc. This is for long arms ie rifles and shotguns.

The best idea is to go to the local cop shop and fill in the forms. He will have to pass a firearms safety test but it is just common sense questions. There will be a fee, usually around $30/year but like everything else this varies between the states.

He could then apply for a permit to purchase. Waiting period/cooling off period/whatever of 30 days but processing of the paperwork may take longer. Remember no semi auto or pump action shotgun, no semi auto rifles but you can have a pump action rifle, bolt action, lever, double, single etc.

Now to handguns. Thanks for getting him hooked on IPSC. For handguns it does get a bit more involved. To obtain a handgun licence he MUST be a member of a club that holds regular scheduled shoots in the disciple that he holds the handgun for and there are minimum attendance requirements to retain the licence.

In Queensland there is some special form that he can "have a go" without first joining a club but generally that will be the process. There is a 3 month training/probation period before appling for a full licence. After holding a full license for 6 months he could then apply for a permit to purchase a handgun. During this time he would be able to use the club guns, or other members guns generally.

His best bet would be to go to the IPSC Australia website and go to the contacts page. He will find the phone number/email for the Queensland Section Coordinator (Graeme Clark)and go from there. Graeme (I have probably spelt it wrong but that will be good for a stir) will be able to get him in contact with one of the Brisbane clubs (City of Brisbane, Metro Pistol Club, Gold Coast Pistol Club etc)and also give him the specifics of QLD gun laws.

I have probably missed some important info but feel free to ask if there is anything. Again this is general info as laws/procudures vary from state to state but that is the general gist of it.

Note that I will be away for a couple of weeks starting in a couple of days but I will try to answer any questions until then.

Going to Malaysia for the Level IV Australasian, only the second international shoot I have been to. The first was the last World Shoot in Bali. The next is the New Zealand 3 Gun Championships.....two weeks after I get back from Malaysia

Regards,

Darryl Tinning

Section Coordinator

IPSC Northern Territory

[Mumbles]

Me again,

Just re-reading my post and I find that I did not answer half of your questions

Is this information correct?

Sort of, see above. Though US$600 I think is a bit steep. Club membership (handgun) varies but somewhere between $200/300 per year, licence about $30/year and permit to purchase about the same.

How difficult is the process?

See above

What are the most popular pistols?

Open pistols- STI/SVI, some Para's, a few single stacks

Standard pistols - as above. Note there are calibre restrictions, nothing over 38 approved for IPSC thus to shoot major in STD it needs to be 357Sig as changed 2 world assemblies ago.

Production- CZ, Glock, M+P is getting a following and a smattering of odd ball berrettas, H + K etc.

How difficult is it to get a semi-auto pistol?

See above

Are there any public or private ranges in Brisbane?

For club ranges see above. Public ranges there are a couple I think, not sure.

Do public ranges offer rental guns? Can anyone rent them?

There is one on the Gold Coast I believe, set up for tourists ie something like $100 for 7 rounds 45, 6 rounds 357 and 10 rounds 22!!!

What shooting activity can he do without a permit?

For handgun...S.F.A.

What can he do while he is waiting on a permit?

Be doing the theory part of the club training as well as attend matches, pick brass, ask questions

What ammunition is available? Caliber?

Most anything is available but as note earlier, anything over 38 in handgun is not approved for IPSC. Also (jsut in case he gets a liking for recoil, 50BMG is effectly banned and there is rumblings of the same for 338 Lapua etc due to lack of fall out.

Roughly, what can a person expect to pay for 100 rounds of ammo?

The international barometer, 9mm factory, sells for around $22-26/box of 50. Reloading depending on components etc about $15-20/hundred. NOte that all prices are in Aus dollars but at the moment the difference to US is only cents.

In general, what does he need to do to enjoy an afternoon of shooting?

Once he has gone though all the licencing....stuff.....turn up and shoot. As with anywhere, offering to help set up etc also goes a long way.

One other thing I should mention though I am sure that he knows. Handguns licences are strictly range only, no hunting, no carry, nothing but range use only.

I am travelling to Malaysia with the QLD deputy section coordinator, I will tell him to expect a call from Brad. :)

Regards,

Darryl

Edited October 12, 2010 by Mumbles

[TM262]

Darryl,

Thanks a million! This is great information and I will send the link to him.

Many Thanks,

Tony

[Mumbles]

No worries, Tony.

Hope to see him on the range sometime.

Regards,

Darryl