Question for lever gunners from Oz

[olyinaz]

To our lever gunners from Down Under: How many hoops do you guys have to jump through to own one of these things nowadays in Oz? Does their "repeater" status change anything? Magazine capacity?

I know that the Cowboy Action scene is on the rise down there and it's a pain in the keester regarding pistols but I'm curious about long arms.

Thanks!

Cheers,
Oly

[Bruce Scott]

While we have National firearms legislation its application differs somewhat from state to state. In Western Australia applications are now processed through the post office (effective Nov 2009) which acts essentially as just that - a post office. The paperwork is obtained online and when completed is submitted to the post office, with a fee, and they send it to the central police firearms branch. This takes local cops out of the loop and is supposed to free up resources for crime fighting rather than clerical work, blah-blah-political blah.

Applications must demonstrate a need for the firearm. If I belong to a cowboy action club, the need is easily demonstrated. However, it would be unlikely that I could have two .44-40 lever guns approved for club activities. The need also requires the provision of a support document from the club (signed by the secretary or president) and its governing body, usually the SSAA (Sporting Shooters Association of Australia). Firearms obtained specifically for club purposes cannot be used for any other purpose - hunting, plinking, etc.

If I want a firearm for hunting and I am not a property owner (read farmer) I must provide a letter from at least one property owner indicating approval to shoot on his property for the purpose of destruction of specific vermin. The letter also shows the property size which can impinge on the chosen calibre. Applications must also include a certificate of serviceabilty for the firearm - provided by the dealer in most cases. First time applications involve a written test to demostrate an awareness of safe firearm handling practices and a 28 day cooling off period, after police approval, before the firearm can be obtained. Every application also requires a declaration that the applicant has an appropriate lockable storage cabinet, and these are subject to inspection as part of the process for first timers.

[waz]

In Queensland it's the same as what Bruce said.

We also have defined categories of weapons. For all intents and purposes average people can only obtain permits for Cat. A and B weapons.

Category A - blank firing rifles, rimfire rifles (NOT SELF LOADING), single/double barrel shotguns, and powerheads.
Category B - muzzle loaders, centrefire rifles (NOT SELF LOADING), break action rifle/shot combination guns

Things get VERY difficult with -
Almost impossible - Category C - semiauto shotguns(<5 rounds), pump action shotguns(<5 rounds), semiauto rimfires(<10 rounds)
Almost impossible - Category D - semiauto/pump shotguns(>5 rounds), semiauto centrefire rifles, semiauto rimfire rifles(>10 rounds)
Difficult - Category H - pistols/revolvers

All other categories get very complicated.

Waz

[gundownunder]

Bruce and Waz have pretty much nailed it, although I think Bruce may be slightly off on the two gun thing. I've been told that if you shoot competition with one specific gun you can get your main gun plus a spare.
In the Lever action club we could get a few more guns because we shoot several different competitions. We shoot classic caliber, which is any factory center fire caliber pre 1936 with factory open sights, tube mag, exposed hammer and two piece wooden stock. we also shoot open which allows any metallic sights so receiver mounted peeps and Lyman Globes are popular, and rifles can be pretty much any lever gun that's safe, BLRs and .22s are popular here. We also shoot traditional which is essentially the same as classic but its not caliber restricted, so .22s and 44mag can be used too.
So in theory this allows you to get up to four 44-40 rifles, one set up for classic, plus a spare, and one set up for open, plus a spare, six would be a problem because classic and traditional would be identical setups.
You can increase the contents of your gun safe by being more specific in your legitimate reasons, like applying for a 218B "for calm days" and a 45-70 "for windy days".

[Aussie Chris]

Here in Victoria it is pretty much the same as Waz said up ther in Queensland.

It is a pain to have more than 3 longarms of the same caliber though. I had this problem collecting my commemeoratives because as you guys know there are alot of chambered in 30-30. After my third one I had to give a genuine reason for owning more in 30-30 Winchester, such as with my Legendary Lawman 16'' shorter barrel easier to carry on a horse, my RCMP- has a target type long range sight and my antlered game for spare parts ect. I had to basically have an excuse for each different rifle, such a pain in the ***.

Olyinaz, the longarms licence here in Vic is about $300 for 5 years I think and every firearm you buy, you have to get a permit to purchase ($9) form, needing a genuine reason for the new rifle too. It is a pain but it works so far.

Chris

[the telegraphist]

Pretty much what the others have said. As to magazine capacity, as far as I am aware in Queensland the restriction is 10 for handguns, I dont own any semi-autos at this time, prefer the wheelguns. Have not seen anything in writing restricting lever-gun capacity my Marlin 44mag will take 12, no blind in the mag tube. The Marlin 22RF lever takes a few more than 10 also. I dont own one so cannot say for sure. The laws are a bit of a pain, but demonstrate a genuine reason to own and there is no problems.

[olyinaz]

Thanks Fellas. It boggles my mind but I'm sure there's things about The States that boggle yours as well so I point to no motes in anyone's eye. Just curious is all!

Thanks again,
Oly

[Jacko]

Membership of the SSAA [Sporting Shooters association of Australia] and other accredited hunting organisations may also be used as a lawfull reason to own a firearm but if you hunt with your rifle its a good idea to state shooting on SSAA ranges and hunting on outback properties on your application. The landowners where I hunt are unwilling to add there name to a letter stating hunting on there land as a reason for me owning a firearm. They see it as accepting responsibility for my actions, can't blame em.

I have 2 lever rifles with 15 round magazine capacity, in Queensland there are no problems.

regards Jacko