After much thought, I've settled on the following guns + equipment for my $2000 (Aus dollar) budget:
- 1 x Browning BL-22 .22 lever action rimfire
- 1 x CZ 452 American .22 bolt action rimfire
- 1 x Leupold VX-I 2-7x33 scope
- 2 x soft gun bags
- 1 x boatload of ammo
For those wondering I've chosen the BL-22 for 2 main reasons:
1) There is a minimum 9 month - 1 year wait for a Marlin 39
2) I want something small and light to use for spotlighting vermin at reasonably close ranges with open sights
Just thought I'd share all this info as I have been waiting since the beggining of October last year to get my licence and I'm excited that in another 2 months or so the wait will finally be over, so I've had plenty of time to think about this. I'm a farmer and need these guns but the wait has been frustrating to say the least. Here is a breakdown of the process just to get a firearm, with times where applicable:
1) Apply for licence (5 page form). Must have a valid reason and can usually only get access to bolt or lever, no pump, auto and definitely no auto weapons.
2) Pay $100 or so and provide 100 points of ID
3) Wait 2 weeks
4) Recieve licence application grant in mail
5) Apply to enrol in Firearms Safety Course, pay $150
6) Wait 3 MONTHS to enter the 1-day course
7) Take firearms course, sit 2 theory exams, do 1 practical exam on the range - if exams failed, wait 3 months and pay $150 again. Exams were not particularly difficult, but having said that there were 8 people out of 35 in the class that were repeating for their second time. Also, you will be deemed to fail if you don't achieve a decent score on the range, which is ridiculous considering the people there are trying to buy their first gun, and theoretically it must be considered that many haven't shot a gun in their life.
8) Receive confirmation of results from educational institution (3 weeks)
9) Receive licence confirmation form from police comissioner (3 weeks)
10) Take form into firearms centre, provide 100 points ID, have photo taken
11) Wait for licence to arrive after being processed interstate (2-4 weeks)
12) MILESTONE - NOW HAVE FIREARMS LICENCE - Now to buy a firearm
13) Apply for permit to acquire, buy a gun safe
14) Wait 4 weeks, during which time the Police will come and search the
premises to determine whether the firearms will be stored appropriately. That is, in a gunsafe which is securely fixed to a wall, lockable, with separate lockable ammunition compartment. If not, LICENCE MAY BE RETRACTED (the whole 6 months worth of work) and permit will not be granted!
15) Must purchase firearm WITHIN 2 weeks of granting of permit
16) Register firearm and pay registration fee of $10 per gun
17) MILESTONE - RECEIVE FIREARM. AFTER MOST LIKELY MORE THAN HALF A YEAR SINCE YOU WANTED A RIFLE, AND APPROX AU$550 (or ~US$480) EXPENSES - NOT INCLUDING THE PRICE OF THE RIFLE OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN THE PERMIT AND LICENCE TO OBTAIN THE GUN. :banghead:
- 1 x Browning BL-22 .22 lever action rimfire
- 1 x CZ 452 American .22 bolt action rimfire
- 1 x Leupold VX-I 2-7x33 scope
- 2 x soft gun bags
- 1 x boatload of ammo
For those wondering I've chosen the BL-22 for 2 main reasons:
1) There is a minimum 9 month - 1 year wait for a Marlin 39
2) I want something small and light to use for spotlighting vermin at reasonably close ranges with open sights
Just thought I'd share all this info as I have been waiting since the beggining of October last year to get my licence and I'm excited that in another 2 months or so the wait will finally be over, so I've had plenty of time to think about this. I'm a farmer and need these guns but the wait has been frustrating to say the least. Here is a breakdown of the process just to get a firearm, with times where applicable:
1) Apply for licence (5 page form). Must have a valid reason and can usually only get access to bolt or lever, no pump, auto and definitely no auto weapons.
2) Pay $100 or so and provide 100 points of ID
3) Wait 2 weeks
4) Recieve licence application grant in mail
5) Apply to enrol in Firearms Safety Course, pay $150
6) Wait 3 MONTHS to enter the 1-day course
7) Take firearms course, sit 2 theory exams, do 1 practical exam on the range - if exams failed, wait 3 months and pay $150 again. Exams were not particularly difficult, but having said that there were 8 people out of 35 in the class that were repeating for their second time. Also, you will be deemed to fail if you don't achieve a decent score on the range, which is ridiculous considering the people there are trying to buy their first gun, and theoretically it must be considered that many haven't shot a gun in their life.
8) Receive confirmation of results from educational institution (3 weeks)
9) Receive licence confirmation form from police comissioner (3 weeks)
10) Take form into firearms centre, provide 100 points ID, have photo taken
11) Wait for licence to arrive after being processed interstate (2-4 weeks)
12) MILESTONE - NOW HAVE FIREARMS LICENCE - Now to buy a firearm
13) Apply for permit to acquire, buy a gun safe
14) Wait 4 weeks, during which time the Police will come and search the
premises to determine whether the firearms will be stored appropriately. That is, in a gunsafe which is securely fixed to a wall, lockable, with separate lockable ammunition compartment. If not, LICENCE MAY BE RETRACTED (the whole 6 months worth of work) and permit will not be granted!
15) Must purchase firearm WITHIN 2 weeks of granting of permit
16) Register firearm and pay registration fee of $10 per gun
17) MILESTONE - RECEIVE FIREARM. AFTER MOST LIKELY MORE THAN HALF A YEAR SINCE YOU WANTED A RIFLE, AND APPROX AU$550 (or ~US$480) EXPENSES - NOT INCLUDING THE PRICE OF THE RIFLE OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN THE PERMIT AND LICENCE TO OBTAIN THE GUN. :banghead:
