Hi everybody

Im in the process of re applying for a firearm license here in WA as i was knocked back for applying for a high powered rifle (222 or 223) Basically i couldnt satisfy the authorities requirements and am not a property owner for shooting on.

So im going for a 22 hornet license which should not be a problem. We already have a gun cabinet at home for my fathers rimfire so i dont need to purchase one of those if i choose to purchase a rifle.

My main dilemma is that i have to have a 22 hornet licensed to use. ie an acutal rifle, serial number etc. My uncle who is my main shooting partner wants to get all his rifles up to his 22 hornet under my license as i have used them before(22LR semi auto, 12 guage shotgun which is being destroyed anyway and air rifle)- he also wants his 243 under it too but i very much doubt that will happen. So i can have his hornet on my license but i have been given the opportunity to purchase a brand new ruger bolt action 22 hornet with a 3-9x scope and trigger job included for $960AUS which is quite cheap. I dont know make or model of my uncles but its a single shot and is a nice rifle which suits me being left handed more than the ruger which is a right handed model. The main benefit of the bolt action is being able to fire shots off quicker than the single shot.

Im having difficulty weighing up the benefits of owning my own rifle or having my uncles on my license and saving the 900 odd dollars and going halves with him on a new O/U shotgun which will also get covered on my license. His property is the main one i shoot on but also have the other side of the family offering to let me shoot on theirs. Quite a few friends have also got properties and are keen to go on a few fox hunts.

Any suggestions on what would be better off?

welcome to the forum and I hope WA stands for Western Australia because I cannot even fathom Washington having those kind of laws :eek:

sorry I don't have much to offer you though.

yeah I was confused until he said $960 AUS. must be austrailia to have rules like that.

I'm not sure many people here know anything about aussie gun laws.

We have a forum for our Downunder friends - I'm sure they can help him. I'll move it to that forum for assistance.

BTW - Welcome to the board. Always a pleasure having folks from outside the US join us.

I'll second kdub's welcome. Boy am I glad I live here in the good old USA. After reading about your gun laws I'm glad we can still purchase and shoot just about anything I guy wants.

Again welcome to the forum Brad. Lets us know how your gun deal works out.

Western australia has some weird laws mate,We dont have that problem over here in ACT.So much for uniform gun laws.

Yeah, nothing like that here in Vic. either.

[We have some strange laws over in the west of oz.
But saying that much of it depends on your local police.
I have been quite shocked at how easy it has been to get what they reffer to as a high power licence now, compared to how it was years ago.
If I were you I'd be getting a licence with your uncles guns firstly.
Then take it from there if you want to get your own.
I just bought myself a .223 Ruger, I had tossed around the idea of getting a hornet because of the easier licencing. Glad I didn't.
I have spent the last 30 years+ shooting everything from rabbits to pigs wiuth a .22mag and its done a great job but I can now see it heading into retirment.
I'd also have ago at getting your uncles 243 on your licence too. Try and get them all through as a job lot.
That can make it easier to get your own later.
Good luck.

Sorry for the confusion lads...

Yes our gun rules in Western Australia are seriously tough. It all happened after the Port Authur Massacre. Dont even consider attempting to purchase a handgun- the rules are worse apparently. No one apart from some primary producers are allowed semi auto rifles and my uncle was allowed to keep his 22 semi thank god. Single or double barrel shotguns only- no semi autos or pump actions allowed. Its very restrictive.

I applied for a catergory A license today and am currently having to wait 28 days for it to be approved, then i must provide the details of a weapon to have on that license ie serial number. Then the police will have to come to my house to inspect the gun safe that it will be kept in. Only then i can collect my rifle from the store and bring it home.

Long process but it has to be done.

Yep i am used to my dads 22 mag but something that packs a bit more punch is needed while im still in a class A license. Been shooting foxes and roos and rabbits with it up close- 243 is better for long stuff. Have used the uncles hornet fine for these sorts of targets out to 150m. I have spoken to my uncle already and as soon as its approved we are going in together and getting all his rifles listed on my license apart from the 243 initially, which will come at a later date according to the local police. They are known in my area for not liking to hand out high powered licenses to new gun owners. For a new license holder though, i will have 5 firearms to put on the form which i wouldnt be surprised if they werent all that happy with either. They cant stop that from happening at least.

Also after chatting with a few people who wanted me to go shooting with them on their property i decided to take the plunge and go for the ruger. Ended up i have $1010 to pay with the scope, trigger job and harris bipod all on it. Fairly happy with the deal. Best of all the uncle has reloading gear for his so with his supervision i can do that to hopefully save on ammunition costs.

Thanks for all the welcomes hope to learn heaps off this site.

[



Actually in WA we have always had very tight gun laws and the only real change since POrt Arthur was the Bans on general ownership of semi autos and pumps. Handguns have pretty much always been gun club use only.
From my personal experience over the last 30 years high powers are probably easier now than before.
I have worked in the trade, shot competition handgun and clay target as well as years of field shooting. So I have a bit of experience with our gun laws. As much as they can be a PITA If you can prove a genuine need for a firearm then it is generally available including semi autos.
Personal protection and home defence dot cut it as a genuine reason.
Cheers.