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Importing a rifle from the USA – anyone done it?

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:06

Mike Harding

One aspect of going bush, 4Wding and camping which I partake in is the hunting of pest/feral animals. In my own small way I take some of the pressure off our native wildlife – an encouragement they desperately need.

To further this end I am considering purchasing a new centre fire longarm and, as with many items, this particular model is much cheaper in the USA.

I suspect the process of importing a firearm into Australia (as a purchase- rather than as baggage) is fraught with Red Tape. Has anyone done this and/or is able to advise?

Mike Harding

mike_harding@fastmail.fm

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ThreadID: 58266 Replies: 13
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AnswerID: 307148   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:17

Star Bug replied:

Anything is possible. You just have to jump through the right hoops.

Speak to the police/firearms licencing and customs.
Reply 1 of 13
AnswerID: 307153   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:26

Krakka replied:

I think you will fimd you must be a licensed firearm Dealer to be able to do this, Looked into it about 5 yrs ago. In the end we got a local dealer to import it for us. Mark up wasn't too bad, the 7 month wait was a bit ordinary though. This delay was no fault of the local dealer, but the manufacturer.
GOOD LUCK. Krakka
If you could kick the person responsible for most of your problems, you wouldn't be able to sit down for six months.
Reply 2 of 13
AnswerID: 307156   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:32

Member - Mick O (VIC) replied:

You would need to be a legitimate dealer/distributor in respect to the firearm. As a private individual you would have to be a licensed shooter and or collector and be able to show that the firearm is of a particular/rare/specific nature or is for display purposes and that it is unavailable here. The import regime would be incredibly strict and you'd probably end up paying that much duty that it would be just as cheap to buy it here. If it's high powered, semi-auto or a pistol your chances are about zip! Best you just go down to the docks and buy one from the waterside workers. No red tape, no rego and not cheap (Just kidding for those internet spooks now perusing this post!)

Cheers.

Mick
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Reply 3 of 13
AnswerID: 307159   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:37

Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) replied:

Importing Firearms
you dont need to leave perth to go bush
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You dont need to leave Perth to go bush
Reply 4 of 13
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AnswerID: 307166   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:50

Member - Warfer (VIC) replied:

*One aspect of going bush, 4Wding and camping which I partake in is the hunting of pest/feral animals...*


You could'nt ad the feral littering/dont give a rats ass about the prestine enviroment i'm wrecking animal on your list !

Actually i'll supply the Limal and spade lol

I promise i wont tell !



Cheers
Reply 5 of 13
AnswerID: 307174   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:18

Mick15 replied:

you'd need to tee up a dealer to have it sent to, then organise a freight servive to transport it - auspost has recently dropped a lot of their firearms restrictions, but you'd have to ring them (forget dhl and toll they consider a riflestock dangerous and won't touch one!!) Then you'd need the customs import permit B709, its on the customs website. Then on top of that you need to get a US dealer willing to send it..
A lot of stuffing about really, Ive brought a couple of Leupold scopes off ebay with no dramas and they're priced well, (about $750 for a 4.5-14x50 vx-3 varmint 30mm LR tube and they quoted me $1300 in the local shop)
For me thats where the bargain is optics, mounts, bipod - no permit required and those bits alone would usually be worth more than a bare rifle.
Reply 6 of 13
AnswerID: 307177   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:29

Hairy (NT) replied:

Bloody ridiculous, isnt it.
They are making it harder and harder to do the right thing.
Im sure you could pick up something bigger and better at the local pub???

Cheers

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.
Reply 7 of 13
FollowupID: 573049   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:51

Member - Kim M (VIC) posted:

Hairy

You talking about rifles or Shirlas?

PS wait for the next bush tail.

LOL

Regards

Kim

Somewhere in WA
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FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 573066   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 20:13

Member - Warfer (VIC) posted:

Im sure you could pick up something bigger and better at the local pub???


The same thing past my mind Hairy lol,Just because the Government hav closed all the loony bins down to save money (I'm sure there next is the ol peoples homes but that's another thread) and past the buck back to the coppers and then its too late...

Everyone suffers because a few mental jobbies



Cheers
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 307201   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:43

Member - Kim M (VIC) replied:

Mike

Why do want to import a rifle from the USA? There's plenty of products available in Australia for a good price.

For the country you travel through, I'd recommend a Sako or similar good quality synthetic rimfire without optical sites.

As you know I've got a .243 which you can have a lend of. But I think it'll be a bit of an over kill for what you want.

There's also a lot of high quality second hand rifles available on the market

Regards

Kim


Somewhere in WA
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Reply 8 of 13
AnswerID: 307206   Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:50

Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) replied:

Mike,

As already stated the B709 is the golden card to have to import a rifle/firearm into Aust.

A few years back you could get it sent to yourself and then wander in to the local police station to pay your $1 to have it registered (I'm talking about Victoria). Since the permit to acquire it's all changed.

Tee up a dealer that is willing to accept it and get everything sent to them. You'll still need the B709, Customs, and then a permit to acquire for Vicpol.

I've thought about this before and rang customs - they were very helpful and forwarded all the forms to me by fax within minutes. That's as far as I got so i can't tell you about price and hiccups etc. but everything is on the web now.

One important thing to mention is no matter what longarm you bring in - get it marked as a TARGET rifle - Customs won't do the drop test on a target rifle!


Tim
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Reply 9 of 13
AnswerID: 307287   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 07:57

Member No 1 replied:

mate has done it few times with one to come this xmas....going by what he says it painless enough....but thats in SA

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Reply 10 of 13
AnswerID: 307293   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 09:53

V8Diesel replied:

I buy my firearms from Queensland and get them posted to a dealer here in Perth. Saves me a small fortune.

I have a mate who's a dealer handling the goods these days, but previously I've used two other gunshops for this and they only charged me a $25 handling fee. Even after postage I'm miles in front.

My advice is to talk to dealers that DON'T sell what you're after. That way there's no conflict of interest. Eg: if you're chasing a centre fire rifle, ask a handgun, shotgun or antique specialist to handle the transaction. That way you're not taking away their profit margin and it's viewed as just a simple handling fee.

What are you chasing if you don't mind me asking?
Reply 11 of 13
FollowupID: 573184   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 11:52

Member - Beatit (QLD) posted:

Where in Qld as I'm in the market as well?

Kind regards
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FollowUp 1 of 4
FollowupID: 573195   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:44

V8Diesel posted:

I buy most of my stuff these days from Cleaver Firearms in Margate(?) Queensland. Talk to Jayd. Not really the place to ring for advice or a friendly chat, but if you know what you want they'll generally do a razor sharp price and that suits me just fine. They do Category C and other goodies as well. Sometimes they have deals on once fired brass so if you're a reloader and own a .308, .223 or 9mm it's worth keeping an eye out.

Good friends of mine here in WA have bought loads of stuff from Queensland Gun Exchange too and they seem very happy with them. The good thing about this shop is they have a website with prices, although it's a bit hit and miss sometimes and has the very annoying characteristic of not letting you go back a page wthout resetting your search criteria.

If you are looking for optics, try NVT. I bought a scope from them and it developed a problem after a few trips out. This was sorted out in record time at no expense and the bloke even dropped a replacement off to my house. You can't ask for more than that.
FollowUp 2 of 4
FollowupID: 573199   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:04

Member - Beatit (QLD) posted:

thanks mate! I do my business with Queensland Gun Exchange at the moment and have not been to Clleaver but will keep them in mind. Yes I reload and had someone give my a box of .223 mil brass for reloading.

Just new to game after 35 years absense - it hasn't gotten any easier that's for sure. Can only do cat A and B.

Where is NVT

Kind regards
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FollowUp 3 of 4
FollowupID: 573202   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:25

V8Diesel posted:

No worries.

NVT are based in Perth I think, but as they are an internet based retailer location shouldn't make much of a difference.
FollowUp 4 of 4
AnswerID: 307329   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:24

Moose replied:

G'day Mike
Go to www.australianhunting.net and ask there. The guys on there are forever discussing importing firearms related stuff from USA.
Cheers from the Moose
Reply 12 of 13
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AnswerID: 307744   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 04, 2008 at 17:14

Mike Harding replied:

Thank very much for all the info guys, very helpful and I’ll follow it up.

Kim:
>I've got a .243 which you can have a lend of.

Thank you, that’s very generous, but not surprising, as you are a very generous person.
I’ll have a chat to you in person.

Tim:
>One important thing to mention is no matter what longarm you bring in
>get it marked as a TARGET rifle - Customs won't do the drop test on a
>target rifle!

Just the sort of info I need – thanks :)

V8Diesel:
>My advice is to talk to dealers that DON'T sell what you're after.

Sound advice – obvious too, but I hadn’t thought of it! :)

>What are you chasing if you don't mind me asking?

Probably one of these:
https://shop.vanceoutdoors.com/savage-18139-10fcp-308win-p-18198.html

Moose:
>Go to www.australianhunting.net and ask there.

Thanks for that, I shall do as you suggest.

Once again, thanks to all.

Mike Harding
Reply 13 of 13