Importing a rifle from the USA – anyone done it?
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 17:06
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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
Reply By: Mick15 - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:18
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 18:18
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.
AnswerID:
307174
Reply By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:43
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:43
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
AnswerID:
307201
Reply By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:50
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 19:50
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
AnswerID:
307206
Reply By: V8Diesel - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 09:53
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 09:53
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?
AnswerID:
307293
Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 11:52
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 11:52
Where in Qld as I'm in the market as
well?
Kind regards
FollowupID:
573184
Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:44
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:44
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.
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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:04
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:04
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
FollowupID:
573199
Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:25
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:25
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.
FollowupID:
573202
Reply By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2008 at 17:14
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2008 at 17:14
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
AnswerID:
307744