Thread: First time New Zealand hunting - August / September

Originally Posted by chenin

I just ordered a copy of the SpotX Guide, I hope the purchase was worth it, but at least I get a good overview on the weres and hows... Anyone of you has experience with GunCity in Christchurch? I will probably buy a gun from them and then take it home to Germany afterwards. I am thinking about a Tikka T3 lite with a Leupold VX2 3-9x40... Are there public shooting ranges near christchurch I could visit??

Apart of the gun, I have most of the gear ready.. Binocular (Leica 10x32), tent, sleeping bag, clothes, etc...

What do you mean with keeping an eye out for moa??

Chenin, GunCity are quite expensive so it would pay to shop around for such a generic combination as aT3 lite with a Leupold scope as you could easily find a better price. I will leave it to a Christchurch based forum member to point you in a right direction there and to answer the question about a range. As to the Moa comment, that is a large flightless bird that is long since extinct so the likelihood of you encountering one is quite remote...... (but then you never know as stranger things have happened) ha ha ha ha

Hi Chenin, there is a public night at the local hand-loaders association range every tuesday night near the international airport $15 per shooter. Range only goes out to 75m though but it is a start. The Deerstalkers assn open their range (right next door) one saturday per month dates can be found here: NZDA North Canterbury Homepage then click on public events- $20 per non member. You can sight in to 200m there.
I have a couple of contacts in smaller firearms shops in ChCh so can probably find you a cheaper T3 setup than at Gun city. (Good choice with the T3 lite i have one in 7mm08). Feel free to PM me. Cheers, Richie.