Thread: Restrictions and conditions on an 'A' Category 50BMG?

Hi team,

Just got a phone call from the local AO that the permit for my new single shot, Bolt action .50BMG rifle has been issued, however;

"we're issuing this permit on the condition that the firearm is to be used at .50BMG certified ranges only, and field shooting or shooting in an uncontrolled environment is prohibited"
and
"These conditions will apply to all subsequent owners"

I'm very new to the 50BMG scene, and don't know my way around the laws surrounding how and where they can be used, but NEVER heard anything from anyone regarding restrictions that differ from any other 'A' Cat firearm? I've done a little amateur research and can't find a law...
It's clearly a very large cartridge and consideration and common sense has to apply, ie selecting a large unoccupied hillside as a backstop if I have access to private land. Where I live, there are vast tracts of private unoccupied land with a thousand feet of mountains as backstops.
My questions are -

- Has anyone else encountered this, is it normal? I've seen plenty of photos of people in NZ who, as unwieldy as they may be, have been hunting with them?
- Will this thing have a set of paperwork following it around throughout the country, if i ever sell it, warning the successive owners that they can only use it at a handful of authorised ranges?
- Does this mean my rifle is registered? ie if the 3rd or 4th owner gets caught hunting with it in years to come, are they gonna run a serial number and say "hmm sorry this particular rifle is range-only, go directly to jail, do not pass go" and ring me saying I didn't pass on the conditions?

Sorry if this is all obvious stuff but I couldn't find anything meaningful online, would really appreciate any experienced opinions!

Cheers!
Dan

Seems very restrictive. When you applied for the permit was the question "What will you use the rifle for"? asked and if so how did you answer? @Kiwigreg may be able to answer your questions as he swims in the 50 pool. It would also be interesting to know where the 50BMG certified ranges are or even if they exist at all.

There appears to be no power granted by the Arms Act to the Police to add conditions of use to an import permit. If the rifle is A category then you can use it for any normal use for such a firearm, however the power of the cartridge does restrict the places that you acn use it. If you were buying a .50 BMG rifle that was already in NZ then it would be classed as any other A category rifle. Once again, it appears the the Police are attempting to make their own rules!

Is it getting imported?

Get in contact with the National shooters association, if you need their number I can forward it to you....

The action on part of the AO would be questionable at best.

I would be ; contacting the NSA and COLFO and secondly contacting Nick Taylor QC for a private prosecution . This sort of shit needs To stop!

The NZ Police don't have any authority to impose conditions on import permits on any type of firearm. They can either approve or deny it.

They do not have any authority to impose conditions on the use of any A Category firearm.

You don't need a reason to import A Category firearms, only pistols, MSSAs and restricted weapons.

Ask them exactly what offence would they charge you with? I doubt they will have an answer.

Edited to add: Ask them after it lands so they can't cancel the permit.

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And also they have no Authority pertaining to Serial numbers of A cats!!! Despite their best efforts to enforce such a scheme!

More bullsh*t from NZPHQ.

You can feel free to go ahead and ignore that one

This pisses me off.

I know its not really relevant but a number of years ago a Guy I know imported a BIG single shot BMG & apparently he had conditions on his import permit.

I had no drama a few years with a import permit for a Barrett M107-A1, no conditions at all, at that stage it was A-Cat.

For what its worth my 50 BMG Steyr HS 50 M1 will be for sale soon, one of three in the country I'm told

Thanks for the input Team. @Rushy -
On my application I put that I would use it for a variety of uses, including long range target practice on private land, and general range practice, thinking this would cover my bases. They told me a letter of intent was necessary to begin the permit process. @199p - I hope so, I guess I'll have to decide whether I can live with those conditions... :S
Rock River Arms Hunter - thanks for the advice mate, I'll be in touch with them.
Gimp - sorry mate what do you mean? I really don't want to get myself on the wrong side here ha.

Again cheers everyone - as you can probably imagine I'm a little worried about being heavily restricted on such a significant investment, but I wonder how they plan to enforce such restrictions for me and subsequent owners if they're not allowed to register me against the serial #?

I no a hunter that flew into Christchurch via the USA to go hunting only to have his 50 confiscated at the airport.


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They'll simply ask you when they do a safe inspection through change of address or renewal of licence, they'll try bend you over and make subtle gestures about what calibres you own etc etc.

When you do a S43a form from memory they ask for a serial number, funny that

Cheers @Kiwi Greg - this is a Barrett M99 - wouldn't have thought there's anything abnormally dangerous there? My criminal record is sparkling clean and I sent them an honest letter outlining all my intended uses - I live in one of the best parts of the country for safe, private long range shooting.

And I'll definitely keep that in mind!��