Thread: Moving firearms to Aus

Hi All

Has anyone moved firearms across the ditch? I'm thinking about moving for work and there's a few items that have sentimental value that I'm keen to hold on to, but it's going to be more than I'm willing to bring as checked luggage and I'm not sure how that would work without having a house and firearms license set up first.

I was thinking about shipping dealer to dealer NZ to Aus and then getting the dealer to hold them until I get sorted.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Dave

Reloaders supplies has an exporters licence. He said its not worth it to Aussi because of bureaucrats.

had mates over there for a few years and the red tape made it just about impossible to be bothered even trying...even good folks who live there permanently find it a hassle...you wont find better hunting than where you already are now.... grass not always greener n all that.....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

had mates over there for a few years and the red tape made it just about impossible to be bothered even trying...even good folks who live there permanently find it a hassle...you wont find better hunting than where you already are now.... grass not always greener n all that.....

First time in my entire life that I went gunless. Lived there for 10 years, not even a plastic toy firearm is openly displayed in shops. Most depressing.

Do you have an Aussie FAL??? Possibly get that first, then consider your options. Leave said sentimental FA with FAL mate back here till then???

I've done it. Have an Australian licence first. You then need to get an import permit first for the guns you are bringing over B709a. I did all this before shooting back to NZ for a holiday and brought it back to Australia with me. Customs then seize the firearm on arrival where it it is then safety tested. Once cleared you rock up to customs with your import permit and permit to acquire(South Australia) register your firearms and you're good to go. Vic and NSW you will need a dealer to collect from customs and Australian dealers will charge handsomely for the service.

So choose wisely whether the sentimental value is worth the dollars to get them to Australia.

Mine was sorted very cheaply but I researched well.

Other tip I can offer is make sure you have your renewed NZ licence or plenty of years left on it, because you cannot renew it if you are not resident in NZ. I visited NZ on a holiday and tried to renew mine rules have changed post CHCH. The process for me now is get a visitor licence when coming home and then renew my existing NZ licence within 12 months of return.

Good luck

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We've come close to jumping ship a few times. From a hunting/shooting perspective, WA seems to be virtually impossible, other states slightly more amenable. I wouldn't go through the hassle of trying to get firearms over there. Would sell guns here and buy new once settled. Overall, far more hunting opportunities in NZ, but not where I live. In fact, a move to Aussie could be an upgrade!

Some good advice above. I moved firearms over and back again.

Follow Tuidogs approach if you do. Personally unless you have special rifles or shotguns I’d sell them or store with mates in NZ. Firearms in oz are cheaper and second hand ones generally lighter used.

Keep your optics and reloading gear.

WA is a more difficult state. I wouldn’t move there as a Hunter/shooter. Plenty of good public hunting in NSW and VIC.


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The sentimental ones are hard to part with. A single shot 22lr browning from the 50s that I learned to shoot on and that my grandma gave to my grandfather as an anniversary present. Plus a few bitss and pieces that I used to use with my grandfather back when he was still alive. One hundred percent sentimental.

Sounds like the FAL and pta process is going to be the easy. Used to have an Aus FAL when I saw l was over there working so I might have to see if it's still valid.

Thanks for all the advice, I would expect to see a few rim fires and a 308 poping up from me

I still own my first rifle, a 10/22 acquired new around 1985. I estimate it's had around 100,000 rounds through it. Would hate to sell it, but it would be illegal in Australia unless you got a primary producer endorsement. Aussie firearms rules are crazy.

I've taken rifles over for competitions - effectively importing them and then exporting them again, all on a visitors license.

It is very dependent on which state you end up over there - they have massive differences between the states.

I'd leave the rifles here till you know it is going to be a long term thing. Importing rifles into Aus is not hard, it is just a lot of paperwork across multiple govt departments (customs, police etc)