Buying a rifle for a friend

[Combat_Wombat]

I've got a mate that's started to get into shooting and hunting over the last year. He's recently completed his safety course and is in the process of signing up with the SSAA and getting his licence.

I've had an idea and I want to see if anyone has done this before. The plan is to buy a .243 Tikka stainless lite and keep it in my safe and only allow my mate to use it under my supervision as the only time he shoots is with me. Then when he gets his licence he will transfer the rifle off me.

So the question is can he give me the money to buy the rifle and ammo or am I better off paying for it all until he's licenced.

[bigfellascott]

Better off just letting him buy it when his license has been approved, why rob him of the satisfaction of buying his first rifle?

[brett1868]

No sure how it works in QLD but in NSW an unlicensed person is prohibited from handling firearms. I'm assuming that in QLD you can handle / use firearms if under the direct supervision of a licensed shooter.
You'r doing a nice thing for your mate and it's a good way to induct new shooters into the sport.

[David Brown]

Unless there is a specific bit of legislation saying otherwise, and I have not seen any, ownership and being the registered operator of a piece of equipment are two completely different things.

Nothing stops me financially owing your car, boat, gun aeroplane. The person legally responsible for it, its safety and its operation is the registered operator. In aviation this is actually spelled out clearly (about the only thing that is). Qantas does not own all of their aircraft, but they are 100% liable for it if they are the registered operator. Same goes for cars, the leasing company owns it….you don't yet. Your house is owned by the bank until you pay it off and they hand the deeds over. And so on…..

Having said that if your mate really wants something, and its there, why not take him into the store and put down a 50% deposit lay buy on it, then when his licence and PTA come through he gets the pleasure of collecting it. Just a thought.

[Combat_Wombat]

Better off just letting him buy it when his license has been approved, why rob him of the satisfaction of buying his first rifle?

I brought that up but I don't think he's all that worried about it really. I remember being over the moon when I picked my first rifle up but that saying that my licence took over 18 months to go through so I would have rather got it quicker.

[Combat_Wombat]

No sure how it works in QLD but in NSW an unlicensed person is prohibited from handling firearms. I'm assuming that in QLD you can handle / use firearms if under the direct supervision of a licensed shooter.
You'r doing a nice thing for your mate and it's a good way to induct new shooters into the sport.

Yeah I think this is a better way of showing someone how to use a firearm safely and show him how to clean and sight it in. Better than some people I now who got their licence and jumped in blind and got given wrong information and picked up bad habits.

[bigfellascott]

Better off just letting him buy it when his license has been approved, why rob him of the satisfaction of buying his first rifle?

I brought that up but I don't think he's all that worried about it really. I remember being over the moon when I picked my first rifle up but that saying that my licence took over 18 months to go through so I would have rather got it quicker.

Yeah it was a special moment when I think back on my first firearms purchase (sharp Innova Air Rifle) but if he's happy to let it happen that's all that matters hey mate, good on ya for helping him out, I assume there will be some extra costs incurred doing it that way but if he's happy to wear it all good.

[Combat_Wombat]

Yeah not entirely sure what the transfer costs will be but he's an operator at the mines so money's not an issue haha

[Elek]

Yeah not entirely sure what the transfer costs will be but he's an operator at the mines so money's not an issue haha

It's only $30 or something there isn't it?

[Usurper]

I brought that up but I don't think he's all that worried about it really. I remember being over the moon when I picked my first rifle up but that saying that my licence took over 18 months to go through so I would have rather got it quicker.

18 months.....

The good old days

[Combat_Wombat]

I brought that up but I don't think he's all that worried about it really. I remember being over the moon when I picked my first rifle up but that saying that my licence took over 18 months to go through so I would have rather got it quicker.

18 months.....

The good old days

I was lucky enough to submit my application just as they brought in the online system so they had a massive influx of applications and a coue of people processing them. For the last 12 months I called up every fortnight to check the progress and every time I was assured it was being done right away

[KWhorenet]

wonder how long it would have taken to have a licence from a different state then apply for the equivalent in yours...existing licence holder vs new licence applicant.

Can you see where my mind is at on this...

[David Brown]

Hey Wombat, are you serious? Did it really take 18 months from a fully complete application to delivery?

I have seen things take a lot longer than they should, but that is amazing :-0

[Combat_Wombat]

I think it was 17 all up. No one directly admitted it but I think my application went missing. Would have been quicker to cancel the mail copy and email though a new one. Was an agonising wait but it allowed me to save for a couple of rifles in the meantime.

[brett1868]

First long arms license took all of 20 mins, rocked up to the local cop shop, showed my ID, signed some forms and 15 mins later I was heading to the gun shop to pick up a Stirling 22LR 10 shot semi while my first pistol license (Class 1A) took 6 weeks. Second time around took 12 weeks from application to purchase and pistol just over 7 months....It appears technology works in reverse when it comes to firearms licensing in this country.

[on_one_wheel]

To me it sounds like a great way for him to buy a rifle now and transfer it later when he is ready.

It might cost him registration twice but it will save him the massive wait.

[Hercl]

You're not trying to hide anything and won't be giving an unlicensed person inappropriate access to a firearm so I can't see a problem.

[jake84]

No sure how it works in QLD but in NSW an unlicensed person is prohibited from handling firearms. I'm assuming that in QLD you can handle / use firearms if under the direct supervision of a licensed shooter.
You'r doing a nice thing for your mate and it's a good way to induct new shooters into the sport.

agree with this statment

you'd be screwed if you did this in nsw

[kurl]

You can take an unlicensed person to a range of course though can't you?

[jake84]

NSW ranges like ssaa you need to call ahead and make a booking before they can even think about going
no booking no go

[Wes]

Please tell me you have to book because they're often full, and not just because some bureaucrat says you can't go shooting without a booking......

[jake84]

Please tell me you have to book because they're often full, and not just because some bureaucrat says you can't go shooting without a booking......

becuase their full thats all
here's the link hope it helps

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct= ... 5949,d.dGY

[Wes]

Just wondered if it was yet more red tape getting wrapped around you NSW blokes.