Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by BBJ » 27 Dec 2013, 12:28 pm

Pretty sure they do a 5 shot magazine version of the Steyr HS now too, not just single shot.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Chronos » 27 Dec 2013, 2:29 pm

Guess my mates .58 cal Musketoon is illegal according to your .50cal limit then.

There's a massive difference between caliber and energy, I don't think a large caliber rifle poses any more "danger" than a .223 or .308

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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Blackened » 27 Dec 2013, 2:47 pm

Chronos wrote:Guess my mates .58 cal Musketoon is illegal according to your .50cal limit then.


I'm sure you know that's not the "50 cal" we're talking about.

Chronos wrote:There's a massive difference between caliber and energy, I don't think a large caliber rifle poses any more "danger" than a .223 or .308


You don't need to tell us.

I'd say tell someone the powder that be at the firearms registry, but good luck with that :P
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by flap » 27 Dec 2013, 2:52 pm

BBJ wrote:Pretty sure they do a 5 shot magazine version of the Steyr HS now too, not just single shot.


They definitely do for the .50 cal version; The Steyr HS .50 M1.

Same as single shot but with 5 round mag.

Don't know about the .460 cal HS.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Chronos » 27 Dec 2013, 3:09 pm

Blackened wrote:
Chronos wrote:Guess my mates .58 cal Musketoon is illegal according to your .50cal limit then.


I'm sure you know that's not the "50 cal" we're talking about.

Chronos wrote:There's a massive difference between caliber and energy, I don't think a large caliber rifle poses any more "danger" than a .223 or .308


You don't need to tell us.

I'd say tell someone the powder that be at the firearms registry, but good luck with that :P


Sorry, I thought the question was "what's the largest caliber", not the largest cartridge.

I know there are shooters that believe they need the most powerful rifle they can legally own but I'm not one of them.

A .338LM makes the owner neither a better shooter, nor a bigger man than the owner of a 6BR, maybe he just feels the need compensate. :p LOL

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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Blackened » 27 Dec 2013, 3:34 pm

Chronos wrote:I know there are shooters that believe they need the most powerful rifle they can legally own but I'm not one of them.

A .338LM makes the owner neither a better shooter, nor a bigger man than the owner of a 6BR, maybe he just feels the need compensate. :p LOL


Nor am I.

I've shot some big calibre stuff of course and they're definitely a bit of fun to have a bash on - If someone want's one, I wish them all the best with it - but they aren't something I want as my 'regular' rifle.

Plenty of choice in the 30 cal family to cover hunting everything in Australia, and cover target shooting at distances further than most of us will have the opportunity or skill to shoot at.

IMO anyway.

You've got a good spread of calibres going on there, based on your forum signature ;)
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by VICHunter » 27 Dec 2013, 3:55 pm

Chronos wrote:I know there are shooters that believe they need the most powerful rifle they can legally own but I'm not one of them.


I've heard it dubbed "cartridge insecurity" in the past.

When they've just gotta have the hardest hitting thing they can handle.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Chronos » 27 Dec 2013, 6:20 pm

Blackened wrote:
Chronos wrote:I know there are shooters that believe they need the most powerful rifle they can legally own but I'm not one of them.

A .338LM makes the owner neither a better shooter, nor a bigger man than the owner of a 6BR, maybe he just feels the need compensate. :p LOL


Nor am I.

I've shot some big calibre stuff of course and they're definitely a bit of fun to have a bash on - If someone want's one, I wish them all the best with it - but they aren't something I want as my 'regular' rifle.

Plenty of choice in the 30 cal family to cover hunting everything in Australia, and cover target shooting at distances further than most of us will have the opportunity or skill to shoot at.

IMO anyway.

You've got a good spread of calibres going on there, based on your forum signature ;)



Oh I agree, I'm not saying something like a .338lap should be banned, they would be fun to play with beyond the mile however the cost of both the rig and the components plus the recoil is enough for me to say "i'll pass"

When I was looking to shoot longer ranges I looked at the big 30's but for me the .284W had the perfect mix of performance and manners. The 180gr bergers have a BC of .674 and runs at 2700fps from just 49.5gr if powder in my .284W. for a .30cal to beat it needs to weigh 215gr and to beat it with a .338 sierra you need to shoot a 300gr matchking. Performance has a price, its called recoil and I shoot better without it.

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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Lorgar » 27 Dec 2013, 8:38 pm

Chronos wrote:Performance has a price, its called recoil and I shoot better without it.


Stupid recoil... About 10 years ago I had a car accident and broke my right collar bone in what was a "spectacular" break according to the paramedic. Bone through skin and the whole 9 yards.

Anyway, I now have a 45 degree point out of my collar bone which is exactly where the top of my rifle butt wants to sit :(

More recoil than it should goes into that one bit for me and adds up quickly. Mine .308 is more than enough for me for hunting and target shooting. I doubt I'll ever get anything more powerful for either.

The largest I can ever see myself going is 300 win mag in an ultra light sporter which would only be fired on game, not in sessions at the range. Half a dozen shots in an outing max or whatever... If I got a bench rifle in the same I'd have to muzzle brake it I think.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by 1290 » 29 Dec 2013, 7:04 pm

plenty of rifles in Aus with greater/larger calibre.... the old 577/450, 577Nitro, then the big Nitros 600/700, 4 Bore rifle with the 1inch bore.

There are many wildcats in the plus 50cal range, but I would have no idea how many are registered here, I wouldnt say none... ;)
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Kipper » 29 Dec 2013, 7:23 pm

1290 wrote:plenty of rifles in Aus with greater/larger calibre.... the old 577/450, 577Nitro, then the big Nitros 600/700, 4 Bore rifle with the 1inch bore.

There are many wildcats in the plus 50cal range, but I would have no idea how many are registered here, I wouldnt say none... ;)


Yeah, "largest calibre" is the wrong question really.

Most powerful cartridge would be worded better.

There are 50 cals, and 50 cals, and 50 cals...
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Heckler303 » 08 Oct 2015, 7:34 pm

bentaz wrote:There is a 585 nyati on abused guns that looks like it'd be fun to plink with.


Now that is an obscure calibre to play with. Wonder how much a box of 20 sells for.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Noisydad » 08 Oct 2015, 8:33 pm

Plenty of people use .58 cal black powder cartridge rifles (Enfield Sniders, Martini Henry's) and even bigger muzzle loaders in competition events.
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by pomemax » 08 Oct 2015, 11:54 pm

Magnum in Sydney has a couple of 50s for sale but bit pricey for me up to 16000 but you can get them .
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by newsteadvic » 10 Oct 2015, 8:48 pm

There is a fellow in NSW who makes .75 cannon - you can own one on a B class licence.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Heckler303 » 11 Oct 2015, 8:57 am

bentaz wrote:I need a bigger safe.


Don't we all? :lol:
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by bigtone » 11 Oct 2015, 8:32 pm

Sloth wrote:
rifles_steyr_picture6.jpg


We can get this in Queensland.

Steyr HS 460 35.5"
Single Shot
New $8459



Do you have one?
It's not banned in Queensland but you just can't have one!
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by bigtone » 11 Oct 2015, 8:42 pm

Chronos wrote:
Blackened wrote:
Chronos wrote: Performance has a price, its called recoil and I shoot better without it.

Chronos



I put a few rounds through my brothers AR50 A1 chambered in 416 barret this week. It has about the same recoil as a 17HMR! I would be a bit scared to fire it without the muzzle brake though because the instruction manual says that doing so could cause serious injury or death. You need to be built like Arny to shoot it in any position other than prone and to carry it further than a few metres too. So recoil is not necessarily a problem with larger calibres but the noise makes you flinch a bit until you get used to it.
It's not banned in Queensland but you just can't have one!
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by gazza » 11 Oct 2015, 8:50 pm

Whatever you want, get it now. It isn't going to get any easier in the short term.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by brett1868 » 11 Oct 2015, 10:29 pm

I put a few rounds through my brothers AR50 A1 chambered in 416 barret this week. It has about the same recoil as a 17HMR! I would be a bit scared to fire it without the muzzle brake though because the instruction manual says that doing so could cause serious injury or death. You need to be built like Arny to shoot it in any position other than prone and to carry it further than a few metres too. So recoil is not necessarily a problem with larger calibres but the noise makes you flinch a bit until you get used to it.


I'll second the comment on .416 recoil, I can shoot it all day without worry where as smaller calibres left bruises after only a few shots.

Tac 50 kicks but is manageable, M99 .416 barely moves me, the DTA HTI 50 kicks like an angry mule and I think in the 2nd or 3rd shot it knocks a filling out of my tooth.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by brett1868 » 12 Oct 2015, 6:56 am

bentaz wrote:So does the DTA still get a run? I have to think that the other 50 would be a lot more fun to shoot and the DTA would be fun to watch others shoot, lol.


The DTA is essentially purpose setup for .375 Cheytac long range hunting these days and I don't shoot 50 BMG from it much. I have the .416 Barrett conversion for it as well but have never used it due to the M99 being so much softer on the shoulder and I don't have any hunting projectiles for .416. Of the big stuff the .416 is brilliant, 1/3 MOA accuracy and effective range out past 1500m makes it a favourite of mine. Reloading is fairly inexpensive at less then $3.50 a shot compared to almost $6.50 for the 1/2". The M95 Barrett is my preferred 50 followed by the Big Mac and if I want to test my manliness then I'll put some rounds through the DTA.
I've got some video of a 100m 3 shot group from the M99 .416 which I'll post in the coming days, end result was a 1/3" group.

I did price up a Browning 12ga with rifled barrel and almost bought it till I worked out the cost per shot...was more expensive then shooting factory Hornady 50BMG so that idea got shelved. Next on the project list is a Lilija match barrel for the Tac50 and saving up for the Anzio 20/50 :)
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 12 Oct 2015, 7:13 am

Come on brett... you soft or something?? 375....416.....small bore stuff; when are you getting a vulcan?
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by brett1868 » 12 Oct 2015, 9:20 am

<<Genesis93>> wrote:Come on brett... you soft or something?? 375....416.....small bore stuff; when are you getting a vulcan?


Saving up for the Anzio 20/50 :)

It's a 20mm Vulcan necked down to 50 Cal so it'll fire the 750Gr AMAX's I use in my existing rifles. I've saved up most of the purchase price but need a little more to cover the expense of reloading dies, case forming dies, cases, import fees and taxes. Another 3-6 months with any luck should be here, then I'll need a custom made safe to fit it in....

Image

The 50BMG looks a little small compared to the other 2.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by bigtone » 12 Oct 2015, 9:58 am

20mm vulcan.......DAMN!
I am interested to hear if the DTA HTI kicks so bad with the 416 barrel fitted. The AR 50 version of 416 is not really what i would consider portable. Have you tried to fit a better brake to the HTI?
It's not banned in Queensland but you just can't have one!
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 12 Oct 2015, 10:07 am

nah, wont get through 'borderfarce'.... its got an AR15 grip. :lol: :lol: ....

I can just imagine the phone conversation when they give you the news,

"Sorry sir, the 'weapon' contains a part off a military rifle that could potentially be converted grip up, to fire the 5.56NATO round"

"So I cant have my 1 million Joule producing rifle because somehow I might convert it to a 223Remington??"

"No sir, 5.56NATO, but um,,, Yes."

"Bwaaahahahahaha you ******"


But seriously, why would you want a 50 that just burns barrels? That vulcan case would probably pack around 500 if not more grains behind the little half in proj.... go 20mm! just make sure you write on the pta Victorian Sambar!
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by brett1868 » 12 Oct 2015, 11:18 am

50 Cal is legal in NSW, I can import the Anzio no problems and I can get the reloading components over the counter without any grief. Getting a 20mm Vulcan through customs would involve way too much paperwork and a G.G permit plus some reloading components are non existent here. I had to have the Barrett .416 projectiles custom made and did the initial testing and load development myself. I don't want to do this again for 20mm, I'm of the belief the 20/50 will have better ballistics and shoot flatter then the regular 50BMG cartridge, similar to how the .416 Barrett behaves.

Swapping the brake on the HTI 50 barrel was considered and is on the back burner of projects as I really enjoy hearing bad language from others when shooting it for the first time.
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Wobble » 12 Oct 2015, 1:05 pm

brett1868 wrote:Another 3-6 months with any luck should be here, then I'll need a custom made safe to fit it in....


You must be about better off soon to have a strongroom built, no?
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 12 Oct 2015, 1:10 pm

ok...20mm might have to be a local build...

but the Vulcan is a kickass round.... I'm sure you'll really get the 750's singing necked down in that case.... considering the 20 will do 3610+fps / 820gr load!! / 1715gr proj..... = 49k ftlb (compare to 50BMG 13k, 308win 2.6k)

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/MILITA ... l_1994.pdf

(Theres also 25mm and 30mm in the manual!!!)
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by Xerox » 14 Oct 2015, 9:56 am

brett1868 wrote:Swapping the brake on the HTI 50 barrel was considered and is on the back burner of projects as I really enjoy hearing bad language from others when shooting it for the first time.


And the occasional black eye is probably funny :lol:
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Re: Largest legal calibre here in Aus?

Post by inventurkey » 15 Oct 2015, 2:02 pm

Always funny :mrgreen:
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