No1Mk3 wrote:G'day Dabi,
Getting a handgun licence in Victoria is a slow and involved process that will inevitably cost some money. Why do you want one? What type of competition do you want to participate in? If you think you might like to compete at the Olympics you will need to join a VAPA club, if you want to shoot IPSC or Metallic or perhaps single action you should check out the SSAA website and read the various info from those types of club. The process to join SSPC is really no different to any club and most of the process is a legal requirement by the Police. I'm not familiar with their costs but I doubt they are to far from normal, my own club would cost about $400 initially, from scratch but that includes SSAA membership, our Rifle Club membership then our pistol Club and Govt minimums for fingerprinting etc, but annual cost would only be $105 plus your SSAA. I know some clubs that exceed $600 annual membership, Cheers.
AussieCapitalist wrote:"they seem to have a bothersome process" Thats Australian gun laws in general mate, where have you been for the last 25 years?
The only way around joining a club to get a handgun licence is if you work in security, a primary producer can get them and feral pest controllers can get them.
Your only other option of obtaining handguns is a collectors licence if you are interested in the study, collection and preservation of handguns. You can only shoot handguns on a collectors licence at accredited events which happen maybe twice a year. You are not limited to caliber restrictions, magazine limits or compulsory shoots on a collectors licence though.
linkoln wrote:If you don't have the time then don't get a handgun licence because it is a serious commitment to get and maintain your licence. They have purposely legislated it so the process is difficult and confusing so only the people who genuinely want to compete in the sport will jump through all the hoops. No matter where you go you are looking at a whole year to become fully licenced.
Anyone who's wondering you need to do
- an introductory shoot
- at least five supervised shots with multiple calibers
- become competent and safe enough for an RO to sign you off
- safety course
- apply for your provisional licence which will take at least a month to process
- shoot as a provisional shooter for at least six months
- become even more proficient and have the RO sign you off again
- complete an accuracy test which you need to compete with 100% of your shots hitting the target
- apply for your full licence which will be about another month
Then after all that you need to shoot at least six times a year or more depending on how many firearms you have.
Dabi wrote:Thanks linkoin, I'm fully prepared for commitment just want to find a fast way to get there so I start shooting my own pistols.
Mattraff wrote:I was thinking of getting back into pistol shooting and it sounds like the process has not changed much since I handed all mine back in 02. From memory it cost about $600 all up. I got out of the sport as the requirements to shoot once a month for each and every different type of pistol would have cost a small fortune. At the time we were told you would have to attend and shoot once a month for each calibre. That meant 4 shoots a month for me and at the time I was heavily into clay target shooting and still enjoy it today so I had to make a choice. I lost about $400 after handing them all in and I still miss my S&W 686 357 magnum. If I get back into it a S&W 357 is all I want.
AussieCapitalist wrote:Mattraff wrote:I was thinking of getting back into pistol shooting and it sounds like the process has not changed much since I handed all mine back in 02. From memory it cost about $600 all up. I got out of the sport as the requirements to shoot once a month for each and every different type of pistol would have cost a small fortune. At the time we were told you would have to attend and shoot once a month for each calibre. That meant 4 shoots a month for me and at the time I was heavily into clay target shooting and still enjoy it today so I had to make a choice. I lost about $400 after handing them all in and I still miss my S&W 686 357 magnum. If I get back into it a S&W 357 is all I want.
Handed them back to whom, did someone else buy them for you? Or do you mean under extreme duress and the threat of imprisonment you relinquished ownership of your own property?
AussieCapitalist wrote:What state is this? QLD you just join a club or even shooters union pistol section. Do the safety course, do 3 competition shoots in a 6 month period then apply for licence and a PTA if you wish after the 6 month period. You cant shoot over a 38/9mm at the start. This is probably an SSAA crappy range rule.
bladeracer wrote:
He is referring to the '03 buyback, I sold my handgun to the government at the time as well, and got more back than I paid for it new in 1990. The deal came with a statement that you would not apply for a handgun licence again within five years.
linkoln wrote:
QLD sounds like the place to be if you want the most gun rights but this is in VIC so there are a lot more hoops to jump through. In vic if you qualify on a .38 revolver then you can't shoot a semi auto only. 38 revolver and below. You need to qualify with 9mm to shoot any revolver or semi auto but then have to be a member of the club for a year and get a good average score over that time before they will sign you off for a .45
AussieCapitalist wrote:I know mate I am just having a friendly dig at the turn of phrase.
I am not a rich man but money can never buy my principles. I do not negotiate with blackmail.
No1Mk3 wrote:G'day linkoln,
That may be a requirement of your club but it is not the same at all clubs nor law here in Vic. There is no qualification test for different calibres, indeed for ANY calibre, within each regulated class according to law. If you purchase a 9mm auto, then when the law allows the new licencee to expand he is perfectly able to purchase and use any other calibre within Class 3 without affecting his mandatory 10 attendances. At my club, once you have leapt through the fire rings of bureaucratic BS you can buy any calibre legal for you to own within the 4 regulated Classes. Cheers.
PS: AusssieCapitalist, no, it is not "an SSAA crappy range rule", it is called the LAW.
No1Mk3 wrote:G'day linkoln,
That may be a requirement of your club but it is not the same at all clubs nor law here in Vic. There is no qualification test for different calibres, indeed for ANY calibre, within each regulated class according to law. If you purchase a 9mm auto, then when the law allows the new licencee to expand he is perfectly able to purchase and use any other calibre within Class 3 without affecting his mandatory 10 attendances. At my club, once you have leapt through the fire rings of bureaucratic BS you can buy any calibre legal for you to own within the 4 regulated Classes. Cheers.
PS: AusssieCapitalist, no, it is not "an SSAA crappy range rule", it is called the LAW.