Did I pick the worst time ever to start shooting? (VIC)

[SuperHans]

Oh here I was gunna get excitied to start shooting. Ring vicpol "you have to wait till may to get your license". Apparently in VIC all safety courses are booked up till febuary and after that its apparently a 3 month wait.

Can anyone confirm this or know of any safety courses that have any spots because this is quite frankly f***ed.

[juststarting]

Hey

It's a lucky dip. I've started few months ago too, signed up for one and got it booked in pretty quick. I had to cancel, next one I had to wait a bit longer. So your story is definitely not uncommon. It also depends on where you are, I think it may fluctuate between areas. It's not that long, and in the meantime I would get all the paperwork organized because you may need signatures, evidence of stuff, safe, etc.

As a side note, I've been told that you can apply for a PTA at the same time as the gun licence, and wiat out the mandatory waiting period (28 days for license and 28 days for firearm) in parallel.

Cheers
Serge

[AusTac]

i wouldn't rely on that info, i had a similar situation when i got mine last year " you'll be waiting ages/ not available etc etc, bare in mind it is christmas, but book everywhere, every single course in vic and if your lucky someone will cancel or similar and you may be lucky

[SuperHans]

I rang almost every area. They all said booked till February.

also 5 months is not a "Short wait"

But what am I meant to do at a club if I dont have a license. Im planning to shoot at little river and they said there isnt much I could do without a license and that I would have to be supervise and I also know no one in that club.

I was also considering geelong rifle club. but their membership fee is $300 and $20 a week that seems like a lot no? say if you went every 2nd week that $700 a year and thats not even including ammo.

[AusTac]

got a mate with a license? Other wise take it as a oppirtunity to save and research, and then when and only WHEN you get your license go crazy...after the one month

[Shorti85]

Try country towns for your safety course. Less people and less of a wait

[Wylie27]

Get used to waiting, then things happening fast and then waiting again.

It is worth the wait....

[Heckler303]

At least while waiting for your waiting for your license, you can have all that time to spend shopping around for the perfect bargain. That's what I did, and how I came across my target rifle.

[pomemax]

I

[pomemax]

In Victoria how long is the training for rifle/shotty
In nsw its about 3 hours and there aint a bad time to start

[AusTac]

About the same, bit of a presentation by who ever be it good or bad, maybe a group chat and then test

[SuperHans]

f***ing useless waiting 3 months to do a 3 hour course I already know (already done handgun safety course).

Why the police dont let private courses do it is just ridiculous.

No point researching now because it only make the wait longer and remind me that IM WAITING 5 MORE MONTHS so I would call it a bad time to start.

And no I dont have no friends.

[Title_II]

I'll be your friend.

[<<Genesis93>>]

I'll be your friend.

[<<Genesis93>>]

The best time to start is now.

1 Download the list
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=34744

2 Telephone or email each and every firearms officer, be respectful and courteous, ask to be squeezed in if at all possible, be appreciative. If offered a course in Mildura then pack a picnic .....

3 If/when you get multiple bookings call back to cancel the unnecessary slots.... so that the next guy get a chance..

4 Rince and repeat.

Note, the Crissy season is here, so I'm not sure if they keep running them through I recall there might be a slow down.
And if they were provided by the private sector - the course would cost a heck of a lot more than $0.00.

[Gwion]

Took my wife and I close to 5 months. It is what it is.

Use the time to save your cash... No matter how flush you are, it is always possible to spend more on upgrades!

- Instead of a small 4 gun A/B safe, get a 10-14 size A/B/C safe.
- Instead of a CZ 22, get a Sako Quad with a synthetic stock for hunting and target stock for the range
- Instead of a Howa Heavy Barrel, get something like a Sako Varmint or even 2; one in 223 and one in 7-08
- Fit all your rifles with Kahles scopes
- set up a reloading station with all the best dies and case prep gear you can get your hands on
- If you still have too much spare cash and can't use 5 months to save for better gear: give some to me!!!

[pomemax]

In NSW lgs can do the course or even your own club and guess what i rang a couple of the to do a course there a waiting list at some whats going on are that many people getting in to shooting to do a try shoot Pistol at st mary's i think it was 4 months wait .

[Lorgar]

Oh here I was gunna get excitied to start shooting. Ring vicpol "you have to wait till may to get your license". Apparently in VIC all safety courses are booked up till febuary and after that its apparently a 3 month wait.

Can anyone confirm this or know of any safety courses that have any spots because this is quite frankly f***ed.

I'm not sure what they mean by "booked up till February and after that its apparently a 3 month wait."

Are they booked up until February or are they booked up to May?

That aside, I have a few mates who've gotten their license in the past 12 months. In all cases it was submit the paperwork to VICPOL for the safety course, took about 2 weeks to receive notification with date of the course. and it was usually 3-4 weeks away.

5-6 weeks to wait/complete the course. Submit your license application and first PTA and wait the 28 mandatory days and you're done.

Should be 10-12 weeks to have a rifle in your hand, not start the process. Maybe an extra 2 weeks with Christmas closures etc.?

P.S. Definitely do submit your first PTA with the license application. There is 28 day waiting period on both so if you submit your license and wait for it to come back then send your PTA you're up for a 2 month wait.

If you submit them both at the same time, they'll count both the waiting periods at the same time even though you don't have an approved license at the time you submitted a PTA.

[SuperHans]

There are a few guys here that shoot at little River, maybe you could see if you can meet up with someone to poke holes in paper, shooters are generally a good natured and helpful bunch.

That would be wonderful if you can.

If i submit an application at my station does that count for all of victoria. Because most of the other stations gave me "apply at your local station we cant help you"

He said that LRD was so backed up it would take alot longer than 28 days.

[juststarting]

Hey, no, submitting at your local station covers you for that 'region'. It does not extend beyond that.

[Elek]

If i submit an application at my station does that count for all of victoria. Because most of the other stations gave me "apply at your local station we cant help you"

If I remember right in Vic the person it will go to at the station is the "regional firearms officer"

You get booked in to an available slot in that region, it doesn't reach out around the state and find the first slot for you.

(Right, Vic guys?)

[juststarting]

Elek, correct.

[Joom]

Maybe the best time, get in while it's still here

[Modena]

I submitted my form to Moorabbin last week. Will let you guys know how long it takes......

[veep]

Easy in VIC. Have it in no time

[Modena]

I submitted my form to Moorabbin last week. Will let you guys know how long it takes......

The DFO got back from leave on 25th January, and he called me on that day as I had left a voicemail for him. He scheduled me straight in for the safety course on Feb 8th, which I couldn't make as it's my daughter's birthday, so I voluntarily went in to the Feb 22nd course. No delays here that I can see.

[FuzzyM]

The annoying thing is that I waited a bloody long time, as my DFO was on leave, and no one checked their emails!
Only to finally go do it and find that about a third of the people didn't even rock up on the night.

[headspace]

I'll be your friend.

You're all heart mate, I know you meant well though.
JD

[juststarting]

In the meantime, I had great time at Little River today. Muahahahaha

[Tiiger]

Whatever is happening in VIC it will still be better than starting at any time in most of the other states