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Post by Peter on Oct 28, 2014 21:47:43 GMT 10
Tonight I started seriously looking up sports shooting. Here in WA the laws seem to be quite draconian. For a start, to legally purchase a firearm I need to be a member of a shooting club for a minimum of 26 weeks prior to applying to purchase; during this time I must do a minimum of 15 separate shooting sessions. After that I can apply to purchase, then wait for the mandatory 28 days before they process it. Bla, bla, bla. There's also the mandatory training, etc. Truth be told, I will need this. To start with, I'm thinking of taking the following approach: 1) Joining a shooting club, doing as many sessions as possible over the next 6 months. One local club that covers handguns and rifles is www.lrsc.net.au/2) Start training with a .22 pistol and .22 rifle.
3) I'll probably also have a session or so with a 12 gauge shotgun and .44 Desert Eagle. Purely for fun (I'm told they're a heap of fun to fire, but I'd like to get some skills in place before the Desert Eagle).
4) I've also been told by a friend (ex foreign special forces whose opinion I respect) that sig.edu.au/handgun-orientation/ is a worthwhile course for handguns.
I certainly welcome any qualified advice, but I would ask that any such advice is given in layman terms. Also, where (apart from this forum) can I read up on firearms? I realise that huge amounts of training and practice are the best ways to learn, but I am hungry for as much knowledge as possible.
Thanks folks. Really. |
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Post by Peter on Oct 28, 2014 21:49:19 GMT 10
I must also mention that I'll take up any offer from a few farmers I know to shoot anything that moves or stays still on their properties...
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Post by thereth on Oct 28, 2014 22:12:16 GMT 10
Mr Pete, please please please stay away from lrsc, they are the firing range equivalent to saying a trip to the zoo is a safari.
Midland Gun Mart and Tackle have both a rifle and pistol section, and also a fantastic training regime, which cost wise drops considerably if you get 2 of you in at the same time (basically you just pay for the extra ammo). There are 2 blokes that work there, and both are full to the brim with knowledge, granted one is a redneck who blames all the worlds problems on the jews but aside from that he is fine.
In regards to rifle shooting, while you can get your licence the club route, another option is to find one of the properties here in WA that "sell" u a property letter with whatever calibre you want, but they arent cheap, about $200 when I got mine last.
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Post by Peter on Oct 28, 2014 22:33:50 GMT 10
Thanks Thereth. If I remember correctly, you're in WA. I don't suppose a quiet beer or two is in order?
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Post by Peter on Oct 28, 2014 22:34:01 GMT 10
My shout, btw.
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Post by thereth on Oct 29, 2014 0:18:02 GMT 10
sounds good, next time im in Perth ill let you know, I moved out to the wheatbelt earlier this year, step one in Reths GTFO plan :-)
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Post by Peter on Oct 29, 2014 23:01:22 GMT 10
Can anyone please advise if any gun magazines (ie softcover publications purchased from the newsagents) any good for decent information on firearms? There's so much information online that appears to be utter crap that I'm having trouble sorting through it.
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Oct 29, 2014 23:04:44 GMT 10
you'll find gun mags are like most other mags, 80% advertising. I'm a member of the SSAA and they send out a magazine that has varying quality of articles but also has ads from Aussie gun stores (mainly QLD and NSW unfortunately, but whatever... can still ship interstate)
There is so much BS going round about guns ammo and gear... it's a constant fanboy turf war, fighting for your dollars. Take everything you read with a large grain of salt, if you can get first hand data at every chance.
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Post by Peter on Oct 29, 2014 23:25:27 GMT 10
Thanks Aus - I thought as much. My problem is that I've had a hard time connecting with serious preppers where I am, and most of the people I know are farmers (ie, .22 is the answer to everything). I do know a couple of ex-special services folks (foreign), but they're at the other extreme (ie, the best firearms aren't available here). I think I'll start with the basics and grow from there.
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Post by thereth on Oct 29, 2014 23:51:41 GMT 10
my 2c, start with a 22 and 12ga, 22 is cheap to practice with and can kill most small game, especially what we have here in WA which is basically bunnies and roos.
The 12ga will allow you to shoot just about anything if you have the shell. A second hand single barel can be had for as cheap as $100 on occassion.
If you decide to go that route, try to put them both on the same application. Any addition is an extra $175ish so if you can put 2 onto one application it will save you some cash
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Post by thereth on Oct 29, 2014 23:57:57 GMT 10
oh and in regards to brands, I really cant see that much difference between a lot of the 'standard'
ones. I have a cheap little Norinco 22 (chinese copy of BRNO) and it can shoot a bunny @ 50m without an issue, it shoots anything i throw through it and takes a beating. Obviously it isnt going to be a better shot then a Anshutz o anything like that, but seeing as you can buy them brand new fo $300ish I think they are fantastic.
In saying that, Savages, BRNO, Mossbergs, Marlins and Zastava are all fine and can be had for under $500 new.
For accessability of magazines I would recommend BRNO (or Norinco as they use BRNO mags) or Savage as they are readily available and cheap as chips.
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Oct 30, 2014 0:26:16 GMT 10
In terms of calibres... if in doubt, .22LR and anything that is a NATO round and that's a safe bet in terms of quality vs price. 9mm, .223/5.56, .308, 12g, .50BMG Okay, I tacked on .50BMG as a joke... sorta. There are a few .50BMG rifles kicking around in Vic on Cat B. Not sure if you can get them in WA cause that's probably one of the worse states in regards to guns. It's not the most economical round, sure. But if you're shooting at engine blocks down at the local range, it's gonna be cheaper (and legal for some of us) compared to a 66mm rocket  If you can't hunt it with the above calibres, you need a plasma rifle haha As a side note, .17HMR is a nifty little round that flies flat and packs a punch for a tiny projectile. In terms of manufacturers, read/watch some reviews online. I recommend 5-10 to get a balanced opinion. If you like what you hear and see, try find one someone will let you shoot or at the least find one in a shop and go fingerbang it like your high school girlfriend. In terms of firearms in general, you get what you pay for to an extent. There is a definitive point of diminishing returns in terms of the ammo-consistency:firearm accuracy:shooter's-ability. Buy the best you can afford, but don't go crazy. If you find a $400 gun that you're happy with, and a similar one that's $800 seems better built and feels just as good in your hands then consider getting the more expensive one. If you then handle a $3000 gun, you might be able to work that into your budget and if so then that's great for you. But weigh up, particularly this early in the game, whether you're going to shoot 3000/800 or 3000/400 times better with it. The less you spend on a gun, the more you can spend on ammo. If you're on a tighter budget. And the more ammo you put through it, the better shot you'll be. What I'm saying is, if you get an expensive gun but can't afford to feed it regularly then you won't be a very good shot. But if you get a cheaper gun and put 200 rounds through it a week, then you'll be a much better shot even though the cheaper gun "isn't as accurate". |
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Post by thereth on Oct 30, 2014 0:33:37 GMT 10
i agree completely Aus, I am loooking at it more from a financial perspective. I bought the best I could at the time and have been lucky enough to be very happy with them.
I saying that if funds allowed I would easily have bought something more expensive, the Ruger 77/22 is one my favourite fireams but it is far outof my price range.
But yes, as is true for everything in life, buy the best you can afford and still get use out of it. You wouldnt spend $100k on a boat only to be unable to take her out beause you cant afford to maintain her. :-)
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Post by Peter on Oct 30, 2014 8:19:35 GMT 10
Cheers folks - that makes perfect sense.
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Post by Fractus on Oct 30, 2014 9:17:54 GMT 10
I agree 100%. Get a 22 and practise until your accuracy is limited to the rifles quality and not your skill. This includes finding the ammo best suited. If you are shooting a really large quantity of ammo then use sub sonic as the rifle will last longer. I had a lovely voere 22 but after 20 years it was no longer accurate enough to take a bunny at 50 metres. Sg and then practise. Play with chokes and use lots of paper to understand chokes and spread go various shot gauges.
Then the big buy.. The rifle. I agree with the NATO calibre but I went I between 243. Although my reasons are not entirely logical, they worked for me. 1 working with a roo shooter in WA in the early 80s and he used a 243 backed up with a 223 which I never saw him use. 2 ammo weight. 243 is roughly mid weight to 223 & 308. Ask to hold 5 boxes of 308 (100 rounds) then same in 243. 3 some countries have banned military calibre rifles. Sweden is one that comes to mind. Our nanny state may eventually follow suit 4 243 is able to take down just a bit more than 223 and is still not to powerful for a lighter person to shoot without fear. 308 has a bit more punch due to its power.
If you end up with all 3 you have 50% of your medium long range communication sorted.
Ps practise left and right as you never know which eye will lose vision quicker as you get older and ambidextrous skills are essential for all forms of tools. Even a hammer and saw.
Ironic that now I press quick reply
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Post by Fractus on Oct 30, 2014 9:47:04 GMT 10
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Post by Peter on Oct 30, 2014 10:40:50 GMT 10
A major factor for me is ammo availability - I assume that the more common calibres would be both cheaper now and easier to find post-crunch. Being a lighter person is not a factor at all for me  - although Mrs Pete is quite a bit smaller. |
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Post by Peter on Jan 7, 2015 16:59:15 GMT 10
Mrs Pete met up with her uncle in the country this week; she'll be returning home with a letter allowing me to shoot on his farm. So the paperwork begins... thereth - about that beer next time you're in Perth... |
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scoutmum
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North Queensland
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Post by scoutmum on Jan 7, 2015 17:01:53 GMT 10
A gun license, and learning to shoot, is on my to-do list for this year!
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Post by thereth on Jan 7, 2015 19:46:51 GMT 10
Mrs Pete met up with her uncle in the country this week; she'll be returning home with a letter allowing me to shoot on his farm. So the paperwork begins... thereth - about that beer next time you're in Perth... i wont be in Perth for a couple of months, had to buy mrs reth a new car over xmas as hers died so $$ are in short supply, but i will definitely let you know when im coming, in the meantime if you have any questions let me know, the other half is going through the process of getting her licence now as well |
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- although Mrs Pete is quite a bit smaller. 
