A friend of mine there in Auckland just emailed me and said that he has completed his firearms course.

He wants to buy a used hunting rifle in either 308 or 270 but he doesn't know of the best places to start looking.

Does anyone have reommendations for webasites/shops there in NZ for the best bang for his buck?

If you saw how we get ripped off over here you'd wonder where to start to.

Hamill's is a smaller chain that seem to be priced reasonably, otherwise trade me (a local online auction site) for second hand. Just tell NOT to go to the Hunting and fishing chain.

You guys really do get ripped off. Some of my buddies there want me to send them optics and other gear.

Heard a lot of people getting stuff from Guncity. Second the idea of Trademe, although I heard it is a pain now.

Thanks guys, can you keep an eye out for anything special. I'll tell him about "trademe"

Wirehunt, I've seen the prices that you guys
have to pay. I think that I've been in every gunshop within 50 K of Aukland.

I don't know how you guys can afford to shoot.

Trademe for a rifle and have a scope sent from the US

Frank can you get me a price for 470NE brass please

GunCity would be the last choice for me - unless I decide I need their gold-plated AK-47 one day......

In Auckland I would try Sportsways , the two gunshops side by side on Great South Road - Serious Shooters and Carvells - and would definately look at Trade me .

Trade Me has lots on offer , far too many sellers with silly ideas on value tho. Also lots of dealers selling under non-dealer names.

Best bet would be to locate something that interests your friend , then get an experienced gun person to go with him to have a look . As always in hard times - cash talks. Be prepared to negotiate , even in a gunshop - they wont be selling a lot at present either .

Good luck.

Most of the ads I have seen for Hamills havent been too impressive and I have seen some good deals in Hunting & Fishing but always shop all around before buying. I find Sportswys are pretty greedy on some stuff.

Reloaders Supplies in Auckland is good and the place Muzza mentioned next to Serious Shooters is SAI Guns, both those are good.

Tell you friend to go to www.fishnhunt.co.nz too for info etc.

Just remember our prices are in NZ$ so not too comparable to US prices but most are still a rip off by comparison. Just the price we need to pay to follow our calling!

Thanks again. I passed along the information to my friend there.

I visited Serious Shooters and SAI when I was in Auckland in January. The guys at SAI gave me the tour with the story behind the shooting they had where they had all the trouble with the prosecutors.

quote:

Originally posted by TOP_PREDATOR:
Trademe for a rifle and have a scope sent from the US

Frank can you get me a price for 470NE brass please

PM'ed you

Fjold - did you knw that Ray Carvell from SAI Guns had died a couple of months ago ? Just a piece of information that may interest you .

quote:

Originally posted by muzza:
Fjold - did you knw that Ray Carvell from SAI Guns had died a couple of months ago ? Just a piece of information that may interest you .

I'm sorry to hear that, all the guys were extremely nice to me when I visited them in January.

A mate of mine has a Husquvarna .270 for sale at the moment. Its a deffinate shooter and I've seen him kill 2 Tahr and a Sika at 400-450 yards with his last 3 shots. Condition is good and he wants about 800 nzd for it. Email me if your mate is interested.
shankspony@xtra.co.nz

quote:

Originally posted by wirehunt:
Just tell NOT to go to the Hunting and fishing chain.

As for Hunting and Fishing the two best stores in the Upper North Island are Taupo and Whakatana. Their service is great.