I have done a fair bit of research on owning guns, and I think that if I get all my ducks in a row it will happen. My only goals are a 223/222 type rifle and a 308/30-06 type rifle. As I am probably only going to be in Canberra for 3 years.

I'll also be on a Diplo Visa so hopefully that will help.

What gunshops in ACT and near by are good?

If I buy something like a cheap Stevens bolt rifle (savage in disguise) can I buy the parts from America to build a heavy barreled 308 or 6.5x47 without a lot of drama. As in can I change the caliber of a rifle, without asking 1000 people, and saying mother - may I?

I'll let the ACT locals handle the gunshop info issue. There are several in the area.

Changing the calibre of a rifle is not a big issue here, in most of our states. Requires notification to the registry, but dunno if ACT requires this to be in advance.

Major parts such as barrels, actions and trigger assemblies do require an import permit, and Defence Dept import authority, at this end, but these are free of charge. And due to some weird restrictions in the ACT/NSW, barrels can only be mailed to a dealer Edit: Can only be mailed to a NSW dealer, not an ACT one. So you do have to get one involved in the order.

Where there is an issue, however, is getting specified parts [barrels, actions etc.], or parts orders over US$100, out of the US.

These require an export license, and have to be handled by an FFL who's registered with the US State Dept as an exporter. The State Dept fees are currently US$250 per license, and the FFL will charge for their time. And the whole process is slow - 6 weeks is usual.
Dan Lilja has as succinct a summary as I've found, here: http://www.riflebarrels.com/exporting.htm

Well the parts could be mailed via the USPS to the FPO, so the state dept drama is nil.

Just have to deal with the Aussies, and that doesn't sound like as big a problem.

Its been 16 years since I've lived in the ACT so I can't really help. There was a gunsmith there and about two good shops but god knows if they are still around. If no one from Canberra answers mate, I'll do some research for you.

There are two gunshops in the ACT, they are owned by the same family and their prices and services reflect the fact that they have a local monopoly. There are a number of good yet small country gunshops within a couple of hours drive and Horsley Park Gunshop, one of the countries largest, is a 2.5 hr drive up the highway from Canberra.

Let me know when you hit town and I should be able to point you in the right direction.

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
If I buy something like a cheap Stevens bolt rifle (savage in disguise) can I buy the parts from America to build a heavy barreled 308 or 6.5x47 without a lot of drama. As in can I change the caliber of a rifle, without asking 1000 people, and saying mother - may I?

I've had barrels posted to me with no paperwork on the Aussie side at all required. And none on the US side either.

Sounds good, Savage looks like the way to go.

I would suggest you have a read of the ACT firearms site @ ACT Firearms

ACT laws tend to be even more draconian than the rest of the country which may influence the path you decide to go down.

Either way you will need a B709 Import Permit to import parts like barrels, triggers magazines etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Oscar270:
Either way you will need a B709 Import Permit to import parts like barrels, triggers magazines etc.

Yes I expected that, but 3 sets of barrels just came straight through, no questions or paperwork.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:

quote:

Originally posted by Oscar270:
Either way you will need a B709 Import Permit to import parts like barrels, triggers magazines etc.

Yes I expected that, but 3 sets of barrels just came straight through, no questions or paperwork.

Yes, but how long ago was this, John?

As we've discussed over on NitroExpress, the rules have changed a lot in the past couple of years, at the US end.

At the Oz end, barrels are definitely now on the Customs Prohibited Imports list, of firearm components that require the B709A import permit. Even if they may not have been, in the past. Fact sheet [900kB pdf]: http://www.customs.gov.au/webd...rearmPartsAccess.pdf

Another point is that you're in SA.
And NSW, and the ACT even more so, have restrictions on sending firearms or defined parts via mail, which just don't exist in the other states.

Basically it is illegal to send to, or receive at, any ACT address by mail, any firearm or 'firearm part' [defined as 'barrel, breech, pistol slide, frame, receiver, cylinder, trigger mechanism, operating mechanism or magazine']. S229 of the ACT Firearms Act 1996. An online readable [non-download] version of the legislation is at http://www.austlii.edu.au/databases.html#act under 'Firearms' in the Consolidated Acts and Regs sections.

Dealers can send these items out of the ACT by mail, to other dealers only. But they may not receive them by mail. Couriers are their only option.