The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I'm emigrating next year and keen to continue shooting so have been reading up on firearms laws overseas. Although I'm very much in favour of free state laws eg. Arizona, it doesn't seem we have it all that bad in the UK.

For example Australia, no semi centrefire, semi rimfire or semi shotgun allowed. No pump action shotgun. No .50 cal. No collapsible stocks. Nothing that looks like an assault rifle even if the action is legal.....? But handguns are OK up to a certain caliber.

New Zealand - pretty much allows everything apart from full auto, but wait, you can't have a "military style" pistol grip. So Kiwi's change their stocks on their AR15's to integrate the pistol grip and everything is OK. Seems like California has a similar law. Retarded.

Oh and you can't build your own AR15 in Maryland, US.

So handguns aside we can still shoot BP revolvers, semi rimfire, semi shotgun, 50 cal and any "military looking" rifle as long as the action is legal. And we can have pistol grips - lucky us!

Considering Australia is the country of choice I'll be giving up my straight pull and semi rimfires/shotguns for handguns, IPSC and a beach. Not a bad deal.....?

Grizzly wrote:Considering Australia is the country of choice I'll be giving up my straight pull and semi rimfires/shotguns for handguns, IPSC and a beach. Not a bad deal.....?

Australia is in the deep throes of what I call 'idiot suburban politician itis'. It goes a lot further than gun laws but as an example you have noticed that they have recently restricted pistol calibres? That suppressors are prohibited? That they have laws regarding brass catchers? That airsoft and paintball and air guns are all treated as firearms? Any one of these may not affect you but they do give a general indication as to the 'healthy mindset' as it were of the nation. Give it another few years and some do-nothing-do-good will get 'combat simulated shooting' or 'military bayonet lugs' or somethign else banned 'for the cheeeeldren'.

I suppose it depends what way you look at it. Just because some countries are possibly worst doesn't mean ours are good.

Not sure when you last looked at New Zealand, but the get out clause on pistol grips/thumb-hole stocks went a while back.
A military style cannot be downgraded to sporting "A" Class now by adding a thumb-hole stock
..and full auto IS allowed in NZ, but only on collector licence.

When I was there I sold a working Bren & a working MG34; and bought a mini van load of "C" & "F" Class kit at a collector auction in Wellington.
The shop had a fully working 75mm mortar free standing on the shop floor...for sale

IF I was looking to move though, I'd head to Finland or Sweden

IF I was looking to move though, I'd head to Finland or Sweden

The firearms laws in Sweden are not as strict as the UK but not as liberal as some think.

In Sweden. When you apply for a permit, you have to state for what purpose you need a certain firearm, and have the police approve of your choice of firearm for this purpose. Self-defense is not a valid purpose. About the only firearms you can own are hunting rifles (which require a hunting license) and non-automatic pistols (which require you to have been a member of a pistol shooting club for at least six months).

Charlie Muggins wrote:

Grizzly wrote:Considering Australia is the country of choice I'll be giving up my straight pull and semi rimfires/shotguns for handguns, IPSC and a beach. Not a bad deal.....?

Australia is in the deep throes of what I call 'idiot suburban politician itis'. It goes a lot further than gun laws but as an example you have noticed that they have recently restricted pistol calibres? That suppressors are prohibited? That they have laws regarding brass catchers? That airsoft and paintball and air guns are all treated as firearms? Any one of these may not affect you but they do give a general indication as to the 'healthy mindset' as it were of the nation. Give it another few years and some do-nothing-do-good will get 'combat simulated shooting' or 'military bayonet lugs' or somethign else banned 'for the cheeeeldren'.

Yes I agree and was aware of some of that. Although regarding pistol caliber you can have your ticket amended fairly easily to include up to .45 for "metallic silhouette shooting". Thankfully it's a two for one on the residency visa so there is always New Zealand and the integrated stock malarky.

saddler wrote:Not sure when you last looked at New Zealand, but the get out clause on pistol grips/thumb-hole stocks went a while back.
A military style cannot be downgraded to sporting "A" Class now by adding a thumb-hole stock
..and full auto IS allowed in NZ, but only on collector licence.

When I was there I sold a working Bren & a working MG34; and bought a mini van load of "C" & "F" Class kit at a collector auction in Wellington.
The shop had a fully working 75mm mortar free standing on the shop floor...for sale

IF I was looking to move though, I'd head to Finland or Sweden

Useful to know thanks. Although regarding full auto's I'm thinking of guns you can actually shoot.. On further reading it seems "participation in service-rifle or IPSC 3-gun competitions" is a valid reason to apply for CAT E and a "Military-Style Semi-Automatic" ....so they have options.

ordnance wrote:

IF I was looking to move though, I'd head to Finland or Sweden

The firearms laws in Sweden are not as strict as the UK but not as liberal as some think.

In Sweden. When you apply for a permit, you have to state for what purpose you need a certain firearm, and have the police approve of your choice of firearm for this purpose. Self-defense is not a valid purpose. About the only firearms you can own are hunting rifles (which require a hunting license) and non-automatic pistols (which require you to have been a member of a pistol shooting club for at least six months).

I know a guy in Sweden who hunts Reindeer in the far north of the country and he uses a Dragunov, all licenced and legal and still semi-auto.

ordnance wrote:

IF I was looking to move though, I'd head to Finland or Sweden

The firearms laws in Sweden are not as strict as the UK but not as liberal as some think.

In Sweden. When you apply for a permit, you have to state for what purpose you need a certain firearm, and have the police approve of your choice of firearm for this purpose. Self-defense is not a valid purpose. About the only firearms you can own are hunting rifles (which require a hunting license) and non-automatic pistols (which require you to have been a member of a pistol shooting club for at least six months).

I've been to LOTS of gun shows & gun auctions in Sweden.

Was shown a nice Husqvarna copy of the Colt M1903 in .32ACP, for under £75. Seen lots of other pistols there, not as many revolvers.

So, not noticed a lack of ANY guns there, semi auto rifles, semi auto pistols, or the like: and they still have a dedicated target shooting branch that uses their old 9mm SMG - the CG M45 - in full auto mode.

Grizzly wrote:

saddler wrote:Not sure when you last looked at New Zealand, but the get out clause on pistol grips/thumb-hole stocks went a while back.
A military style cannot be downgraded to sporting "A" Class now by adding a thumb-hole stock

Useful to know thanks. Although regarding full auto's I'm thinking of guns you can actually shoot.. On further reading it seems "participation in service-rifle or IPSC 3-gun competitions" is a valid reason to apply for CAT E and a "Military-Style Semi-Automatic" ....so they have options.

Actually Saddler's information is a bit dated. Yes in 2009 Police did change their interpretation to make the addition of a thumbhole stock insufficient to change the definition of an AR15 from MSSA (Military Style Semi-Auto - 'E' Category) to a sporting firearm 'A' Category. They subsequently lost the resulting court case and that interpretation of a pistol grip was struck down.

For a wonderful but brief period we were able to buy an AR15 on an A licence, so long as it didn't have any of the other offending MSSA features (telescoping stock, flash eliminator, bayonet lug, high-capacity magazines).

In December a new Arms Amendment Bill was passed. Those who bought ARs during the period when the law was struck down had until June to either: apply for an 'E' endorsed licence to hold an MSSA - and most did; or change the stock to a thumbhole type and keep their AR as an A Category sporting firearm.

I doubt Police have given up - likely we will hear from them on this subject again, but for now it is once again, perfectly legal to buy and own an AR15 on a sporting "A" endorsement so long as it does not have any of the evil MSSA features. All you need is a stock like this one, and you are good to go.

As a side-benefit, the Military Rifle Association shoots are enjoying a real surge of popularity what will all the brand-new 'E' Category shooters out there. :cheers: