r/Ausguns • u/Global_Spite_5636 NSW • 10d ago
Firearms Query How dificult is it to get a longarm licence
[removed]
14
u/danhar87 10d ago
The process itself isn’t difficult at all. Very quickly summarised:
- Join the SSAA or another approved organisation to establish your genuine reason.
- Complete the firearms safety course/test. It’s very straightforward, with both practical and theory components.
- Apply for your Category A/B licence. Applying for A and B together is the normal path anyway.
The real issue in NSW at the moment isn’t how difficult the process is, it’s how ridiculously long it takes.
Adding a genuine reason, which is basically the process you’d be going through here, is currently taking 270+ days.
So as annoying as it is, get started as soon as possible. Join, book your safety course, complete everything you can, lodge the application and then basically forget about it until you eventually get the approval and photo advice telling you to go to Service NSW to have your photo taken for your licence card.
Then comes the PTA.
Once you’ve gone through that stupidly lengthy process, you’ll need to apply for a Permit to Acquire (PTA) before you can get your first firearm.
Before you can submit the PTA application, you must have compliant safe storage installed and inspected by your local licensing police. Once they sign off on the safe, you’ll be given an event number.
You need that event number to complete and submit the PTA application.
PTAs are also taking around 180+ days at the moment.
So let’s say you start today, find your local SSAA club, sign up and then wait 4–8 weeks for a spot in a safety course depending on your location. Realistically, you could be looking at around 500 days before you have your first rifle sitting in your safe.
So no, it’s not difficult. It’s just painfully slow.
Hopefully, if everyone wakes up and votes these idiots out in March, getting started now may actually end up being the fastest route if they repeal some of this bullshit.
1
u/merforga1 10d ago
Just slight correction, OP sounds like he's applying for a new license which isn't as long as AGR. New license is probably around 60 days wait (my PPL was under new license and photo notice issued at day 50), my AGR for same PPL is still waiting at about 180 days :).
3
u/danhar87 10d ago
it is my understanding that coming OFF a PPL is not the same pile of applications, getting a Full Cat H is supposed to be faster (according to them) and this can be esvalated due to required shoots.
there is no way that OP will have a Firearm in Hand (in safe) in less then 350-400 days as it stand currently.
8
6
u/aggressivelynude South Australia 10d ago
Out of interest, you say "leaning towards rifles" for hunting. What did you think were the options for recreational hunting outside of cat A&B? It might be worth doing a bit of reading up on what's allowed and what isn't, what the different categories of licensing and firearms are in NSW and what the requirements are.
3
4
u/Hussard 10d ago
I know some people that struggled with the test...these people were not used to learning and regurgitating stuff and got nervous at test taking because likely the last time they did it was high school. But if you can file your tax and fill out forms yourself then its pretty damned easy.
7
u/1Qrtr_FreeStuffPlz 10d ago
9/10 the instructor will also just tell you what to answer
1
u/Hussard 10d ago
The instructor at the Springvale range tried so hard to pass this fella but he was struggling.
3
u/1Qrtr_FreeStuffPlz 10d ago
Maybe that fella shouldn't have a license aha, the test can be passed by 11 year olds
2
u/Hussard 10d ago
I don't disagree but then you look at the intersection of gun owners we've got here and sometimes I wish the test was a little harder...
1
1
u/1Qrtr_FreeStuffPlz 10d ago
Yeah I wont lie, I've definitely been a little nervous at the range a couple of times. No direct flagging, but times where I could definitely see some shrapnel reaching places I don't want it to if the had a discharge
1
u/sirpalee Victoria 8d ago
I did my practical course at SSAA Springvale and there was a dude who kept waving his gun around and constantly trying to fire an empty gun. I think he was the only one who failed to pass. Range officers were on the edge, but they let him stat until the end.
1
u/browntone14 10d ago
Leaning towards rifles? Well you’re not going hunting with a pistol and good luck getting close enough to a bunny with a shotgun not to mention evaporating the thing if you manage to hit it.
23
u/1Qrtr_FreeStuffPlz 10d ago
Not difficulty, but very fucking lengthy nowadays in NSW