18 FIREARMS RULES & LAW (51) Flashcards
WHAT 2 PRINCIPLE PIECES OF SA LAW GOVERN FIREARMS USE?
- The SA FIREARMS ACT 2015
- The SA FIREARMS REGULATIONS 2017
FIREARMS CLASSES
-
CLASS A =
- Airguns
- Manually loaded Rimfires
- Break action Shotguns
-
CLASS B =
- Manually loaded Centrefires
- Muzzle loading rifles
- Combination rifle/shotguns
- Revolving Chamber Rifles
-
CLASS C =
- Self loading Rimfires (up to 10 shot)
- Self loading or Pump action Shotguns (up to 5 shot)
-
CLASS D =
- Self loading Rimfires (over 10 shot)
- Self loading or pump action Shotguns (over 5 shot)
- Selfloading Centrefire rifles
- CLASS H = all Handguns
DEFINITION OF A FIREARM?
- A Firearm is a device designed to fire a projectile by means of burning propellant or compressed gas
- It includes:
- Receiver groups
- anything declared by regulation to be a firearm
- Unserviceable devices which which would, if working, be a firearm
- It does not include antiques or other devices excluded by regulation
MINIMUM OVERALL LENGTH FOR LONG GUNS?
- not less than 750mm (with any adjustable stock at its shortest)
MINIMUM BARREL LENGTHS FOR LONG GUNS
- Air Rifles = 250 mm
- Rifles = 330 mm
- Shotguns = 400 mm
DEFINITION OF A HANDGUN (FIREARMS ACT 1977)
- a firearm with a barrel <400mm long, designed for firing from the hand, & reasonably capable of being carried concealed
MINIMUM BARREL LENGTH FOR HANDGUNS?
- not less than 120mm for SLP
- not less than 100mm for revolvers
DO YOU NEED A FIREARMS LICENCE TO SHOOT AT A GALLERY OR RANGE?
- No, provided you are supervised by an authorised person (ie a range official)
MAXIMUM MAGAZINE CAPACITY FOR HANDGUNS?
- 10
PRESCRIBED FIREARMS
prescribed firearms are specifically prohibited under the act and include:
- fully automatic weapons
- RPGs & mortars
- sawn off firearms
- silenced firearms*
- homemades
- disguised firearms
* except professional shooters under strict conditions
WHAT PART OF A FIREARM IS THE RECEIVER?
- the receiver is the main housing into which the barrel, bolt, breech etc are fitted
- the receiver is regarded as a complete firearm under the act, whereas other parts (barrel, mags etc) are just ‘parts’ and less regulated
WHAT ARE THE 5 MAIN TYPES OF ‘ACTION’ FOR FIREARMS?
- BOLT ACTION
- LEVER ACTION
- BREAK ACTION
- PUMP ACTION
- SELF LOADING (aka SEMI-AUTO)
BULLET DANGER ZONES
- the maximum theoretical range of a bullet is termed the ‘danger zone’, and, due to air resistance, is achieved with the muzzle ~30 degrees above the horizon, not 45
- typical zones are:
- 2000m for .22 rimfires
- 5000m for centrefires
- up to 1000m for shotguns*
*much less with small shot
WHAT DOES ‘12 GAUGE’ MEAN IN A SHOTGUN?
- gauge = ‘balls to the pound’ : how many barrel calibre sized lead balls make up a pound…. so a 12g shotgun is a bigger calibre than a 20g
WHEN MAY YOU LEGALLY HAVE A FIREARM IN YOUR POSSESSION?
- only when you are appropriately licenced to do so
DEFINITION OF ‘POSSESSION’ OF A FIREARM
- Being in possession of a firearm means having it in your care, including in your hands, car or house, irrespective of ownership
WHEN TO CARRY YOUR FIREARMS LICENCE?
whenever you are carrying the firearm
STORAGE OF FIREARMS
Firearms must be stored in a compliant cabinet, which may be a:
- LEVEL 1 SAFE: with 2mm steel walls, securely attached to the building unless >150kg: mainly for modest numbers of class A and B firearms stored inside a dwelling
- LEVEL 2 SAFE: as above, with 3mm steel walls, for Class C, D and H, or Class A and B in an outbuilding.
- A Strongroom.
POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION
- It is illegal to possess ammunition without holding the corresponding firearms licence
- Quantities held should not exceed 12months use
- ‘ammunition’ includes whole rounds, primers & propellant, but not projectiles or empty cases
STORAGE OF AMMUNITION
- ammunition must be stored in a locked cupboard, separate from firearms.
- a vented wooden cupboard is recommended
TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN VEHICLES
Firearms and ammunition must be transported:
- In a locked compartment (incl glovebox or boot) if available
- With ammunition separate if 2 such compartments exist
- Out of sight.
POLICE INSPECTION OF WEAPONS STORAGE
- you must allow SAPOL to inspect such storage ‘at any reasonable time’
REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS
- all firearms must be registered within 14 days of acquisition, by application at any police station
AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE A FIREARM
- It is illegal to acquire a firearm by any means (purchase, loan, gift) without the approval of Registrar in the form of a ‘Permit to Acquire’, which has a mandatory 28 day waiting period
-
Exceptions:
- Dealers
- Loans to appropriate licence holders for <10 or <28 days, under the circumstances set out in the act
RULES FOR PRODUCTION OF FIREARMS AT POLICE STATIONS
- unloaded
- disassembled
- bagged and
- only in daylight hours
NAME THREE ‘14 DAY’ WINDOWS UNDER THE ACT
you have 14 days in which to notify the registrar that you have:
- acquired a firearm
- disposed of a firearm*
- changed your name or address
*including lost or stolen
CARRIAGE 0F LOADED FIREARMS IN PUBLIC PLACES
- it is illegal to carry a loaded firearm in a public place without lawful excuse (includes loaded magazines)
LOANING OF FIREARMS
you may loan a Class A or B firearm to an appropriately licenced* person
- for up to 10 days with a verbal agreement
- for up to 28 days with a written agreement stating the reason and period
- for over 28 days with a formal Permit to Acquire
* you must physically sight the licence
DISPOSAL OF FIREARMS
- Firearms may only be disposed of to a person in possession of a PERMIT TO ACQUIRE (or a dealer)
- such transfers must be witnessed by an authorised person (police officer, dealer or approved club official) who is then responsible for notifying the Registrar
- the new owner then has 14 days to register it in their name
USING FIREARMS IN BUILT UP AREAS
- Using a firearm in a built up area is not not specifically illegal, but could be under the SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT if considered likely to injure, frighten or annoy others, or damage property
HUNTING LAW
- Hunting is regulated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
- All persons involved (even gate openers) require a hunting permit from DEWNR, and the written permission of the landowner.
- Exception: you may shoot pest animals on your own land without a permit
KANGAROO HUNTING LAW
- All kangaroos* are protected and can only be shot with a permit
- The animal should be stationary
- A centrefire rifle should be used, with a telescopic sight, and within range for an accurate headshot
- The skin/carcass cannot leave the property without a tag
*and, as a general rule, all native animals
UNPROTECTED ANIMALS INCLUDE?
- Foxes
- Rabbits
- Feral Goats
RECOMMENDED MINIMUM CALIBRES FOR GAME ANIMALS
- SMALL GAME (Rabbits, foxes, cats up to 100m) = .22 Rimfire
- MEDIUM GAME (Kangaroos, goats, dingos) = .222*
- LARGE GAME (Pigs) = .243
- VERY LARGE GAME (Deer, Buffalo) = .270
* this is a centrefire cartrige, similar to the .223/5.56
EUTHANASIA OF STOCK
Euthanasia of stock should be carried out with:
- A Long gun (to allow better distancing and muzzle control)*
- At least a 3cm air gap (to allow muzzle gases to escape)
- 22 rimfires are sufficient even for large animals if downed, or can be lead to a crush
- Centrefires are needed for standing large animals
- In horses, aim for the spot centred between eyes and ears (directly between the eyes will miss below the brain)
SHOOTING FROM THE ROADSIDE
- Shooting from the roadside requires the written permission of
- the road owner (the council) and
- any landowner who’s land is overshot.
LEAD SHOT IN WETLANDS
- Lead shot is banned in wetlands because ducks may eat it and be poisoned
- Steel or iron shot may be substituted, but is hard on older guns
APPROVED HANDGUN USE WITH MY H LICENCE?
- only for club purposes, ie only ever loaded at the range
MINIMUM YEARLY CLUB ATTENDANCE TO MAINTAIN CLASS H LICENCE
- you must attend 6 events annually for the first weapon, and 4 more for each additional type
WHAT SIGHT TO FOCUS ON?
- Focus on the FRONT sight, NOT the TARGET: the TARGET and the REAR sight should be very blurry
CLUB RULES BEFORE REHOLSTERING
- for loaded weapons: with safety applied if so fitted
- for unloaded weapons: range officer must clear first
NAME THE 8 FIREARMS SAFETY RULES
- Treat every firearm as loaded
- Always point in a safe direction
- Identify your target & whats behind it
- Never fire at hard surfaces or water
- Never loaded in the car, home or camp
- Store ammunition & firearms separately
- No alcohol or drugs
- Unload before climbing fences or obstacles
CLICK VS NO CLICK WHEN FAILS TO FIRE?
-
CLICK HEARD = firing pin struck primer, so failure to fire =
- MISSFIRE (primer struck but didnt ignite) or
- HANGFIRE (delayed ignition - can be up to 30s), so ALWAYS keep muzzle direction safe & wait 30s before opening action*
-
NO CLICK HEARD = primer not struck, and cause =
- SAFETY ON, or
- FAILURE OF THE ACTION TO CYCLE**, so actions on = check safe, confirm action closed
- * ignition of an unsupported cartridge after the action is opened can cause rupture and shooter injury*
- ** the ‘action’ is the whole sequence from the previous firing to this one, ie extraction, ejection, feeding, chambering, bolt closure, pin striking*
ACTIONS ON LIVE ROUND STUCK IN BARREL
- do not attempt removal
- remove bolt and refer to gunsmith
LOADED FIREARMS MUST BE…..
- CARRIED
- they cannot be put down…. not even to climb a fence…..they must be unloaded before leaving the shooters hands
FIREARMS CYCLE OF OPERATION
- FEEDING: the cartridge is fed into the chamber
- COCKING: the hammer is set ready to release
- LOCKING: the bolt is locked against the base of the cartridge, ready to contain the gases
- FIRING: the trigger releases the sear, allowing the spring to drive the firing pin into the primer
- UNLOCKING: the bolt in unlocked
- EXTRACTING: the cartridge is pulled out of the chamber
- EJECTING: the cartridge is removed from the action
DRY FIRING RIMFIRES
- unlike CENTREFIRE weapons, RIMFIRE weapons should NOT be fired whilst empty as the firing pin may damage the face of the breech
NAME THE 3 MAIN PARTS OF A MODERN FIREARM
1) LOCK (aka ACTION): the parts that load, fire & extract the cartridge (bolt, spring, firing pin, sear, trigger, extractor, ejector)
2) STOCK
3) BARREL
CARRIAGE OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS
- Carriage of Offensive Weapons (defined as anything that could be used as a weapon) is illegal, and gives wide scope to prosecute inappropriate carriage of firearms, eg in public or in a vehicle without reason to do so.
ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND FIREARMS
- Whilst total abstinence is not required, it is illegal to handle a firearm when so affected by alcohol or drugs to be incapable of exercising proper control of it
CAN AN UNLICENCED PERSON SHOOT YOUR GUN ?
check!!
- Yes, provided they are under your direct supervision
