Importation to Australia from the States

G’day all,
Looking for some advice in relation to the purchase of a Tennessee Valley Muzzleloader rifle for import to Australia. May also look into a Kibler.
Has anyone here attempted to import either a complete BP rifle or kit from the States?
I emailed TVM and they said they hadn’t done one direct but had had a customer sent one from a dealer Stateside....(?)
Mentioned something about FFL(?)....
Any information from someone with experience in this area would be greatly appreciated.
Before anyone suggests it NO I haven’t spoken to my state firearms department....they know bugger all about anything....they’re just just contracted telephonists.
Many thanks!
Over to you guys.

As someone who tried to get a kibler I can tell you that you may as well cross it off the list. Jim kibler has refused to serial number the barrels and a couple of other things so they cannot be imported. Contrary to the experiences of Americans I've heard from I found their communication poor, they just stopped getting back to me.

I've been considering a Chambers, if you want to import it you can contact Roger Mowbry qt Pedersoli Australia. He has experience with this sort of thing. He can be a bit gruff and he certainly puts his margin on but he knows his stuff.

Depending on your state there are different rules too, in Vic if I import a kit I have 14 days to complete it and present it to the law. I believe if you get it in separate shipments you can get around this. I've been thinking of getting a chambers sent in the white so I just need to stain and polish it, but that's in the range of $2500-3000. A chambers kit you build from scratch is around $1800 otherwise in our money. 

I've spoken to Barbie (Jim Chambers daughter) a few times and she is very helpful. I'm tossing up between an Edward Marshall or Englidh sporting rifle in 58. Just trying to sort some health issues out before I commit to spending more money I should be saving though!

I've not really looked at TVM. I love hawken guns and would really like a fullstock hawken flintlovk in 58, but there aren't many of them around. What style are you looking at?

Much obliged Bushfire.
I did wonder how difficult it may have been....
I’ll keep saving pennies and make more enquires closer to then.
Your advice is well appreciated.
May just stick with Mowbray and Pedersoli for now. Rocky Mountain Hawken will likely be my next purchase (or a Jaeger).
Meantime the Frontier is entertaining me adequately.....
Seasons greetings to all!
Kindly,
Tank.

Was going to get a Tennessee poor boy*

Tank wrote:Much obliged Bushfire.
I did wonder how difficult it may have been....
I’ll keep saving pennies and make more enquires closer to then.
Your advice is well appreciated.
May just stick with Mowbray and Pedersoli for now.  Rocky Mountain Hawken will likely be my next purchase (or a Jaeger).
Meantime the Frontier is entertaining me adequately.....
Seasons greetings to all!
Kindly,
Tank.

I have a Rocky Mountain hawken and can't speak highly enough of it, I would never part with it. I think they're about $2500 now, I recently got a price on a .54 jager flintlock at $3400! 

What calibre and action is the frontier? I tossed up getting a .54 in flintlock, just leaned away because I wanted a .58 and already have a  54 in the RM hawken.

It’s a percussion .54 Bushfire.
It seemed the other available calibres were all 1:48” whereas the .54 is 65”(?) twist rate and as I wanted an RB rifle (and having enjoyed the potential of .54 previously) it seemed a reasonable choice.
Yes! The Hawken is a handsome beast.
I’m thinking maybe I’d be best off with the Missouri in combination with a vernier and tunnel having been lured by Lew’s video escapades!
So little time.....so many rifles!
Your Rocky comes highly recommended though(?).....the Frontiers only similarity is its calibre (.54 vs .54).....it’s always a struggle when you’ve different purposes in mind I guess. Still....one more is always the right number of rifles in the safe!

.58
Is that a bigger is better thing?
I completely understand mate.
Ever considered some of the smaller bores for giggles?

I already have two 50s, one in an inline which I'll probably sell and a Missouri River. I've got a 20G/62 cal smoothbore for small game so the 58 would just fit a gap. If I had two 54s one would just never get used. 

I don't target shoot or shoot for fun really, I just like hunting. Going a 45 or 36 doesn't really interest me from that perspective as I've got the smoothboore and for deer neither are legal. 

I've changed out my Missouri River to a Lyman SML tang peep and a Lee Shaver PH front sight. Haven't shot much with it yet but from the target practice i don't see why the setup can't take deer out to 250-300m. I recommend something along those lines (or the vernier tang) if you're looking to stretch further for targets.

You guy’s have it tough in Australia, You can’t just order things like we can here in the States, and when you can it’s EXPENSIVE. I sympathize with you guy’s there

What about buying a rifle barrel, then buying the hardware and stock blank. Then build a rifle.

Seems like it might get around alot of red tape.

Thanks Lew. It’s not getting any better. Some amongst us would say, self included, we’re the most over governed, over regulated ‘western’ countries there is. Unfortunately compliance is what we do best over here....
Last month I bought 3kg Swiss 2F @ $125.00/kg. 1000 CCI caps for $187.00. Thought I might try some swaged balls at $40.00 per 100.....good news is ML’s don’t have a particularly great rate of fire....
George in my state of South Australistan....if I were caught with a rifle so built I would face put to 2 years imprisonment and up to $50,000 in fines. Licensing, permits, proof of membership, ‘reason for purchase’.....we have lost our way down here.
I appreciate the thought and the sentiment.
Kindly,
Tank.

Tank wrote:Thanks Lew.  It’s not getting any better.  Some amongst us would say, self included, we’re the most over governed, over regulated ‘western’ countries there is.  Unfortunately compliance is what we do best over here....
Last month I bought 3kg Swiss 2F @ $125.00/kg.  1000 CCI caps for $187.00.  Thought I might try some swaged balls at $40.00 per 100.....good news is ML’s don’t have a particularly great rate of fire....
George in my state of South Australistan....if I were caught with a rifle so built I would face put to 2 years imprisonment and up to $50,000 in fines.  Licensing, permits, proof of membership, ‘reason for purchase’.....we have lost our way down here.
I appreciate the thought and the sentiment.
Kindly,
Tank.

I'm itching to get some Swiss but that guy in Adelaide is the only one in the country who has it, being in Vic I haven't been able to get over the border to buy any. Never mind I only live a few km past the old bubble zone, we'd only had 3 cases of covid for the whole shitshow in my town up until things eased recently. Shipping costs on BP is dynamite, 

Looking forward to getting over to SA, used to live there and wouldn't mind moving back someday, Vic is effed. Haven't been able to see my SA friends for two years now. 

You adelaide or country SA?

That is a sad state of affairs. I hope that sportsmen and country people will elect some good candidates to office to change those laws.

George_Kelley wrote:That is a sad state of affairs. I hope that sportsmen and country people will elect some good candidates to office to change those laws.

I agree GK, it makes living here in the States feel pretty darn good. I would love to Visit Australia, it’s a dream of mine to Hunt a Stag there

The major parties of politics here are opposite sides of the same coin. Only interested in placing more and more rules and restrictions on our every day lives. I don’t recognise the country I grew up in any longer....fact is I despise what we’ve become.
Yet another reason I love getting out with my front stuffer and making some smoke. It’s an escape to another time.
Too old to be a revolutionary now. Hope there’s enough patriots left to pick up the torch.....but I’m not holding my breath.
Here’s to ‘22 being a better year hey.

Strongly thinking about applying for a Green Card....

I am not really convinced we had an honest election in 2020. We might not be too far behind other countries on gun laws despite our constitution as the gang in power are crooks.

I have thought about flintlock firearms to get around gun laws as the flintlock firearm is completely self sufficient. No need to buy storebought caps when flints can be gathered from the creek beds. I already cast my own ball and bullets. There are YouTube videos on making one's own blackpowder.

This is reasonably safe for the back country. No one cares. Just stay away from the popular hiking trails as they draw too many of the granola eaters who vote for gun control.

Tank wrote:The major parties of politics here are opposite sides of the same coin.  Only interested in placing more and more rules and restrictions on our every day lives.  I don’t recognise the country I grew up in any longer....fact is I despise what we’ve become.
Yet another reason I love getting out with my front stuffer and making some smoke.  It’s an escape to another time.  
Too old to be a revolutionary now.  Hope there’s enough patriots left to pick up the torch.....but I’m not holding my breath.
Here’s to ‘22 being a better year hey.

Australia has lost its identity as far as I'm concerned, too many latte sippers from the city with no connection to the land or the culture have eroded this place. We're in the time of weak men and weak leaders which inevitably breeds bad times. All cyclical. 

I'm still young enough, early 30s with a couple of little tackers. I have complied against my wishes up till now because I don't want to lose my guns and I need to provide for my family. Victoria introduced an any covid breach can lead to a loss of gun license last year. 

Mind you I'm done, I'm not taking another experimental vaccine again for a disease I'm not scared of. I'm all for it being a choice, but if I have to lose my job over this booster so be it. I need to set an example to my kids and stand by my own principles otherwise what are they worth? People here have been so easily manipulated into hating their neighbours and family over something that should be a personal choice. 

Anyway I digress, hopefully being an election year here politicians are more reserved and we have a bit of normality back.

Point well made Bushfire.
We’ve been luckier over here. My wife and youngest will never take the experimental gene therapy. My adult kids have because they felt it was the only route to freedom....coercion has never been consent.
The ‘Covid new normals’ here are not for me and I won’t be happy until every last restriction is lifted.
Get this.....I could visit Bushfire.....but I could not return home without a negative test and the appropriate ‘exemption to travel’ as an unjuiced citizen. We are less than 60 miles away from each other but may as well be in different countries.
I completely support your thoughts Bloke.
I fear I’ve seen the last of the country I love and I have grave concerns for the future of my kids here.
I apologise for taking up the room with this rant.
Now gents. Back to things sidelock!!

 

Mind you I'm done, I'm not taking another experimental vaccine again for a disease I'm not scared of. I'm all for it being a choice, but if I have to lose my job over this booster so be it. I need to set an example to my kids and stand by my own principles otherwise what are they worth? People here have been so easily manipulated into hating their neighbours and family over something that should be a personal choice. 

You got a family to support, you don't have the luxury of quitting a good job in bad times like a bachelor does.

My advise is to work and save what you can for night school to acquire new skills and certifications for self-employment so that you do not have to keep a boss happy. I attended barber school, got the license to do haircuts and shaves. Being self employed gives me independence that employees (wage slaves) don't have.

As a barber, I have found a number of small towns were the only barber is old and wants to retire. My intent is to purchase a homestead out of town, but close enough to get to the shop and make a living. There is privacy in having rural property and I can be close enough to town for a sustainable income.

Think of it this way, get your piece of pie before the pie is all gone.

George_Kelley wrote:

 

Mind you I'm done, I'm not taking another experimental vaccine again for a disease I'm not scared of. I'm all for it being a choice, but if I have to lose my job over this booster so be it. I need to set an example to my kids and stand by my own principles otherwise what are they worth? People here have been so easily manipulated into hating their neighbours and family over something that should be a personal choice. 

You got a family to support, you don't have the luxury of quitting a good job in bad times like a bachelor does.

My advise is to work and save what you can for night school to acquire new skills and certifications for self-employment so that you do not have to keep a boss happy. I attended barber school, got the license to do haircuts and shaves. Being self employed gives me independence that employees (wage slaves) don't have.

As a barber, I have found a number of small towns were the only barber is old and wants to retire. My intent is to purchase a homestead out of town, but close enough to get to the shop and make a living. There is privacy in having rural property and I can be close enough to town for a sustainable income.

Think of it this way, get your piece of pie before the pie is all gone.

It feels like a bit of a no win situation. 

My boss to his credit supports my decision, even though he legally is required to force me to have it. I buckled last time because police were sporadically turning up to the shop and I couldn't afford the $5k fine. We have potential new owners next year and things are likely to change in that case. My wife is a nurse and also does not want another jab so she's definitely going to lose her job. We were planning on having another kid (not that it's a nice world to have one in) so maybe if we do she can just take a year off. 

I already have a bachelor degree which I used for the first 10 years of my career, had a career change 12 months ago and along with a $30k pay cut I had to study, so I'm currently still completing that course. I'm an agronomist now.

For what it's worth, if you lived here as a barber and were unvaccinated you wouldn't be allowed to cut hair even for yourself. And if you were jabbed you can only serve other jabbed people and you would be require to view their nazi papers (I.e. covid passport) first.
We've talked about moving to South Aus, I'd like to do part time agronomy and part time hunt guiding for myself. I did a couple of years guiding in my early 20s and could still get back to it. Just hard with little kids and a mortgage hanging over our heads to make the leap. Mind you that's what the government is relying on, jam us up in a position where we have no choice. Our state premier did say although it's called mandatory no one is forcing you to have the vaccine, you just can't work if you're not jabbed, which is "your choice".

Tank wrote:Point well made Bushfire.
We’ve been luckier over here.  My wife and youngest will never take the experimental gene therapy.  My adult kids have because they felt it was the only route to freedom....coercion has never been consent.
The ‘Covid new normals’ here are not for me and I won’t be happy until every last restriction is lifted.
Get this.....I could visit Bushfire.....but I could not return home without a negative test and the appropriate ‘exemption to travel’ as an unjuiced citizen.  We are less than 60 miles away from each other but may as well be in different countries.
I completely support your thoughts Bloke.
I fear I’ve seen the last of the country I love and I have grave concerns for the future of my kids here.
I apologise for taking up the room with this rant.
Now gents.  Back to things sidelock!!

Yeah bloody ridiculous, some of my closest friends live just over the border and we haven't seen them in 2 years, except for the husband who we were able to meet in NT this year for a buff hunt. 

My family in Keith haven't seen my youngest son who was born last year yet, bloody joke.

Anyway sorry for going way off topic.

I do plan on chatting with Pederdoli Aus again about importing Chambers and will compare that against Pedersoli guns. I do like the Frontier maple version but haven't priced that.

It’s a bloody disgrace.
I’ll see about talking to Mowbray in the new year about TVM too.
Stay well. Season’s Greetings to you and yours.

Roger Mowbray is the best bet of importing BP products into Australia. He is very knowledgeable and helpful, I found his prices very reasonable.