Western Australia (WA) has banned specific high-powered rifle calibers and many firearms, including those designed for extreme long-range, such as the .338 Lapua Magnum, .408 CheyTac, .416 Barrett, .460 Steyr, .50 BMG, and others, effective July 1, 2023, alongside recent bans in 2024/2025 on certain lever-release/button-release firearms and restrictions on .22 rimfire rifles due to magazine capacity rules, impacting public safety by removing high-risk weapons.
High-powered weapons such as . 50 calibre sniper rifles are legal in Australia despite some states banning them on the basis they are too dangerous and arguing there is no legitimate need for them.
Category A and B firearms
The largest generally legal calibres for civilian use in Australia often fall into the .300 magnum range (like .300 Win Mag, .300 PRC) for hunting, but very high-powered rifles, including .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun), are also legal for certain categories like long-range target shooting (Category R/E), though availability and state rules vary. The .50 BMG is considered one of the biggest, used in anti-materiel rifles, requiring specific licensing.
Western Australia is the only place in Australia that allow you to carry an OC, capsicum or pepper spray for self-defence purposes in circumstances you have reasonable grounds to apprehend or lawful excuse.
Yes, Glocks are legal in Australia, but owning one is highly restricted, requiring a specific handgun license, a "genuine reason" (like target shooting or occupational use, not self-defense), membership in a pistol club, extensive training, background checks, and a mandatory 28-day waiting period for each purchase, with strict storage and registration rules, varying slightly by state.
Edged weapons
Under the amendments to the Weapons Act 1999 it is an offence to carry or possess an edged weapon (including a knife) without a lawful excuse anywhere in the state of WA.
No, the .308 Winchester is significantly more powerful and versatile than the .30-30 Winchester, offering flatter trajectories, more energy, and longer effective ranges due to its larger case that holds more powder, making the .308 superior for most hunting situations beyond close-range woods. While the .30-30 is a classic for short-range deer hunting with less recoil, the .308 excels at medium to long ranges.
You must hold a current Category H Firearms Licence for the genuine reason of Sport/Target Shooting to apply for this permit. This permit relates to pistols with a calibre of more than . 38 inch, but not more than . 45 inch.
Fifty caliber is the largest round of ammunition generally available to American civilians today. Fifty caliber anti-armor sniper rifles are specifically designed to engage and destroy materiel targets on the battlefield at long range.
Australia. All police officers in Australia carry firearms which are personally issued to them. This usually includes detectives and highway patrol officers.
In Australia, prohibited weapons include items like butterfly knives, flick knives, nunchakus, brass knuckles, weighted gloves, blow guns, catapults with arm braces, extendable batons, throwing stars, and laser pointers over 1mW, along with disguised or concealed weapons like knife belts or credit card knives. You generally need a permit or "lawful excuse" (like for work or sport) to possess or carry other items like knives, machetes, swords, or bayonets, with self-defence never being a lawful excuse, and these laws vary slightly by state/territory.
A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue through the distinct whipcrack effect.
Yes, the .45-70 Government is generally considered more powerful than the .30-30 Winchester, especially in terms of energy and stopping power for larger game, due to its larger diameter and heavier bullets, making it excellent for elk, moose, and bear, while the .30-30 is a classic for deer and smaller game with less recoil and flatter trajectory. The .45-70 delivers more "punch" (energy), while the .30-30 offers a flatter, more efficient path for medium-range deer hunting.
The Australian Army uses several sniper rifles, with prominent examples being the SR-98 (a bolt-action .308 Win for general sniper roles) and the Blaser Tactical 2, chambered in powerful .338 Lapua Magnum for long-range precision, capable of engaging targets out to 1500m and beyond. They also use the AMR 50 cal (AW50F) for anti-materiel/long-range roles and have used various rifles historically, like the Tikka M55 for special forces. These rifles are chosen for accuracy, modularity, and suitability for various battlefield conditions.
Australian self-defence laws allow using reasonable force necessary to protect yourself or others from attack, requiring the belief the action was necessary and a reasonable response to the perceived threat, but excessive force (especially lethal) can lead to charges like manslaughter (not murder), with home invasion exceptions potentially strengthening homeowner rights. Key principles include the need for genuine belief in necessity, proportionality of force, and a "reasonable person" standard, though some states (like VIC) have specific codes (e.g., Crimes Act 1958 s 322K) and proposed "Castle Laws" aim to expand home defence.
Perhaps the most striking difference between the 44 Mag and 45 ACP is how much larger the 44 is compared to the 45. The 44 Magnum has a case length of 1.285” and overall length of 1.61” compared to 0.898” and 1.275”, respectively, for the 45 ACP.
Yes, you can carry a gun in your car in Australia, but only if it's unloaded, securely stored out of sight in a locked container (like a case in the boot/trunk), with ammunition stored separately in another locked container, and the firearm rendered inoperable (e.g., with a trigger lock or removed bolt). Loaded firearms, even with ammunition in the magazine, are generally prohibited in vehicles, and firearms must never be left unattended in a vehicle unless extremely secure. Specific state laws apply, but these core security principles are consistent across Australia.
The barrel must be at least 100 mm (3.94 in) long for revolvers, and 120 mm (4.72 in) for semi-automatic pistols, unless the pistols are clearly ISSF target pistols. Centrefire handguns with a caliber greater than . 45 are considered restricted firearms, whose ownership require a Category R/E Licence (see below).
. 308 can have a greater accuracy potential than 30-06. It has to do with the length of the powder column. 308 runs at the same maximum pressure, but the case is about 11mm shorter.
For most hunters under field conditions, the maximum effective range of the . 308 Winchester is around 300 yards, and 400 would be pushing it. At these ranges, the terminal ballistic performance of a well-designed hunting bullet fired from the . 308 is usually very good.
The 308 Winchester generates about 14% less recoil than the 30-06 Springfield when firing similar bullet weights at relative velocities. For example, an 8-lb rifle firing a 180-grain bullet at 2,610 fps in 308 produces roughly 16 ft-lbs of recoil energy, compared to 18.5 ft-lbs for the 30-06 at 2,700 fps.
Yes, Leatherman multi-tools are generally legal to own in Australia, but carrying them in public requires a "lawful excuse," as they fall under knife laws, with the determining factor being your intent and the context, not just the brand or blade length, with self-defence never being a valid reason, so keep them for work or camping, not casual carry, and always pack them in checked luggage when flying.
According to Australian law, the blade of the Swiss army knife must not exceed 12cm in length and must not have a locking mechanism. This means that only non-locking Swiss army knives are legal to carry in Australia.
If you are a knife owner, you must open carry in Washington in order to obey the law. It's also important to clearly state that it is illegal to own any kind of switchblade or spring blade knife in Washington or possess any kind of knife or dangerous weapon on school grounds.