New to Austria

[phillc]

Hello and apologies for writing in English. I am from the UK (well, originally Australia, but lived in the UK for 13 years. UK citizen now.) and have now moved to Graz. I'm learning German, but it will take some time!

I'm interested in learning more about sport shooting and hunting in Austria, and what is available in the Graz area.

I'm not extremely experienced, but have done some hunting and some clay pigeon shooting. In Australia, when a teenager, I would regularly hunt for foxes and pigs. Since living in the UK I have been stalking in Scotland a couple of times for red deer, and clay target shooting a few times as well. I have completed almost all of the UK's Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (apart from the shooting practical exam which was washed out due to a big storm on the day and I didn't find the time to resit. The written exam is valid for 3 years though, so hopefully I will go back to the UK for the shooting test soon).

Scottish Red Stag pic

I never bothered to obtain a UK Firearms Certificate. This was due to always living in rental accomodation and not being able to install the required gun safe. Also, in the UK it is possible to stalk accompanied. That is the where gillie/game keeper will accompany the hunter and the hunter is allowed to use the game keeper's rifle "under supervision." In practice I used either the game keeper's 270 or my friend's 308. This was all perfectly legal and due to the difficulties in obtaining my own licence, I never went down that route.

I understand in Austria it is much easier to purchase a shotgun or bolt action shotgun (I had a brief PM conversation with BigBen). Does this rifle/shotgun then, according to the law, need to be kept in a locked gun safe in my house? However, I also understand there is a separate hunting licence and test which must be obtained. I assume this test will all be in German and at the moment I have no chance of passing. Are there any other options? May I shoot "under supervision" as in the UK? Or, if I did purchase a rifle, may I only use this on a range? How would it work if I want to, for example, hunt in Hungary or Slovenia? I might legally own a rifle in Austria, but can I take it to these countries to use without a further hunting licence? (probably not, but worth asking).

Anyway, that's quite long enough and I appreciate you all reading this in English. If there are any shooting clubs (rifle or clay target) around Graz I'd be interested in knowing more information.

[BigBen]

Just some info for the other members here/Info für alle:

er hat mit mir im Vorfeld abgeklärt ob es OK ist dass er auf Englisch schreibt, weil er er anfängt Deutsch zu lernen. Es ist OK! Also helft dem Mann wo ihr nur könnt!

[phillc]

Just some info for the other members here/Info für alle:

er hat mit mir im Vorfeld abgeklärt ob es OK ist dass er auf Englisch schreibt, weil er er anfängt Deutsch zu lernen. Es ist OK! Also helft dem Mann wo ihr nur könnt!

Danke. Vielleicht ich kann Deutsch sprechen, aber alle will lachen.

[savage3000]

WELCOME / Herzlich Willkommen !!

[IT Guy]

Hallo,

wenn Du am Freitag Zeit und Lust hast, kannst ja zu unserem Treffen kommen.
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23106
Etwas Englisch sprechen wir alle.

[Floody]

Hi there!

I understand in Austria it is much easier to purchase a shotgun or bolt action shotgun (I had a brief PM conversation with BigBen). Does this rifle/shotgun then, according to the law, need to be kept in a locked gun safe in my house?

Oh hell yes it is, just go to the store and buy one! Without any further gun license (e.g. for Pistols) you'll have to wait 3 Days für your Bolt Action or Shotgun. In case of Shotgun it must not be a half-automatic, you'd need a license for that, also there are no pump-guns available, because they're banned in Austria.

The gun must be kept away from people who are not allowed to have direct contact with it. For example persons unter the age of 18 or persons with a "Waffenverbot", a prohibition by law. So you dont HAVE to keep it in a Safe, but you really should. It doesnt have to be a big safe though, a lockable closet is okay too.

[phillc]

Hi there!

Oh hell yes it is, just go to the store and buy one! Without any further gun license (e.g. for Pistols) you'll have to wait 3 Days für your Bolt Action or Shotgun. In case of Shotgun it must not be a half-automatic, you'd need a license for that, also there are no pump-guns available, because they're banned in Austria.

The gun must be kept away from people who are not allowed to have direct contact with it. For example persons unter the age of 18 or persons with a "Waffenverbot", a prohibition by law. So you dont HAVE to keep it in a Safe, but you really should. It doesnt have to be a big safe though, a lockable closet is okay too.

Thanks. I agree a gun safe is the most sensible thing to buy.

In the UK, the police will come to your house and inspect the installation of your gun safe, before they will issue your firearms certificate (FAC). This FAC will also say on it specifically which rifles you are allowed to own. e.g. 30-06. If you want to buy a different calibre, you need to apply first to change the conditions on your licence.

[eriochromcyanin]

... I assume this test will all be in German and at the moment I have no chance of passing. Are there any other options? May I shoot "under supervision" as in the UK? Or, if I did purchase a rifle, may I only use this on a range? How would it work if I want to, for example, hunt in Hungary or Slovenia? I might legally own a rifle in Austria, but can I take it to these countries to use without a further hunting licence? (probably not, but worth asking).

hi,
the test is not only in german language, you have to be familiar with specific hunting vocabulary which only a hunter would use. if you own a rifle and you are invited to a shooting competition or as a hunting guest to hungary, you can ask for a "europäischer feuerwaffenpass" to take your rifle with you.
if you are allowed to own a rifle or shotgun, you can shoot by yourself on any shooting range without supervision. i would not recommend to shoot anywhere else than an official shooting range.

[Thule]

Hi phillc!
Bolt action or single shot rifle and non-repeating, non semiauto shotgun is license free.
If you stick with those, no more loops to jump through and police wont bother you with inspections.
Buy one and some ammo and hit a range. Transport of the guns has to be in a closed container and unloaded.
As long as you don't store more than 20 firearms or 5000 rds of ammo you don't need to contact the authority. Registration is done via a gundealer.
Without a gun license you can't buy certain caliber FMJ rifle ammo. 30-06 ie. being among them. This silly rule results from some outdated and pretty stupid war material regulations. Same regulations also bans "tank destroyer rifles" (yeah we are stuck in WW1) in calibers like .50BMG ie.
Hunting license is a lot of stuff to learn. Unfortunately including some German-Austrian antiquated and odd peculiarities as well.
If you should be interested in getting a gun license, some semi auto rifles(type/brand restrictions), semi auto and repeating(sans pump action) shotguns and handguns will be available to you in Austria.
Need to do a proficiency course(easy, just going through the basics, gun delaers offer those)and a psychological testing. Police will come and inspect storage in 5 year intervals.
Being from the Graz area the Forum guys should be able to help you get started.

[heumi]

Hy phillic
Welcome in Austria. I think it´s absolutely no problem, if you write in english. If not, nobody will laughing at you. By the way, it´s good for us to refresh our english knowledge.
Greetings from Upperaustria

[Elmo12]

Hi phil,

I am in graz as well and i own a pistol and a lee enfield. If you ever want to visit "zangtal" shooting range, have any question about "how to obtain whatever kind of firearm in austria" or need any help applying for a weapon's permit (waffenbesitzkarte), just send me a PM!

[ssg69koppi]

Hey, welcome to Austria and Pulverdampf

Greetings from Lower Austria (Woodquarter)

lg Chris

[sqme]

Hi Mate...I'm from New Zealand and only got into shooting last year....complete beginner with no idea, just a fascination with the world of shooting that I never acted on previously.
I got a WBK (WaffenBesitzKarte....license to own 2 of pistol/revolver/semiauto rifle) surprisingly easily, after filling in all the right forms etc, and with help from local gun nuts etc. My German is really primitive so that was a challenge but again things are all setup here to facilitate gun ownership and some of the store owners in particular the Doubleaction guy Gerhard were very helpful.

I gotta renew my WBK annually coz I ain't an EU citizen and provide proof of regular competition participation etc which is easy coz there are loads of comps here and I absolutely love it.

I'm not a hunter at all but if u ever need some help in some way gizza yell, maybe I can help with small tips I learnt along the way with the gun officialness, plus my work colleague seems to know everything I ever needed to know about gun stuff here in Austria so he's a good source of info I can tap.

I got a few bolt action rifles from local Vienna shops, just walked in, paid, and 3 days later got them in my hands complete with all the ammo I wanted....bizarre to me, but great at the same time. The WBK was more work and hoops but still straight forward. In NZ they interview your missus and family etc and check you right out before u can get a license to own just a bolt action...let alone a pistol or semi auto AR 15!

My best tip is to read pulverdampf everyday, it does wonders for my German to be honest...

Cheers.

[BigBen]

And with a WBK you don't have a cool down period anymore...just walk into into a store and buy and carry away whatever bolt action rifle or non repeating shotgun you like

[sqme]

Phil, Just a quickie....u can also rock up to shooting ranges and hire a bolt action like a .308 with nothing but some ID if u wanna do some shooting before u get your own gear....
e.g. 1.5 hrs or so from Graz in direction Vienna is a great 300m rifle range at leobersdorf shooting park, and also the styer mannlicher range (both also have great clay shooting setups too) and I went to both of them when I was fresh off the boat with no rifle and they handed me over a snazzy top shelf .308 and .223 with primo scopes and bullets with a smile and a "viel Spass!" without me havin any licence other than the driving sort...go figure.
Cheers.