kimberman

Thanks for the input all, It all helps to make me feel more confident in bringing the guns across if the move takes place. I phoned the local constabulary last night (our time) and they implied that my Aus experience and licences all help, also me having held a shotgun licence in the UK in the distant past should help. They did point out though, that I would have to meet all the same requirements that current UK residents must have - eg authority to shoot on land, referees, gun safes, any convictions (they suggested putting down my speeding cautions, as a show of honesty), etc. They i

Will do - hope they will let me at least keep the 12g's and the .22LR's

Thanks mate You are a wealth of knowledge - the help is much appreciated. Kimberman

Thanks SS It would make good sense to make the phone call and follow up from there. I would hate to sell any of the rifles if not necessary. The Dealer route sounds a good way to go and a good way to develop a repoir with a local gun shop - a fee to store would not bother me. If the move comes about it will be to Suffolk, close to Stowmarket - so I guess the local police authority would be either Stowmarket or the county town of Ipswich. Regards Kimberman

I left the Uk over 40 years ago now and at that time you could own a shotgun with just a 10 shilling gun license obtained from the post office. At that time I had, and still have, the same double barrel 12 g shotgun. I now live in Australia but circumstances may make it necessary for me to return to the UK to live. I now have registered in Australia in my name the following: 2 x S/S 12g shotguns 2 x O/U 12g shotguns 2 x .22LR rifles (bolt action) 2 x .308 rifles (bolt action) I have a firearms certificate issued in Australia to cover all the above. My son also has an Aus

Thanks Decker I am sure I will enjoy it - I am now certain that I will be using the gun for clay target shooting so hopefully it will prove to be the best choice. I have spotted a very nice Beretta 20 gauge field gun in 28" barrels and although I am not in a position to purchase it at the moment it is on the wish list - but then I guess the decision will be whether to go for the 20 gauge or the 12 gauge field in 28" barrels - this would be for dedicated walk up work in the field. The person at Beretta who fitted me for the sporter has heaps of experience and the fit of the gun feels very smo

Thanks Decker I am sure I will enjoy it - I am now certain that I will be using the gun for clay target shooting so hopefully it will prove to be the best choice. I have spotted a very nice Beretta 20 gauge field gun in 28" barrels and although I am not in a position to purchase it at the moment it is on the wish list - but then I guess the decision will be whether to go for the 20 gauge or the 12 gauge field in 28" barrels - this would be for dedicated walk up work in the field. The person at Beretta who fitted me for the sporter has heaps of experience and the fit of the gun feels very smo

I managed to get over to the Beretta showroom in Melbourne yesterday and after viewing the 28" and the 30" in both field and sporter I settled for the Silver Pigeon 3 Limited Edition Sporter with 30" barrels. I found this gun the best balanced for me and the finish is worth the extra money when compared with the standard Silver Pigeon 3 guns (they are very nice as well though). I had 18mm taken off the stock for a very nice fit - I am sure I will be very happy with this gun and I can't wait for it to arrive!

Thanks masmiffy I first thought of the field for the lighter weight and smaller barrel length but then thought the added weight of the sporter would help on recoil if I got into clay target in the future - but thanks for your input.

I am about to purchase either a Beretta 12g field or a Beretta 12g sporter. The field weighs 6.8 lbs and the sporter weighs 7.6 lbs The field has 28" barrels and the sporter has 30" barrels. The field has a mobil choke (flush fitting) and the sporter has an optima choke (flush fitting). I mainly want it for shooting pigeon, pheasant, rabbit and duck but would also like to take up (probably to a lessor extent) clay target shooting in the future. I am not in a position to try before I buy as they are new and I dont know anyone who has either of these guns. Which ever gun

Thanks again all - the response from the 3 forums has been very welcome . Again, there have been different views - however, this is not a competion but a great way to share ones recommendations and a great way to improve ones knowledge of the noble sport of hunting and guns. Today I have ordered a Leupold VX 2 3x9x40 in matt with a LR duplex reticle - I have gone for uniformity with the scope I have on my .308 (apart from the reticle, which is duplex on the .308). The use will be general purpose so I reckon this should suit the purpose, even though others would prefer a fixed scope and ot

Great write up and great pictures - you make me feel homesick.

Thanks everyone for your replies they have been very helpful to me in making a decision. There can never be 100% agreement but by considering the views of many it it often easier to make a decision, especialy when one (like me) is somewhere near the bottom of the learning curve. I have put this post on 3 diferent forums - 1 in the uk, 1 in the USA and 1 in Aust - so the views have come from wide and far. All views have been useful to me and all are valid - like a lot of things in life beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I have today ordered a .22 LR - a Kimber Classic Varmint which shou