New Member

[Stephen Plumb]

I have just joined this forum and really looking for more info on reloading.

I am based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and while never have been opposed to firearms, have only recently taken steps to procure a couple after our police and military showed us last year in July how exposed we really are.
So after around 18months, I have done my competencies, and quite a few training exercises and finally have had some licenses come through.
In the meantime, my local gun shop has allowed me to keep my reloaded setup at their place and that has been pretty handy as I have learned quite a bit about reloading.
I now have a licensed Tikka 30-06 for general purpose hunting. This will be used for Meat and Biltong(Jerky) so typically animals that we would have taken with the bow before.
I have a Huntgroup shotgun, for general range fun and possibly clay pigeon.
I bought a block 43X for self defense, which I absolutely love, as I can take it mountain biking and everywhere else without it being too bulky, but then while I was waiting for that license to come through, I got a CZ P09 for target plinking as it seems better suited than the 43X, and to be honest, I need all the help I can get.
Anyway, I am hoping to pick up some info, but most especially wrt to reloading.

 

[std7mag]

Welcome to the forum!!

Traveling to Canada frequently, and posts from others from different countries, always amazes me of the different laws other countries have.

When i was looking at a concealed carry pistol, i had considered the Glock 43.
But i've never been a fan of the Glock grips or trigger.
I went with a Walther PPS instead.
With the quick change backstrap, the grip just fits different sized hands better. My wife & daughter shoot it too.

Picked up several rifles & pistols this year. Some i have been wanting for many years.
7mm Weatherby Magnum, 25 WSSM, 25-06, 357Mag.
Add in the new dies & components, i had to get 2 new shelving units to hold everything.

 

[ragsflh]

welcome aboard

 

[butchlambert]

Welcome!

 

[nmkid]

Welcome. I'm pretty sure you will enjoy your time here and learn. Yes, the learning goes on forever.

 

[Jester560]

Welcome from another noobie

 

[wvlongshot]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Shooter13]

Glad you are here!

 

[K22]

Welcome to the best forum on the shooting sports.

Don't be reluctant to ask questions.

 

[Murray Brook]

Welcome. Good to have you aboard.

 

[jackieschmidt]

This is the best Firearms Related Site on the Internet, period.

It is always interesting, and a privilege to hear from and converse with shooters from Countries other than the United States.

 

[Stephen Plumb]

Welcome to the forum!!

Traveling to Canada frequently, and posts from others from different countries, always amazes me of the different laws other countries have.

When i was looking at a concealed carry pistol, i had considered the Glock 43.
But i've never been a fan of the Glock grips or trigger.
I went with a Walther PPS instead.
With the quick change backstrap, the grip just fits different sized hands better. My wife & daughter shoot it too.

Picked up several rifles & pistols this year. Some i have been wanting for many years.
7mm Weatherby Magnum, 25 WSSM, 25-06, 357Mag.
Add in the new dies & components, i had to get 2 new shelving units to hold everything.

Many thanks all. Yes our laws are pretty restrictive, and with an openly communist government, they are pretty keen to disarm legal gun owners, but so far, have not succeeded.

You Americans may laugh, but it starts out with attending a competency training. Here you go through a couple of two inch files which cover a lot of the legal aspects of when you can and cant use your firearm. Then a lot about the basics of firearms, what parts of the gun are named etc, and then a practical where you have to prove you can hit targets with your proposed guns at a reasonable distance. Most people only apply for a self defence competency, which allows you to have one firearm for self defense purposes and up to 200 rounds of ammunition.

Once the above is completed everything goes off to the local Dedicated Firearms Officer at the local police station, which it disappears into a maze of bureaucracy, from which one hopes it emerges in around 6 months if you are lucky.

I applied for dedicated status and all the competencies in one go, which means self defense, and then semi auto carbine, bolt action, shotgun etc. My competencies for the above took around 6 months to come through, so I was quite lucky.

Only then can you apply for firearm licenses. Given the state of things, I bought all my guns and applied for all the licenses at the same time. That was another six months of basically the same process above with the local plods, but in the meantime, my 9mm PCC was a bust, so returned that for an AR15 and am waiting the manufacture of another 9mm PCC from truvelo, which they should manufacture in Jan. I also bought the CZ PO9 for range plinking. So more applications and those guns will be around 6 months of so behind the others.

In the US you must think this is nuts, and it is, but from afar it looks like you are facing a lot of pressure to be more like us. Sadly we do not have a second amendment in our constitution.

In terms of actually using ones firearm in a self defense situation, I believe our laws are actaully very similar. There is a general view that in the US everyone is running around with guns and will shoot someone for looking at them funny. I have been watching a lot of the USCCA videos as well as some from Active Self protection where they discuss the legal aspects of having to use a firearm in a self defensive situation.

Broadly I think the laws are pretty similar. One thing that was pushed home for me, was the potential legal fight one faces even if all boxes are checked. We have a lawyer in our little skills builder group, and he says always try to avoid the paperwork associated with a firearm incident, by not using it if at all possible. This seems to be sound advice, and I hope to never have to use one in such circumstances, but sadly our beautiful country has become quite lawless over the last 30 years, to the extent that my probability of being involved in an incident is much higher than in the US. Touch wood, I will be an outlier.

Anyway, I sort of got into this for self defense, but it is actually quite a fun hobby. I have become weak when I see nice new guns at the local shop, and they seem to follow me home. I think the next acquisition may be something from Truvelo for long range plinking. This does however seem to be a common affliction. It would seem this forum is a good support group for similarly afflicted individuals.

 

[std7mag]

I hope that myself, my daughter, or my wife never have to draw our concealed carry firearms!

My stepson lives near Toronto, Canada. They are getting ready to ban/outlaw semi auto rifles with detachable magazines. Plus a bunch of other firearms, "just for good measure".
They have already been on the march for pistols.
And their Prime Minister has already come out publicly and claimed Canadians "do NOT have a right to defend themselves with a firearm".

Alas, many in our government don't realize out 2nd Ammendment is there for the citizens to protect ourselves against them.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

In SA they probably make sure you dont own a farm before they give you a gun, that way they can take it when needed.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Welcome you will find this spot very helpful.
Wife and I have been lucky been to South Africa twice.
We love our time in Africa.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Many thanks all. Yes our laws are pretty restrictive, and with an openly communist government, they are pretty keen to disarm legal gun owners, but so far, have not succeeded.

You Americans may laugh, but it starts out with attending a competency training. Here you go through a couple of two inch files which cover a lot of the legal aspects of when you can and cant use your firearm. Then a lot about the basics of firearms, what parts of the gun are named etc, and then a practical where you have to prove you can hit targets with your proposed guns at a reasonable distance. Most people only apply for a self defence competency, which allows you to have one firearm for self defense purposes and up to 200 rounds of ammunition.

Once the above is completed everything goes off to the local Dedicated Firearms Officer at the local police station, which it disappears into a maze of bureaucracy, from which one hopes it emerges in around 6 months if you are lucky.

I applied for dedicated status and all the competencies in one go, which means self defense, and then semi auto carbine, bolt action, shotgun etc. My competencies for the above took around 6 months to come through, so I was quite lucky.

Only then can you apply for firearm licenses. Given the state of things, I bought all my guns and applied for all the licenses at the same time. That was another six months of basically the same process above with the local plods, but in the meantime, my 9mm PCC was a bust, so returned that for an AR15 and am waiting the manufacture of another 9mm PCC from truvelo, which they should manufacture in Jan. I also bought the CZ PO9 for range plinking. So more applications and those guns will be around 6 months of so behind the others.

In the US you must think this is nuts, and it is, but from afar it looks like you are facing a lot of pressure to be more like us. Sadly we do not have a second amendment in our constitution.

In terms of actually using ones firearm in a self defense situation, I believe our laws are actaully very similar. There is a general view that in the US everyone is running around with guns and will shoot someone for looking at them funny. I have been watching a lot of the USCCA videos as well as some from Active Self protection where they discuss the legal aspects of having to use a firearm in a self defensive situation.

Broadly I think the laws are pretty similar. One thing that was pushed home for me, was the potential legal fight one faces even if all boxes are checked. We have a lawyer in our little skills builder group, and he says always try to avoid the paperwork associated with a firearm incident, by not using it if at all possible. This seems to be sound advice, and I hope to never have to use one in such circumstances, but sadly our beautiful country has become quite lawless over the last 30 years, to the extent that my probability of being involved in an incident is much higher than in the US. Touch wood, I will be an outlier.

Anyway, I sort of got into this for self defense, but it is actually quite a fun hobby. I have become weak when I see nice new guns at the local shop, and they seem to follow me home. I think the next acquisition may be something from Truvelo for long range plinking. This does however seem to be a common affliction. It would seem this forum is a good support group for similarly afflicted individuals.

I was not aware that South Africa was a communist government.
Back when Apartheid ended, we were lead to believe that there would be a Democratic form of Government, possibly a Parliamentary Form.
As to your comment about people believing that the US is a ”Wild West” with people shooting each other every day, that is true in our inner cities where Drug Gangs and other criminal elements fight for territory.
But the overwhelming number of law abiding citizens are just the opposite. In Texas, we just passed what is known as “Constitutional Carry”, meaning that if you do not have something like a Felony conviction prohibiting you from possessing a firearm, you can carry a legal firearm in open view.

However, I am yet to see anybody in a public venue such as a restaurant with a firearm.

That does not mean they don’t have one on them, as quite a few have Concealed Carry Permits.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Welcome and yes, some in our government are trying to disarm us. The reason they desire that should be obvious. And yes, the law of use would appear to be similar. Best rule is never display it and only use if if your life or the lives of your loved ones are in immediate danger.

Yes it is a fun hobby. It's a rabbit hole that you will find difficult to escape. Like golf, the quest for perfection is never ending and in this hobby the number of variables that need tweaking to achieve perfection are daunting. Especially if you get into F Class. And just so you know, the World Championships are in South Africa in 2023. The URL makes it look like 2022 but it was postponed: https://2021fcwc.com/f-class-world-championships-2022/

 

[Brians356]

In Texas, we just passed what is known as “Constitutional Carry”, meaning that if you do not have something like a Felony conviction prohibiting you from possessing a firearm, you can carry a legal firearm in open view.

However, I am yet to see anybody in a public venue such as a restaurant with a firearm.

That does not mean they don’t have one on them, as quite a few have Concealed Carry Permits.

That's surprising. I figured Texas was like most western states where open carry has always been unrestricted, even if few people actually do it. So until your new law, you couldn't walk around in public with iron on your hip?

Edit: All the states in GREEN have "permit-less open carry". Was Texas only recently added?


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[Stephen Plumb]

I was not aware that South Africa was a communist government.
Back when Apartheid ended, we were lead to believe that there would be a Democratic form of Government, possibly a Parliamentary Form.
As to your comment about people believing that the US is a ”Wild West” with people shooting each other every day, that is true in our inner cities where Drug Gangs and other criminal elements fight for territory.
But the overwhelming number of law abiding citizens are just the opposite. In Texas, we just passed what is known as “Constitutional Carry”, meaning that if you do not have something like a Felony conviction prohibiting you from possessing a firearm, you can carry a legal firearm in open view.

However, I am yet to see anybody in a public venue such as a restaurant with a firearm.

That does not mean they don’t have one on them, as quite a few have Concealed Carry Permits.

Yes the ANC which currently holds the majority is actually a TriPartheid Alliance, and is made up of the ANC, the SACP (South African National Communist Party) and Cosatu which is a large trade union. The SACP pretty much sets all the policy agenda, and all of the ANC leaders were "trained" in the USSR, former east Germany or other satellite states.

Anyway, we certainly live in interesting times. I am saddened to see a lot of the anti police rhetoric in the US, and I love visiting Texas, and will probably be back there soon. I have so much respect for the police there.

One of the interesting stats I saw was that licensed conceal carry permit holders in the US, are something like 6x more law abiding, than the police! Ie not more law abiding that the general populace, but 6x more law abiding than the police.

I suspect it is similar locally, where we face a lot of hurdles to acquire legal firearms, so one tends to keep ones nose clean. I won't even take AR ammo home to reload, as I am still waiting on that license and I am not allowed to be in possession of ammunition if I do not hold a license for the calibre.

Anyway, I am working with one of the staff at my local shop/range, and we seem to have arrived at a load that gets my AR and 30-06 to sub MOA on the 100m indoor range. Now I just need to wait for next years hunting season to fill my freezers with some meat and some biltong!

Then I want to sign up for another course with the local reloading whisperer and figure out how to drive this Gordons reloading tool, and with a bit of luck, we will organise an outdoor shooting event before the year end.

Looking forward to head to the coast and get some fishing in over December/Jan. It looks like Dorados (I think you call them Mahi Mahi) are really starting to run now.

I trust that you all will enjoy a great Christmas and New Year.