"New" Vaquero .44Mag in Australia

[SlimPigguns]

I just picked up my "new" Vaquero 5.5in. SS .44Mag. Test fire sample case is dated 03/06/2009 . I'm glad that some of the .44Mags found their way to Australia . Warning under the barrel is a great improvement. -Pete

[His lordship.]

Are you having ammo shortages too?  In the USA there is alot of hoarding because of fears that the government is going to outlaw ammo for handguns.

[Lone Star]

Interesting, Ruger does not catalog a .44 Magnum New Vaquero.   With all the warnings about the limited strength of the New Vaquero I'm surprised they make it in .44 Mag chambering.



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[WL44]

I fear this is a little thread drift, so a moderator may move this, but if you'd give us a short reply please....

I'd love to know - I was told 357 bore diameter was the largest permitted in Australia. That was apparently the reason why there were reqwuests t ochange the rules of IPSC to allow for a caliber under .40/10mm for standard major. Clearly this is incorrect.

What's the situation and can one get handguns in for handgun hunting?

Thanks!

[Ken ONeill]

I'm not Slim, but I can answer a part of your question. I hunted buffalo in the Northern Territory in 2000 using my .375 JDJ. The N.T. was the only Australian state still allowing the import of handguns for hunting, others having stopped it sometime prior. However, by the beginning of the following season, the N.T. also stopped allowing their import. It has never been resumed. I'm told that I was the last person to be able to there with my own handgun.
Some Australian outfitters are providing their own handguns to foreign hunters who want to use them in the N.T. and Arnhemland. The caliber of those handguns is .44 Mag. and perhaps larger, but that's all I know regarding the first part of your question.

[WL44]

Thanks Ken.