IT can safely be said that SSAA Queensland’s Historical Arms Collectors (HAC) branch members like the old stuff better than the new stuff.

The Branch was established in 2000 when several SSAA members felt that there was a need for a collecting organisation that would cater for collectors especially, with a focus on collecting and studying old, historic and otherwise interesting firearms.

This allowed arms collectors to function under the SSAA umbrella, whilst the SSAA also gained input into the notable amount of legislation specifically addressing arms collecting.

HAC members collect everything from antique muskets and shotguns to WWI / WWII military small arms through to modern handguns, and everything in between.

There is a wealth of knowledge on all fields of arms history across the membership base.

The annual administration fee presently costs thirty dollars per year and runs from July 1 to June 30.

The HAC Branch (Q60) is structured so that members can remain with their own Branch for competitive shooting while being a member of the HAC for collecting purposes.

The Branch is an Approved Historical Society in respect to the Weapons Act and membership allows a member to obtain a Collectors Licence.  The Branch is also an Approved Society under the Explosives Act and this gives blanket coverage to all members of the Branch to collect ammunition and ordnance.

Furthermore, as an approved Historical Society, the HAC is the SSAA (Qld.) Inc. Branch capable of obtaining approval for Arms Fairs and expos such as the hugely popular SHOT Expo. The Branch also regularly attends meetings with the Weapons Licensing Branch and government ministers as well.

In addition to its fostering of the collection, study and preservation of old and antique firearms, the Branch conducts two collector shoots per year at the State Complex at Captain’s Mountain near Millmerran and costs are kept to a minimum to allow people to attend.

The primary activity of the weekend is for members to be able to fire their firearms held on a Collectors Licence – something they are not normally permitted to do under the usual restrictions of the licence – and to examine some of the other interesting and unique items belonging to their fellow collectors.

Newsletters are emailed out monthly, whilst a magazine containing historical and technical articles is produced three to four times per year with a range of content to appeal to a variety of collecting interests.

The Branch is also active in promoting shooting as a sport for the young and annually hosts a weekend of shooting for Venture Scouts at the Millmerran State Complex.