A NSW government minister has urged the federal government to back a push to allow importation of a seven-shot version of the Adler lever-action shotgun.
State deputy premier Troy Grant told the ABC he wanted the weapon reclassified so they could be used by farmers to shoot feral animals.
He's been supported by federal Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, who's called on the states "to actually look at the evidence, take the emotion out of it, and seek to classify this gun in an appropriate way".
NSW Deputy speaker Mark Coulton, who represents the state rural seat of Parkes, also sees merit in reclassification.
"I'm hoping we can still get this through, because I know of one gun dealer who has hundreds on order waiting for this decision," he told Fairfax Media on Wednesday.
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ABCC passes lower house, as gun debate derails PM
Key crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm has threatened to hold the Turnbull government hostage over a deal on gun imports, which he claims was struck under former prime ministr's Tony Abbott's leadership.
But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull insists there is "no chance at all, no prospect whatsoever" of the government "weakening" Australia's gun laws.
At stake is Senator Leyonhjelm's support for a government bill to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
