flytie Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 (edited) Dear All, I am going to the US of A soon to see relatives etc. If I bought a shotgun over there what would I need to do to "LEGALLY" bring it back to England? Regards, flytie. Edited May 4, 2006 by flytie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 There have been few threads on this over on guntrader, I think (could be wrong of course) MRY has some knowledge of this, apparently it isn't as bad as you may expect - as long as you follow the rules of course. Maybe give your firearms department a call, they must have been asked before. And don't forget to tell us where you are staying I have few bits I need in the States I will get them shipped to their house for you to collect :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 There's always the illegal way, however, shotgun "muling" is likely to be quite painful, that is unless you are an airline steward, a member of the Village People or Catherine the Great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 As far as i am aware the DTI state it's fine to import Firearms ammunition and parts as long as it is for PERSONAL importation and you have the relevant lawful right to own such items and you DON'T need an import licence if it's personal. BUT you WILL need the gun proofed when you get it here £25 for the barrel i beleive. Also if it is a Semi and you get it limited to 3 shot it also has to be proofed for that also AND if a bolt action with removable mag THAT needs welded into place and again proofed :unsure: It get a bit long winded depending on what your buying but not that bad LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 As far as i am aware the DTI state it's fine to import Firearms ammunition and parts as long as it is for PERSONAL importation and you have the relevant lawful right to own such items and you DON'T need an import licence if it's personal. BUT you WILL need the gun proofed when you get it here £25 for the barrel i beleive. Also if it is a Semi and you get it limited to 3 shot it also has to be proofed for that also AND if a bolt action with removable mag THAT needs welded into place and again proofed :unsure: It get a bit long winded depending on what your buying but not that bad LG Is that 3 lots of proofing at £25 a pop, or one big lot of proofing for £25 (all in). Sounds a bit expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 As far as i am aware the DTI state it's fine to import Firearms ammunition and parts as long as it is for PERSONAL importation and you have the relevant lawful right to own such items and you DON'T need an import licence if it's personal. BUT you WILL need the gun proofed when you get it here £25 for the barrel i beleive. Also if it is a Semi and you get it limited to 3 shot it also has to be proofed for that also AND if a bolt action with removable mag THAT needs welded into place and again proofed :unsure: It get a bit long winded depending on what your buying but not that bad LG Is that 3 lots of proofing at £25 a pop, or one big lot of proofing for £25 (all in). Sounds a bit expensive. I have NO idea I assume if you get it all done together then just the ONE payment?? LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 i thought a gun only had to be proofed to be sold? i was under the impression that you can use one out of proof as long as you dont sell it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 There have been few threads on this over on guntrader, I think (could be wrong of course) MRY has some knowledge of this, apparently it isn't as bad as you may expect - as long as you follow the rules of course. Maybe give your firearms department a call, they must have been asked before. And don't forget to tell us where you are staying I have few bits I need in the States I will get them shipped to their house for you to collect Stuart, unfortunately for you I plan on using all my flight weight allowance on personal kit I will be going with empty suitcases and coming back with full ones Do you think they will notice the rifled slug barrel stapped to my leg, "it's a leg brace officer, honestly" Ft There's always the illegal way, however, shotgun "muling" is likely to be quite painful, that is unless you are an airline steward, a member of the Village People or Catherine the Great. Thank you mungler, the answer to that is "None of the above" The wife works in A&E and has seen her share of "accidents", people who have sat down accidently on a variety of objects, Parsnips, carrots and a vicar with a santa shaped candle :unsure: But no shotguns, and with farmer giles like mine, you jest!!!!! FT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 The subject has previously been discussed at great length. My recolection is that generally, if its a run of the mill gun, the financial saving will be little and hardly worth the trouble. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Expecially by the time Customs have added their taxation to it :unsure: LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Expecially by the time Customs have added their taxation to it :unsure: LG LG, you know customs & excise are merging with the inland revenue. Have you heard the new name? Customs, Revenue and Payments. So chaps, not worth my while then? Never mind I will ring my firearms officer to see what the form is anyway. Always the optimist, I'll look for a bargain anywhere. Ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted May 6, 2006 Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 The problem is not bringing it back to the UK its getting it out of the US. It could take you 6 months for the seller to get an export licence and most will just not be bothered. I was trying to buy 3 rifles from the US but just couldn't get any retailer to sell them to me because of the hassle re export licensing. Each promised to sell to me but after a few months declined due to the paperwork and delays. Getting an import licence was quick and comparatively easy. In the end I bought barrels and rebarreled UK available calibres. You don't need to proof a gun to use it in the UK but it must be proofed before selling it. Cost is dependent on the amount of guns taken in at one time ie bulk prices so find a Gunshop that sends a lot of items to proof and ask them to add yours to their next consignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 The problem is not bringing it back to the UK its getting it out of the US. It could take you 6 months for the seller to get an export licence and most will just not be bothered. I was trying to buy 3 rifles from the US but just couldn't get any retailer to sell them to me because of the hassle re export licensing. Each promised to sell to me but after a few months declined due to the paperwork and delays. Getting an import licence was quick and comparatively easy. In the end I bought barrels and rebarreled UK available calibres. You don't need to proof a gun to use it in the UK but it must be proofed before selling it. Cost is dependent on the amount of guns taken in at one time ie bulk prices so find a Gunshop that sends a lot of items to proof and ask them to add yours to their next consignment. mry, Thank you very much for the info. Sounds like a lot of hassle. I know american dealers have been over here buying up good quality british boxlocks and looking on some of the websites "over there" look to be great value and I had wondered about importing. The more I find out the less feasable it seems! Ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 6, 2006 Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 A friend of mine bought a beautiful matching pair of shotguns in Spain about 5 years ago and had them shipped to him in the UK. The Gunshop he bought them from were quite experienced in this and dealt with all the paperwork etc. I don't recall him complaining avbout high chrges, reproofing etc. Perhaps being part of the EEC makes a difference, as opposed to dealing with the US. Also he had them shipped as "freight", not "accompanied luggage". I do remember he had to collect them from the airport and show the Police there his SGC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 A friend of mine bought a beautiful matching pair of shotguns in Spain about 5 years ago and had them shipped to him in the UK.The Gunshop he bought them from were quite experienced in this and dealt with all the paperwork etc. I don't recall him complaining avbout high chrges, reproofing etc. Perhaps being part of the EEC makes a difference, as opposed to dealing with the US. Also he had them shipped as "freight", not "accompanied luggage". I do remember he had to collect them from the airport and show the Police there his SGC. Cranfield, I have a mate, a fowler, who has a fondness for Laurona (remember them) shotguns as they have a special coating on them that makes them ideal for wildfowling. They, the laurona factory, have offered him lots of help in importing a couple of their guns and he is going over there this summer to pick them up and to have the guided tour of the factory. The regulations within the eu seem very different from outside of the eu. I am sure it is possible but I don't know if it will be cost effective or worth the hassle? Ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 There are no problems from within the EU just buy and get customs to add to SGC on return to UK. EASY USA require an export licence and that is where the stumbling block is, not getting it into the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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