Does anyone have info on how to export air rifles abroad

[pantera]

Hi,

Have just sold my rifle to Jonas of the netherlands and was wondering if there was any legislation I need to follow to send the Rifle?

And is there a cheap and cheeful way of sending it apart from the Machine parts route?

Thanks,
John.

[ChrisC]

Hi John, the Dutch have no limit on air rifle power so that's not a problem.

When packing, seperate the action from the stock and pack together with tons of bubble wrap. That way your box is much shorter and doesn't look like it contains a rifle.

Also empty the cylinder of air and remove a silencer if fitted (some EU countries have strict rules about silencers/moderators. When everything is packed up, write on the box "Sporting goods" .

Pop to your nearest post office and ask them the the best/insured way of postage to the Netherlands. I've always found my local post office very friendly and the furthest away i've posted (3 or 4 years ago now ) was Hawaii....never had a problem ......

[Errol the Dom]

One of my shooting friends has had a big problem on our side to bring the rifle in. when it was shipped it was shipped as air rifle parts which is not a problem, the problem came in when the rifle was packed it was packed as a complete rifle. this was a major problem with customs and took 3 months to get it out. just make sure that the country that it is going to will not mistake sporting goods as a cricket bat an an air rifle as a fire arm.

i would suggest strip rifle as much as possible and ship it as air rifle parts.

[pantera]

Thankyou for the above unfortunately after speaking to 20 couriers not one will transport a firearm either in bits or intact.It was suggested by a couple that it would cheaper for me to drive over(not with my right foot it isn't).

Does anyone know of a courier that will ship weapons abroad please??

Thanks John.

[ChrisC]

John, i've had no probs from the post office.

Maybe pack it up and label as the previous reply and then take it to your nearest post office to find out the cost?

[Leupold]

TotalDom,
There was a bit more to that rifle shipped as spares. I was involved in the end. No invoices were sent along with the rifle, a silly amount of like SAR10-00 was declaired to customs due to some fly by night clearing agents that were involved and much, much more. Sporting goods could work but spares would probably be better, especially if the rifle is in a KND state. The problem lies with the Importing Country. What are their rules ISA air rifles are concerned?

[MAD MARK]

John, i've had no probs from the post office.

Maybe pack it up and label as the previous reply and then take it to your nearest post office to find out the cost?

CHRIS THE POST OFFICE WILL NOT TAKE GUNS.YOU COULD SAY IT WAS SPORTS EQUIPMENT''BUT WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE AND SENDING IT OVER SEA'S YOU BEST BE HONEST MATE

MARK

[Rapidnick]

CHRIS THE POST OFFICE WILL NOT TAKE GUNS.YOU COULD SAY IT WAS SPORTS EQUIPMENT''BUT WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE AND SENDING IT OVER SEA'S YOU BEST BE HONEST MATE

MARK

This is my understanding too. I used Parcel Force to send a rifle to the USA a couple of years ago but now every courier company including Royal Mail has decided to refuse to carry them. No amount of protesting that it is a legal item will make fork all difference. That of course assumes that you tell them exactly what it is.
If you fail do disclose what the actual item is then any insurance claim will be void. That is a decision both buyer and seller have to make . Calling the package sporting goods or engineering parts is a risk but possibly one worth taking.

[pantera]

The problem has now been sorted.

Jonas has arranged with his local Gundealer to use his courier to pick up the rifle from me and from what my experience has been with all the uk couriers I've contacted this week this looks likes the best option - so if you are trying to export to a foreign country try the dealer to dealer route.

Thanks for all the advice,
John

[IanC.]

The problem has now been sorted.

Jonas has arranged with his local Gundealer to use his courier to pick up the rifle from me and from what my experience has been with all the uk couriers I've contacted this week this looks likes the best option - so if you are trying to export to a foreign country try the dealer to dealer route.

Thanks for all the advice,
John

John may i ask did you try TNT at all?

Atb Ian

[pantera]

Yes I tried TNT and their reply was although they do send firearms they only do it for certain account holders but they wouldn't give me any other details or help.

John.

[u.k.neil]

I have sent a P70 to Denmark with no problems. I stripped the rifle down to component parts and sent it in two separate packages and if anyone had asked about the contents it would have been "spare parts" as neither package could be made into an operational air rifle.

I did this by standard Royal Mail.

The recipient is a member of this BBS and both packages were received with no problems.

Neil