Air Rfile to France?

[Simonsays]

Hi Team,

We will be going to France for a weekend, staying on a farm and I know that they have some unwanted bunnies. I am sure the farmer wouldn't mind me having a pop at them (written permission is possible I am sure) so am rather tempted to take my rifle along.

I would however be a little nervous of a taking my air rifle with me across borders in case of a tug however slim the chance. Its certainly sub 12ftlbs (I have a chrono but no FAC), but no idea what the shooting rules in France are, nor at the entry points.

Any guidance appreciated.

I seem to recall ME limits of 9J in France for "sans permit" (16J = 12 ftlbs roughly), so maybe not a good idea. "Permit de chasse" may also be required?

So if anyone has been there, done that, I would be interested to hear from you.

S

[Murphy]

A lot lower power level than us AND hunting is banned with them.

[Simonsays]

A lot lower power level than us AND hunting is banned with them.

Yup, this seems to be the common response I have seen on another forum. I think I will shelve the idea. It also may put the mockers on my retirement home there. Bugga.

[davidt]

The French limit equates to about 7ft lbs as I recall ( I used to live there) for any air weapon, pistol or rifle.

You need a permit for more but they are easily obtained as are permits for 'proper' (as they see it) hunting firearms. Basically, hunting there is not a rich mans sport like here and ordinary working blokes can be seen out shooting (la chasse) all over the fields in the season. Around my place in Normandy it sounded like a world war at times!

It is illegal to hunt with an air weapon at all as they are viewed a bit as toys - due to the easy access to firearms, of course.

I actually took my HW77 to France as I had a few acres. It was never going to be used off my own land so I spoke to a young gendarme I knew about it (before taking it) and his attitude was...well he gave the characteristic Gallic shrug of the shoulders - how could we know?

I found it very strange coming back to the UK. In France the cafe at le Mollay Littry near where I lived had a shop section which sold firearms, it was all normal and unremarkable. When I came back here, it was strange to see the attitude to guns and gunshops. as if anyone who wanted a gun was some kind of pervert or potential killer.

Sorry to witter on

[look no hands]

The French limit equates to about 7ft lbs as I recall ( I used to live there) for any air weapon, pistol or rifle.

You need a permit for more but they are easily obtained as are permits for 'proper' (as they see it) hunting firearms. Basically, hunting there is not a rich mans sport like here and ordinary working blokes can be seen out shooting (la chasse) all over the fields in the season. Around my place in Normandy it sounded like a world war at times!

It is illegal to hunt with an air weapon at all as they are viewed a bit as toys - due to the easy access to firearms, of course.

I actually took my HW77 to France as I had a few acres. It was never going to be used off my own land so I spoke to a young gendarme I knew about it (before taking it) and his attitude was...well he gave the characteristic Gallic shrug of the shoulders - how could we know?

I found it very strange coming back to the UK. In France the cafe at le Mollay Littry near where I lived had a shop section which sold firearms, it was all normal and unremarkable. When I came back here, it was strange to see the attitude to guns and gunshops. as if anyone who wanted a gun was some kind of pervert or potential killer.

Sorry to witter on

Yep as already mentioned you can't hunt with them, strange thing is that my brother lives in France and he looks after other peoples houses when they are away and we went to check a house once and the owner had a HW80 proped up against a wall in his living room, not sure if he used it or not for hunting.

I also find it a bit strange when you walk into a sports shop like JJB sports (other sports shops are available ) and they have a gun section, I once remember seeing a stack of shotgun carts in the local supermarket.

Pete