Taking my Vintage Air Rifles to the USA, advice requested?

[Goldenkey2025]

Hi Fellow AirgunBBS Enthusiasts!
Growing up in Oxfordshire, I owned a Webley Vulcan Mk2, and a Weihrauch HW80 since the 70Â’s!
Many years of pleasure shooting and hunting in the gardens and fields around my family home.
Later teaching my boys to shoot with them too.
I emigrated to the USA 20 years ago, leaving my guns behind, but they are still at my parents.
Will be back in the UK this summer, and planning to bring them back to the USA with me.

My research says:
1/ Uk has no restrictions on exporting an Air Rifle, as itÂ’s not considered a firearm.
2/ USA has no restrictions on importing an Air Rifle, as ATF also do not consider it a firearm.
3/ Virgin Atlantic website says they must be in a locked TSA approved hard case to go as checked baggage in the hold. Unloaded, ammo separate, and they charge £65 for such items, and you must give 72hrs notice etc.

Planned to disassemble the two, by removing the barrels, as much to save length/space as well as prove they are not functional. As they are spring powered, the rules about air tanks and storage donÂ’t apply.

Did see a comment about “Proof of ownership” being requiredÂj… obviously at this point I donÂ’t have that.. Maybe some vintage pics of me, and my airguns from the 70s would suffice!Ding have a case yet, and need to buy something either here or in the UK when I get back.


Any advice, knowledge, experiences to share/help me navigate this plan?

[Nikkormat]

I am in a similar situation to you; I moved from the UK to Czech Republic 12 years ago, and have left behind my FWB65 and FWB Sport.

I asked both on here and on the Stirton forum; the answer on there was pretty much the same as you have found. I have yet to move mine.

Matt

[Goldenkey2025]

Thanks.
I took one of the vintage pics I have and removed a part of the image that’s not allowed…
Can’t figure out how to insert the pic from my phone yet…
I know I bought my Webley Vulcan from a from my Mothers catalog.. prob in the mid to late 70s… wow, remember those days!
Looking up the production dates of the Weihrauch, it must have been a very early one because I left home in 1983, and had had it for a while before that… I think I bought it from the Catalog too!

[Neil54]

I checked with my airline and there was no restriction.
I took the stock and barrel off and put in my checked luggage with no problems.
The tin of pellets became open and I had pellets in all my clothes.

[Goldenkey2025]

I checked with my airline and there was no restriction.
I took the stock and barrel off and put in my checked luggage with no problems.
The tin of pellets became open and I had pellets in all my clothes.

Which airline and flying from and to where?

[Goldenkey2025]

Anyone got a Webley Vulcan and/or a Weihrauch HW80 to hand that can give me some dimensions?
Looks like the barrel once removed is shorter than the stock.
Any car to run a tape over the stock and tell me what the overall length is.. Please?

[dair]

Anyone got a Webley Vulcan and/or a Weihrauch HW80 to hand that can give me some dimensions?
Looks like the barrel once removed is shorter than the stock.
Any car to run a tape over the stock and tell me what the overall length is.. Please?

Full length Webley Vulcan: about 44 inches. Stock 27". Barrel about 19 1/4" since the rear sight sticks back 1/4" past the breechblock.
Full length 80. (mine is an R1 but I think it's the same as the 80) overall about 46 1/2". Stock 29 1/2"unless the 80 has the shorter forearm then a little bit less. Barrel about 20 1/4".

[Neil54]

Which airline and flying from and to where?

Delta Airlines, UK to St Louis via their hub.
The info was online and I check with help desk on the way out. Bought an air rifle and brought it back.

Very much " it's only an air rifle."

[Segata]

Checked into it the other way to get Daisys here that are US exclusive but it's the same going to and you've already covered it all, all kit needs to be checked in the hold, some airlines stipulate requirments on cases and you just need to tell them each end what you have and you're good to go, some Airlines are even used to it as Competitive shooters will travel with their Guns.
Only other thing is brace everything to take bumps, turbulence aside the trip to and from the Cargo hold can be rough so consider stuff like zip covers or tape for any ammo tins and something cushioning between stock and the seperate action so they don't knock together.

[angrybear]

There are loads of rifle flight cases for sale on the bay for not very much money,
If you buy in the US & bring it with you, on return it might look like you took them out & save any import duty/tariff bringing them back.

[Goldenkey2025]

Thanks everyone!
That length info is very much appreciated!

I'm very much a rule follower... these guns are super important to me, so I dont want to risk any issues.

It seems that there are no "TSA Approved" gun transport cases..
Just the spec that they are hard sided, pry proof and lockable.

Virgin Atlantic rules for traveling with "Sporting equipment", says...

As you might imagine, we have a few rules surrounding firearms.

As part of your baggage allowance you can check in as many firearms as you’d like, provided you have the correct paperwork to confirm you’re allowed to own each item.
You’ll also need paperwork demonstrating you are allowed to import, export and own each item within the countries your trip will take you to.

Excess baggage charges will apply should you exceed your baggage allowance (details of fees are on our additional baggage page).

Exceptions

If you’re travelling to the US, Shanghai or South Africa, there are additional considerations. Please check below for further details.

What we consider a firearm to be:

For clarity, we define a firearm as anything that fires a projectile – whether it uses air, string or explosives to do so. This includes items such as:

Sporting rifles
Pellet guns
Crossbows
Antique weapons (these must be decommissioned, so they are no longer able to fire).

Virgin Atlantic has Home Office permission to carry handguns classified under section 5 of the Dangerous Weapons Act. As with sporting firearms, you must have the appropriate documentation for both ownership and carriage of these items.

Ammunition

We define the following items as ammunition:

Lead pellets
Arrows
Crossbow bolts
Bullets.

Note that all firearms must be empty when you pack them. Ammunition must be packed separately from firearms in its original packaging and locked in a solid case.

Ammunition is limited to 5kgs per passenger, in line with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, and cannot be pooled with other passengers.

Any ammunition containing explosive bullets, toxins or incendiary projectiles will not be accepted on our flights in any circumstances.


I've identified a case made by Apache, the 5800, that is available here from Harbor Freight, for $99.

https://www.harborfreight.com/5800-w...rge-64819.html

Looks to be about 22" x 14" x 9".

I'm thinking I'll buy the case here, take all the foam out, and travel to the UK with it filled with my clothes, and personal stuff, plus a folded duffel bag inside.
Then, break the rifles down, separating the barrels, lever arm, and spring mechanism(Whats that part called?), and those part can go into the Hard case with some bubble wrap, clothes etc..
I gather from the Virgin Atlantic website, that i have to inform them 72hrs in advance, what I am traveling with, and pay an additional 65 gbp fee...
The two bare wooden stocks. can be wrapped and protected, then wrapped in clothes and go in the Duffle bag...

[angrybear]

That appears to be a suit case, This is a rifle case.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TecTake%C2%...c-d11b6e3d217f

No need to take bits apart or otherwise bugger about, open case, place guns inside close case, add padlock to secure.
Why do people always want to make things more complicated than they need to be

[ashf9999]

That appears to be a suit case, This is a rifle case.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TecTake%C2%...c-d11b6e3d217f

No need to take bits apart or otherwise bugger about, open case, place guns inside close case, add padlock to secure.
Why do people always want to make things more complicated than they need to be

Because bags over 90cm long are classed as oversize and cost a shed load more to carry with Virgin Atlantic.

[Segata]

plus they will probably still pull the excuse either way that its rifles to get extra charges, better to do it by their letter than risk losing the Guns.

[angrybear]

The OP states He's been told of the extra cost of £65.
I still fail to understand why people seem to delight in complicating matters