Flying with airguns

[Nikkormat]

I am posing this question to the competition forum, as I suspect it will quickly drop down to page fifty on general, and I expect competition shooters are more likely to have relevant experience.

I own two airguns (FWB65 pistol and FWB127 rifle) which are stored in the UK. For the past eleven years, I have lived in Czech Republic. It seems that it is impossible to post these guns to my new location. In the case of the rifle, I am not terribly bothered. However, I really do not want to give up the FWB65 pistol. I see on the Easyjet website that transporting an airgun should be quite straightforward, but I would like to read of your experiences. I will of course contact Easyjet before booking anything.

Thanks,

Matt

[RobinC]

It never used to be any problem, IF you followed both the airlines and the airports security requirements, but it can and does change with current situations, best bet on current advice is to post this on Stirton forum, where current competitors are likely to haunt.

Best of luck
Robin

[angrybear]

Make sure you comply with any import/licence rules at the Czech end,
with advanced permission from the airline carrying them as personal baggage should be problem free,
I'd also speak to HMRC if it's a permanent export there might be paperwork although maybe not for sub 6/12.

[Nikkormat]

Thanks both, it looks much easier than I had expected. I'll check Stirton too.

Matt

[xbow]

Not relevant to this conversation but many years ago I used to go to international Crossbow competitions. The first year I put my crossbow into a gun case for travelling. I got stopped going out at Heathrow but the customs guys didn’t really appreciate what they were looking at and were fine. One of them though was more concerned with a tube of fletching cement! I also got stopped by customs going into Portugal that year. After that I used to take my crossbow apart, wrap the parts in cloth bags and transport it in my suitcase with my clothes. I never got stopped after that. I suspect I wouldn’t get away with that these days though. Oh, I forgot to add that I did tell customs that I had a crossbow in my suitcase once and the guy actually said to me “I don’t care what’s in there!”