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

[ashf9999]

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

Maybe he wants a usable luggage case in future for holidays. I’d imagine it’s up to him.

[airgunwerks]

When I flew to the US to start my new life, I brought my NJR100 and pellets, I did all the correct notifications, the pellets were separate in my luggage, Virgin security put me in a little room for an hour and I almost missed my flight......

[Segata]

Thats probably more their end failing to communicate more than anything you've done, in OPs case I'd be making sure to double check they are aware at each point as it'll show he's nothing to hide and everythings compliant, plus if there is an issue it can then be proved and have any flights, hotel costs etc reimbursed if they cause him to miss his flight.

[Goldenkey2025]

Thanks for the input everyone..
So, looked at a couple of hard cases in person...

The one like Angry Bear suggested is great, and obviously a dedicated rifle case...
But its 53 inches long, not very deep, and very cumbersome..
My trip is complicated by 4x train journeys, and it just doesn't feel like the right tool for the job.

As someone said, this will be a "One off" situation, and the rifles will never be in this case again.
So, I found a solution... I think..
I bought a used Pelican 1605 AIR hard case.
Like this...
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/produc...16050-0011-110

Its about 29" X 17" x 10" or 736mm x 430mm x 250mm.
Close to a normal suitcase size.
Paid $125 for it, and I think it will work good.
The foam in it is already cut to whatever i had been used for before, so that will be coming out anyway.
Stocks should be able to fit in too, either straight or on the diagonal a bit.
I can then use it for Camera gear later.

I spoke to VIRGIN, and the guy told me the 65 GBP charge is a normal extra bag charge... so if I go on a ticket that includes 2x bags, its free.
Spoke to ATF and the very nice lady looked up the Air Rifles in the ATF Database... which I thought was COOL...
She declared there are no restrictions for import, so that was good.

[ashf9999]

Good to hear. Hope it all goes well for you.

[Segata]

Fingers crossed and safe journey

[Goldenkey2025]

In the call to the ATF she commented that I should double check with Customs and Border Patroltoo. She said they are the ones that could confiscate or impound upon arrival.
I went to the website, and found a messaging system that I used to ask the questions.
Says 7-10 days to get a response, so I will update when I receive.

So, I think I’ve covered everything… but I’m still anxious that something could go wrong. 😬

[angrybear]

Maybe he wants a usable luggage case in future for holidays. I’d imagine it’s up to him.

Of course it's up to the individual,
my thinking is simply that carried disassembled in a "normal" suitcase might be considered as concealing, to a jobsworth (which all US border force are)
compared to openly carrying a rifle case.
I hope the trip is entirely trouble free, whatever the choice.

[Goldenkey2025]

I believe that this should be covered by the check in procedure, where you have to declare these types of items...

The used Pelican case arrived and looks like it will do the job!

I did also got a reply from Customs and Border Patrol, which reads...

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Information Center.

Importing a bb gun, air soft or paintball gun for my personal use

Make sure the vendor clearly states it is an air soft, paintball, etc. gun on the shipping documents to avoid confusion over whether or not an import permit is required from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. As long as the items are not converted from firearms that incorporate the frame or receiver of a firearm, (i.e. a converted AK 47).

Paintball, bb guns, and other similar pellet guns that use compressed gas, compressed air or mechanical spring action to fire a projectile/pellet are not subject to Department of Commerce regulations for toy or imitation firearms that require bright orange plugs or other markers to be affixed to the end of the barrel (15 CFR 1150).

Air soft guns that are imitation firearms require the special blaze orange marking. State and local authorities have separate rules and regulations regarding entering their state with air soft, paintball, etc. guns. Please contact the state in which you will be entering to determine their rules.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not consider paintball and similar guns to be toys, and duty rates for these guns are provided for in Chapter 93 in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).

Most used personal items are duty free.

Thank you again for contacting our office.

[Goldenkey2025]

Wow...
I got that response, so wrote back...

Thanks so much for your time and response...
For clarification...
I have owned these 2 air rifles for about 45 years, since I lived in the UK...
Any recipients or purchase info is long gone, sadly... I only wish I had them!
The Airline carrier may also request proof of ownership...
I have several vintage photographs from the early 80s of myself, and the rifles... I hope that would be sufficient?
My father is ex law enforcement (hence my obsession with rule following!), and I guess I could get him to write a letter or affidavit confirming my ownership.
I contacted ATF and they confirmed, after looking up the Makes and Models on their database, that there are no issues with importing.

Assumed it would take a while for a reply... But in the time it took for me to write the above response in this thread I got a reply...

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Information Center.

You can bring the air rifles to the US, and you do not need any special documents. The CBP officers can ask them if necessary, but the air rifles would still be included in your personal exemption.

Thank you again for contacting our office.

Posting this as much for others who might want this info in the future...

[ashf9999]

Sounds like a result! As long as they don’t lose them on the way over for you…