Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Can You Buy a Gun in the U.S.?
The complete guide to legally buy guns and firearms in the U.S.
buying rifle in USA and bringing to UK
- Thread starter Mungo
- Start date
I have a friend that regularly comes to the UK and we go stalking in Scotland.
He brings his own rifle over to shoot on a visitors permit every time.
I’ve been wondering if he purchased a rifle that I want in the states and brought it in to the UK on a visitors permit, could I then buy it from him during his visit to the UK, providing I had a slot on my ticket and just inform my firearms department if the acquisition.
Only reason I would do this is I want a Horizon Vandal X which simply is not available in the UK.
He brings his own rifle over to shoot on a visitors permit every time.
I’ve been wondering if he purchased a rifle that I want in the states and brought it in to the UK on a visitors permit, could I then buy it from him during his visit to the UK, providing I had a slot on my ticket and just inform my firearms department if the acquisition.
Only reason I would do this is I want a Horizon Vandal X which simply is not available in the UK.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Customs import duty and Vat come into play. How? Ask others more on SD involved with these matters.
I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be able to do that. It would have to go straight to a RFD and be sent for proofing before you could legally take possession. I brought 3 over years ago and was met at Heathrow by my RFD’s appointed courier who then transported them to the RFD.
An interesting point to note is that a firearm only has to go to proof if changing ownership or goes through an RFD. In your case there was no legal requirement for the firearm to go to proof until it either went to an RFD who would then legally be required for it to be proofed before returning said firearm or it was sold or transferred to another FAC holder.
8x57
Distinguished Member
I know a couple of guys who in the distant past imported a couple of guns from the U.S. themselves (they were delivered to the airport by the American seller and then handed over). They already had spaces on their FACs so were able to enter them themselves or get customs to do it for them. As they were private imports that they already owned there was no need for proof.
I presume that you didn't already have the necessary authority on your FAC so had to go through a RFD. Then in order to hand them over to you the RFD had to put them through the proof house.
Your friend couldn't "sell" the rifle to you as it wouldn't be proofed.
8x57
Distinguished Member
Because American guns are not proofed, only factory tested and its illegal in the U.K. to offer for sale a gun that is not in proof.
8x57
Distinguished Member
Yes all guns offered for sale in the U.K. must be proofed either by one of the two U.K. proof houses or by a European proof house which has CIP reciprocal arrangements. I know that some of the bigger European factories have state proof houses in factory e.g. Beretta, but I don't know if Sako/Tikka has a proof house on site.Ok gotcha. So every tikka or whatever brand has been sent to get proofed before it goes to an rfd to be sold. I’m learning the ropes over here so appreciate you taking the time
Finland has a proof house at Riihimäki where all SAKO/Tikka rifles are proofed https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/list_proofhouse.pdf
Digger686
Well-Known Member
View attachment 386878Can You Buy a Gun in the U.S.?
The complete guide to legally buy guns and firearms in the U.S.www.immihelp.com
The rule quoted above is for visitors from countries which are not approved under the visa waiver programme. As far as I am aware, there is a big difference made for visitors requiring an entry visa compared to visitors from "friendly" countries under the visa waiver programme.
This link gives a bit more detail, it's based on a visitor to a gun range using rental firearms, but as far as I am aware the general principle is the same:
Centennial Gun Club, Colorado: FOREIGN NATIONALS
The following is from a Texas law firm, but the restriction is a federal law so the rules should be the same regardless of which state you are visiting.
Walker Taylor Law: walkertaylorlaw.com
This should mean it is ok for visitors under the visa waiver programme to buy firearms in the US. On a recent trip, I bought a lot of gear including magazines, etc. without any issues.
Tex
Well-Known Member
Just to comment that you’ll have no issues buying any firearm part in most US states (California aside) except for the part that is ‘serialised’. That’s the US version of our distinction between ‘pressure bearing parts’ and non-pressure bearing.
Palmetto State Armoury (big 2nd amendment-aligned retailer) is the number one player on shipping firearms to people’s doors that are non serialised and incomplete (you literally have to drill one or two holes to receive the firing assembly and you’ve got a semi auto centerfire with no FFL/RFD involvement).
But you might have breached ITAR regulations by bringing them home or ITAR obligations of the manufacturer/seller - that is about products that can be used in a military/defence role being subject to export license. I’m no lawyer
For reference I was non-resident alien in Texas for a while. In 2015 I got a Texas hunters education certificate (sort of a DS1) which allowed me to purchase under the rule someone posted above about “legitimate reasons”, which in my case was hunting (not sure how useful my Walther PPQ would have been hunting but there you go). None of my UK-legal gear was worth the hassle of bringing back so I sold it up there and bought again here. Will always miss my $150 1941 Mosin Nagant with very questionable head spacing and sticky 1960s ammo.
*I realise that’s at odds with your posted link and the law may very well have changed in the last decade. Most of my purchases at FFLs were straightforward except one where a small time country seller asked me to do the three day wait and then handed it over no issue. If you buy at the big chain Cabellas in my one experience they will bring out their most solicitor-like sales assistant to check every word on every form with a magnifying glass.
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PostmanPat
Well-Known Member
Hi all — resurrecting this thread as I’m researching doing the exact same thing. I have a friend in the US who has a rifle I’d like to purchase and bring back to the UK. I should soon have an open slot on my ticket. I’ve had a few fairly expensive quotes from importers to handle the whole process end-to-end, but reading this makes me wonder whether I could simply fly over and bring it back myself.
I’ll be travelling there soon anyway, so that option is obviously very appealing. I’m not a US citizen and would not be staying over 90 days, though. Does anyone know whether that would still be above board? And if so, is there any paperwork required on the US side in order to take it out of the country?
It would be great to hear any first-hand experiences from anyone who has brought a firearm back from the US in recent years.
I’ll be travelling there soon anyway, so that option is obviously very appealing. I’m not a US citizen and would not be staying over 90 days, though. Does anyone know whether that would still be above board? And if so, is there any paperwork required on the US side in order to take it out of the country?
It would be great to hear any first-hand experiences from anyone who has brought a firearm back from the US in recent years.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Go for it but perhaps not out of JFK/Newark or O Hare Chicago as they seem more twitchy.
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