Considering taking a job in the UK: firearms lawyer? (and more)
- Thread starter carbon
- Start date
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Seriously, unless you have a cracking job offer, you’d be insane to move to the U.K.! It’s a lovely place, but…it’s going down the pan, and it’s not the idyllic countryside with happy people driving landrovers and gardening all day long.
A few things that might help:
I can only think of one person who has moved to the UK with firearms. He had them imported to an RFD (Firearms Dealer), who then held them until he got a Firearms Certificate (took 2 years, he was born here so had citizenship but applied at the start of COVID). All agreed with the RFD in advance.
I know several people who have emigrated and I know some of them used PDQ Freight to handle the exports. They would be my first port of call.
I have toyed with the idea of importing a Winchester 70 and see there are several US firms who deal with exports to the UK.
I have to say that if I wasn’t tied to a family farm, I would not stay here. I have a lot of friends who have emigrated recently and know of a lot more who are moving.
Looking at the younger generation in my area, a very large proportion (at least a third) of farmer’s children are emigrating. Most to NZ or Australia.
I can only think of one person who has moved to the UK with firearms. He had them imported to an RFD (Firearms Dealer), who then held them until he got a Firearms Certificate (took 2 years, he was born here so had citizenship but applied at the start of COVID). All agreed with the RFD in advance.
I know several people who have emigrated and I know some of them used PDQ Freight to handle the exports. They would be my first port of call.
I have toyed with the idea of importing a Winchester 70 and see there are several US firms who deal with exports to the UK.
I have to say that if I wasn’t tied to a family farm, I would not stay here. I have a lot of friends who have emigrated recently and know of a lot more who are moving.
Looking at the younger generation in my area, a very large proportion (at least a third) of farmer’s children are emigrating. Most to NZ or Australia.
Thinking about it, I do know someone who did as the OP suggested and moved to the UK from NZ. He waited until he had a Firearms Certificate before importing his rifles. He then went back and took them with him.
I have no idea what the rules are for a foreign citizen getting licenced.
I have no idea what the rules are for a foreign citizen getting licenced.
carbon
Well-Known Member
Well, I’m back, and the prospect of an international move is firmly back on the table after some very good news from the bigwigs above the UK team that I lead. Including a substantial bump of salary and position.
I need to reach out to a UK lawyer as the Global Mobility Team in the firm will no doubt be fairly clueless on my issues. I want to be well prepared before I make any final decision.
Rereading some of the comments on this thread…some chaps seem to think I was considering marrying my old girlfriend whilst staying married to my wife…lol. This is not the case. Even if possible, one woman is quite enough of an emotional juggle for me, thank you very much
At the risk of sharing too much with a bunch of stiff upper lip UK blokes, my marriage has been going quite poorly for decades, and this potential job move would also happen to serve as a natural ending point for it. A relief, really.
Having an old girlfriend already in-country, one whom I have always been quite fond of, is bonus points. Our breakup never actually occurred, emotionally, at least. The fact that each of us (both in our 20s) was not ready to live upon the other’s soil was the issue, and the America’s three-month visitor rule is what broke us apart. Far too hastily, I might add. She’s in her 40s now, and me in the fifth decade.
But take her out of it. I’m still quite intrigued by the move for career and ending-marriage reasons.
I will attempt to contact that Laura Saunsbury lawyer. If anyone else has specific law firms or lawyers, do feel free to pass them along.
I need to reach out to a UK lawyer as the Global Mobility Team in the firm will no doubt be fairly clueless on my issues. I want to be well prepared before I make any final decision.
Rereading some of the comments on this thread…some chaps seem to think I was considering marrying my old girlfriend whilst staying married to my wife…lol. This is not the case. Even if possible, one woman is quite enough of an emotional juggle for me, thank you very much
At the risk of sharing too much with a bunch of stiff upper lip UK blokes, my marriage has been going quite poorly for decades, and this potential job move would also happen to serve as a natural ending point for it. A relief, really.
Having an old girlfriend already in-country, one whom I have always been quite fond of, is bonus points. Our breakup never actually occurred, emotionally, at least. The fact that each of us (both in our 20s) was not ready to live upon the other’s soil was the issue, and the America’s three-month visitor rule is what broke us apart. Far too hastily, I might add. She’s in her 40s now, and me in the fifth decade.
But take her out of it. I’m still quite intrigued by the move for career and ending-marriage reasons.
I will attempt to contact that Laura Saunsbury lawyer. If anyone else has specific law firms or lawyers, do feel free to pass them along.
carbon
Well-Known Member
Since I own a modern AI (AIAT), I can switch barrels at will. Even if I didn’t have such a thing, but had a barrel vise, a torque wrench, and an action wrench, I could switch out barrels and calibers ad infinitum on my Tikkas and Remingtons.
Pretend I got my guns over there, or bought them in the UK.
Does the UK state also regulate barrels or the ammo one may buy? Surely not? But something tells me they might…
Pretend I got my guns over there, or bought them in the UK.
Does the UK state also regulate barrels or the ammo one may buy? Surely not? But something tells me they might…
Ammo you will have a quantity you can buy and hold on your licence,
I believe a barrel is considered the same as a gun and therefore they are stated on your licence, but someone may be along to correct me on that, switch barrel rifles (blaser) are quit common here.
I believe a barrel is considered the same as a gun and therefore they are stated on your licence, but someone may be along to correct me on that, switch barrel rifles (blaser) are quit common here.
Does the UK state also regulate barrels or the ammo one may buy? Surely not? But something tells me they might…
They are both controlled as section 1 within the firearms laws.
carbon
Well-Known Member
Oh my.
So, if I parse this info correctly, are you guys saying:
- UK Man is approved to own a 22-250
- UK Man cannot buy a 308 barrel for his receiver or 308 ammo without further approval
- UK Man can only buy an arbitrary amount of 22-250 ammo, and no other calibers
How much ammo may UK Man buy or own?
Three boxes of 20rds each? lol I’m worried at the answer here
It is interesting that the UK apparently thinks a barrel is dangerous.
Correct on all 3.
on how much you can own/buy that depends on what you can justify to your firearms officer, in my case it is 200 round for each calibre of fire rifle I own and 600 rimfire for each calibre I own.
carbon
Well-Known Member
To put things in perspective, when I go prairie dog shooting out west, I brought ~1300 rds for my last trip and the first time I went I brought 3800 (just a bit optimistic, that one was).
And I still had thousands of rounds left at home.
If I find ammo on sale, I buy in bulk. And I am no prepper, just cost-efficient.
In my area rabbits are the nearest I can come to that and 40 is a good night, but since mixy hit I am lucky to see 3 or 4 rabbits so I just leave them alone, on a range you will probably get through a lot more round and if that is the case you have good reason to hold more so it is not an issue as you have a reason for it, but not being in that position I cant speak from facts, but looking at our ammo prices I dont think you would want to buy 3800 in one go.
carbon
Well-Known Member
Yeah, In the past I typically bought in lots of 500 or 1000. Still a fairly substantial amount to lay out for a lot of people. But if you find a sale, in the long run the savings add up dramatically.
Oh well.
Using your example of a 22-250 here are some prices for you to look through: Dauntsey Guns, Wilts, Wiltshire's Friendly Gun Shop: Centrefire, .22-250 Rem
you must stop thinking like an american gun owner if you move and live in the U.K. we have some of the toughest firearms laws in the world.
don’t forget to bring your medical history records with you to the U.K., from birth, or your application to own firearms will be rejected.
carbon
Well-Known Member
I see. I assume UK Man pays VAT?
If so, a box of 20 = £1.90/rd for Varmint Express .22-250. (is that the final price if buying in person?)
Here the cheapest I found from a reputable place is $1.12 plus shipping and tax. Say, $1.50/rd, mail order and including Minnesota tax.
Given that the exchange rate right now is $0.74 to £1.00, that strikes me as roughly equivalent buying power for UK Man and US Man.
Don’t worry, I don’t expect the UK to be like the US. I mentioned the quantities just to put things in perspective, not to gloat or cast aspersions.
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you can forget the mail order in the U.K. its illegal.
carbon
Well-Known Member
Of that, given what I knew before you just posted, surprises me not a whit lol
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