Importing a sub 12 fl-lb Air Rifle

[harrygrey382]

Does anyone know what the procedure is - or could anyone point me to an official source where I don't have to call? I'm guessing the only issue could be proving it is in fact 12 ft-lbs? Why bother you may ask...

Australia (NSW in particular) is having a major firearms law shake up following the Bondi shooting a a couple of months ago and restricting most to 4 guns (farmers and target shooters to 10), as such I need to get rid of a few. One being my Gamo CF2 I got in the UK when I was 12. I shot many (and missed many more) rabbits and pigeons and had many good times with my best mate and brothers with it. It's got almost 0 financial, but high emotional value. As such I don't want to hand it in to get crushed, and would rather bring it back to it's home when I fly over later in the year for my nephews to enjoy. I think taking it out won't be an issue, and being unrestricted in the UK shouldn't in theory either

 

[enfieldspares]

Bring it back to it's home when I fly over later in the year

I think that this is the important point that you are intending to fly with it together to the UK? So you need to proceed to see which carriers or in your case airline will carry the item. My own belief is that as your personal property carried in the hold as "sporting arms" it won't be too onerous. BUT get a known and competent gunshop in Australia (with a website presence) to test it over a chronograph and have that document packed with it.

The other workaround if it can't come with you in the hold of the plane as "sporting arms" may be to contact one of the Australian representatives of one of the UK auction houses such as Holts? To consign the thing to auction in the UK and have the nephews bid on it? Sounds daft but consider the premium YOU pay and the the premium THEY pay as a cheap "shiping charge" as of course any proceeds less the premiums you can instruct to be paid to the nephews.

And the other guns you mentioned? They can also go the Holt's route perhaps to, in fact, be sold.

Australia
David Handyside
T: 0061 885385388
worldwide@holtsauctioneers.com

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I took a Feinwerkbau target air rifle from Munich to Mumbai when I took a job with Tata, the Emiraties took it off the plane and left it at Munich airport without telling me then my son in law had to collect it for me.
Check with the airline you will use.

 

[harrygrey382]

Bring it back to it's home when I fly over later in the year

I think that this is the important point that you are intending to fly with it together to the UK? So you need to proceed to see which carriers or in your case airline will carry the item. My own belief is that as your personal property carried in the hold as "sporting arms" it won't be too onerous. BUT get a known and competent gunshop in Australia (with a website presence) to test it over a chronograph and have that document packed with it.

According to their website - the airline (Emirates) is ok carrying them. I’ll need to confirm with them of course. My main concern is with UK customs letting it in, would they really accept a letter from an Aussie gunshop with chrony result?

I took a Feinwerkbau target air rifle from Munich to Mumbai when I took a job with Tata, the Emiraties took it off the plane and left it at Munich airport without telling me then my son in law had to collect it for me.
Check with the airline you will use.

Wow that’s really helpful… and I’m Emirates too!

 

[enfieldspares]

According to their website - the airline (Emirates) is ok carrying them. I’ll need to confirm with them of course. My main concern is with UK customs letting it in, would they really accept a letter from an Aussie gunshop with chrony result?

Now that you have reasonable confidence that Emirates will carry it I'd write to UK Border Force explaining what you want to do, maybe confirming that it was a UK sub 12ft/lbs specification and that you will enclose with it a report from a registered firearms dealer in Australia who has tested it and confirms that it is sub 12ft/lbs muzzle energy? It can't not help.

 

[harrygrey382]

Now that you have reasonable confidence that Emirates will carry it I'd write to UK Border Force explaining what you want to do, maybe confirming that it was a UK sub 12ft/lbs specification and that you will enclose with it a report from a registered firearms dealer in Australia who has tested it and confirms that it is sub 12ft/lbs muzzle energy? It can't not help.

Yep - very true. Is their email enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk?

 

[enfieldspares]

Yep - very true. Is their email enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk?

I'd look at this instead maybe?

Guns, knives, swords and other offensive weapons: UK border control

This guidance summarises the requirements, controls and sanctions that Border Force applies to firearms and offensive weapons when they are imported into the UK.

www.gov.uk

Which directed me to a tick box sequence at

Are you contacting the Home Office about a visa, asylum application or your immigration status? - Contact the Direct Communications Unit – GOV.UK

submit.forms.service.gov.uk

Select "NO" then make a cup of tea, make yourself comfortable, get set and go...

 

[harrygrey382]

Right, great thanks for that