ITAR and Bullets

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Ah8217bris

Ah8217bris

Well-Known Member
Having been a regular visitor to the US (but not for 10 months) I thought I would check ITAR on bringing back some bullets so I could reload them when home. The current wording says:

"The components, parts, accessories andattachments controlled in this category include, but are not limited to cartridge cases,powder bags (or other propellant charges),bullets, jackets, cores, shells (excludingshotgun shells), projectiles (including canister rounds and submunitions therefor),boosters, firing components therefor, primers, and other detonating devices for the defense articles controlled in this category."

Does everybody read this that you are no longer allowed to bring bullets back from the US to the UK in your suitcase?

 
You need to know what the "defence articles controlled in this category" are in order to get the context. But I'd say "no bullets" is the safest interpretation.
 
Have brought bullets back on a number of occasions. The US side just has a weight limit. UK side, you need to be within your FAC limits I guess. Not aware to any change of ITAR regs recently.
 
Eric the Red said:
Have brought bullets back on a number of occasions. The US side just has a weight limit. UK side, you need to be within your FAC limits I guess. Not aware to any change of ITAR regs recently.
Click to expand...

Thats what I have done before but reading the ITAR definition I was a bit concerned.....with a box of 100 hornady 55gr @ $7.50 I was hoping to bring back a few boxes! :)
 
Ah8217bris said:
Having been a regular visitor to the US (but not for 10 months) I thought I would check ITAR on bringing back some bullets so I could reload them when home. The current wording says:

"The components, parts, accessories andattachments controlled in this category include, but are not limited to cartridge cases,powder bags (or other propellant charges),bullets, jackets, cores, shells (excludingshotgun shells), projectiles (including canister rounds and submunitions therefor),boosters, firing components therefor, primers, and other detonating devices for the defense articles controlled in this category."

Does everybody read this that you are no longer allowed to bring bullets back from the US to the UK in your suitcase?
Click to expand...

All this ITAR stuff is bull$hit if it really applied then all the shooting goods we take for granted would not be available in the UK, what it really means is that ITAR is enforced unless you have applied and "PAID" for an export licence, in other words it stops individuals buying and ordering related stuff themselves.

Ian.
 
I've had a quick look for you.

This brings it into context because the 'bullets' you describe are caught under the category I of the list which encompasses a bolt action rifle as a 'firearm'. This is asterisked to indicate it's controlling significant military equipment which is defined in the earlier section as:

[h=2]§120.7 Significant military equipment.[/h](a) Significant military equipment means articles for which special export controls are warranted because of their capacity for substantial military utility or capability.
(b) Significant military equipment includes:
(1) Items in §121.1 of this subchapter which are preceded by an asterisk; and
(2) All classified articles enumerated in §121.1 of this subchapter.

Next question is your bolt action sporting rifle considered significant military equipment? Probably not.

But just to be safe, drop an e-mail to the US State Dept. and they will happily confirm.


Cheers





Clive
 
I can't find it now, but I think there is an exemption for home loaders.

Best to contact the authorities though, to make sure all bases are covered.
 
An ITAR export licence is required for ANY bullet and cartridge case being exported from the USA - and that has been the situation for getting on for 10 years now, so nothing new.

Any US made bullets that we buy here have been shipped by someone with an export permit, as plain as that, whether it is the original manufacturer exporting to a UK / European importer / distributor, or direct by Brownells / Midway or one of the very few US specialist retailers that will sell online.

Needless to say, this adds considerably to prices.
 
Ah8217bris said:
Having been a regular visitor to the US (but not for 10 months) I thought I would check ITAR on bringing back some bullets so I could reload them when home. The current wording says:

"The components, parts, accessories andattachments controlled in this category include, but are not limited to cartridge cases,powder bags (or other propellant charges),bullets, jackets, cores, shells (excludingshotgun shells), projectiles (including canister rounds and submunitions therefor),boosters, firing components therefor, primers, and other detonating devices for the defense articles controlled in this category."

Does everybody read this that you are no longer allowed to bring bullets back from the US to the UK in your suitcase?
Click to expand...

I checked with the US State department & it does indeed mean you can't bring back bullets. Bloody stupid IMO but there we are.
 
Appreciate everyone’s input here. Just emailed them asking for advise and stated am a home loader - will update on here what they say!!! It’s different a grey area!!
 
The wording of the ITAR:

Category III—Ammunition/Ordnance
*(a) Ammunition/ordnance for the articles in Categories I and II of this section.
(b) Ammunition/ordnance handling equipment specifically designed or modified for the articles controlled in this category, such as, belting, linking, and de-linking equipment.
(c) Equipment and tooling specifically designed or modified for the production of defense articles controlled by this category.
(d) Components, parts, accessories, attachments and associated equipment specifically designed or modified for the articles in this category:
*(1) Guidance and control components for the articles in paragraph (a) of this category;
*(2) Safing, arming and fuzing components (including target detection and localization devices) for the articles in paragraph (a) of this category; and
(3) All other components, parts, accessories, attachments and associated equipment for the articles in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this category.
(e) Technical data (as defined in §120.10 of this subchapter) and defense services (as defined in §120.9 of this subchapter) directly related to the defense articles described in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this category. Technical data directly related to the manufacture or production of any defense articles described elsewhere in this category that are designated as Significant Military Equipment (SME) shall itself be designated SME.
(f) The following explains and amplifies the terms used in this category and elsewhere in this subchapter:
(1) The components, parts, accessories and attachments controlled in this category include, but are not limited to cartridge cases, powder bags (or other propellant charges), bullets, jackets, cores, shells (excluding shotgun shells), projectiles (including canister rounds and submunitions therefor), boosters, firing components therefor, primers, and other detonating devices for the defense articles controlled in this category.
(2) This category does not control cartridge and shell casings that, prior to export, have been rendered useless beyond the possibility of restoration for use as a cartridge or shell casing by means of heating, flame treatment, mangling, crushing, cutting or popping.
(3) Equipment and tooling in paragraph (c) of this category does not include equipment for hand-loading ammunition.
(4) The articles in this category include any end item, component, accessory, attachment, part, firmware, software, or system that has been designed or manufactured using technical data and defense services controlled by this category.
(5) The articles specifically designed or modified for military application controlled in this category include any article specifically developed, configured, or adapted for military application

I’ve put the important parts in bold.

Para (c) and an explanation in para (1) basically covers everything from round components to all parts and tools of reloading machines. So basically, everything associated with home loading (including a ruler if you use one).

Para (3) gives the dispensation of home loading. So as long as it’s home loading and not commercial manufacturer you are good to go. Hazardous goods (primers, primed cases and powder is a separate transport issue).

I’ve brought back 10,000 of thousands cases, bullets, dies and reloading machines from the states. Every time they have been inspected by TSA and permitted to go.

Hope that helps.
 
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just to update everyone I have heard back ref ITAR. As I am not a US citizen I am not allowed to bring with me any reloading kit or bullet heads out of the country. If I was a US citizen I would be allowed to bring both with me.!!!!!!
 
Ah8217bris said:
just to update everyone I have heard back ref ITAR. As I am not a US citizen I am not allowed to bring with me any reloading kit or bullet heads out of the country. If I was a US citizen I would be allowed to bring both with me.!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Do they cite the source as the only place I've seen this is in relation to live ammunition? About two years ago they changed to law to state that you had to be either a US citizen or have residential status to purchase ammo other than for immediate use on a range.

ITAR has no requirement to citizenship as it applies to all equally.
 
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flying felix said:
Do they cite the source as the only place I've seen this is in relation to live ammunition? About two years ago they changed to law to state that you had to be either a US citizen or have residential status to purchase ammo other than for immediate use on a range.

ITAR has no requirement to citizenship as it applies to all equally.
Click to expand...

No but reply came from DDTC Response Team - no source was referred too only the decision.
 
Ah8217bris said:
No but reply came from DDTC Response Team - no source was referred too only the decision.
Click to expand...

My mistake, ITAR does refer to foreign nationals - but only in relation to "technical data" as in, giving such ITAR classed technical data to a foreign national is classed as an export, no matter where this exchange occurs. In relation to articles, parts or tools (physical components, firearms, etc), it does not matter the nationality of the person conducting the export; the items are either covered by ITAR or not.

I would reply back and ask them to cite the regulation they are referring to. I think you'll find you will get a different response.

Having spent a considerable portion of my professional career answering questions on regulation and legislation, the first thing you always include is the reference to the policy.
 
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