Thread: Bringing rifle parts back from North America

Heading over seas shortly, just wondering what I can bring back in the country with checked in baggage
if they are significantly cheaper was looking at getting a stock & scope or will the red tape be waiting for me at the airport.

all depends on who you meet at this end, i brought back scopes,mags etc no issue
luck of the draw i guess

I bought back 3 scopes in my carry on - no questions asked last year.

A rifle stock would show up on an x-Ray on departure and may get impounded if not declared. I'd try and get your local Arms Officer to sign an NZ IMPORT FORM - even though not needed for NZ Customs - just to cover yourself with the airline departing the U.S. The airline will probably send you to a secondary bag scan - same as a "firearm".

However, if you are not flying direct to NZ with a rifle stock, you may want to reconsider.

Keep in mind that any person, any airline, on any day will interperate the "regulations" differently.

I've also seen some noise about US Export Permits required for firearms parts over US$100

Be very careful, you don't want to end up in a US jail on arms smuggling charges. Any firearms part, even stocks if over US$100 in value need an export permit. Some parts are ITAR restricted like Leupold Mk4 scopes (i think) and cannot be exported.

Keep in mind that any person, any airline, on any day will interperate the "regulations" differently.

This is so true, i had unbelievable trouble taking a travel fishing rod to and from samoa carry on and every person you talk to has a completely different opinion

Thanks may just have a go with scope and see how that goes. the stock will raise some questions when it goes through the x-ray not worth the hassle.

Originally Posted by dansus

Heading over seas shortly, just wondering what I can bring back in the country with checked in baggage
if they are significantly cheaper was looking at getting a stock & scope or will the red tape be waiting for me at the airport.

Give Gun City CHCH a call ask for David Tipple he will give you a heads up on his experience trying to bring gun parts back into NZ, I think he spent 18 months on the chain gang before it got sorted out he was one flight away from Guantanamo Bay

Originally Posted by Bonecrusher

Give Gun City CHCH a call ask for David Tipple he will give you a heads up on his experience trying to bring gun parts back into NZ, I think he spent 18 months on the chain gang before it got sorted out he was one flight away from Guantanamo Bay

Good ole mr tipple was trying to sneak through us customs a heap of firearms,pistols and firearm add-ons UNDECLARED which is what got him an asswhooping. Nothing him and his family has done since shows me that any of them have learned their lesson.

Originally Posted by oneipete

Good ole mr tipple was trying to sneak through us customs a heap of firearms,pistols and firearm add-ons UNDECLARED which is what got him an asswhooping. Nothing him and his family has done since shows me that any of them have learned their lesson.

Don't put things in writing if you have no direct knowledge of the facts! Libel can be a very expensive exercise. The facts are completely at odds with your statement, and the fireams (A category) were fully documented and had a NZ Import Permit. I won't go into further detail other than to say I believe he was well 'fitted up' by overzealous US officials who were unaware of their own laws!

I'm in a similar boat, my partner will be in the states at the end of the month. Keen to bring back a couple of scopes.. Not sure whether its safer for her to take them on carry on or to check them in her luggage....?

I just bought what I wanted there and posted it back to myself, declared a price on each parcel less than $400 nzd, saved the risk of airports, one package arrived the day after I got back

Originally Posted by nzfubz

I just bought what I wanted there and posted it back to myself, declared a price on each parcel less than $400 nzd, saved the risk of airports, one package arrived the day after I got back

Did the same myself.

I bought a scope back coming through LA, no questions asked atalk. You can send the Tsa an email and they will clearly state what you can and can't take through.

Bought many rifles,parts,scopes etc back to kiwi over the years,generally no issues.The last was a Marlin 30/30,no issues,but as previous posters have alluded,check with customs and police if it's anything dubious,outside the norm.

Have spent a lot of money on pig dog tracking collars,until recently when we had a cache confiscated by NZ customs,due to several changes on the collar frequencies,expensive indeed,and some here will be familiar with those changes.It really doesn't take much to check with authorities before hand,and my advice is to do the hard yards for info,have an idea what you want to purchase,and check that it's allowed.NZ customs can be real bassturds about certain things,and once they sink their teeth in,you will have lost your booty!!!

......and make sure you "check" your baggage,carrying it on an aircraft will only draw attention,something you don't need.Im in the buisness and know how pathetic some authorities can be and are....

...by the way....if you need a US mailing address,let me know....more than happy to help out if I can...