Importing firearms

There's a website called Guns International which is the equivalent of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory for grown men - full of firearm classifieds and every high quality gun you can imagine.

Has anyone here bought firearms internationally, and is the process relatively easy or a complete headache?

I'm looking at a few options from the USA, but I've heard that an export permit for a firearm can cost thousands. Is this true? And how long does the process generally take? If it costs an arm and a leg I may just scrap the idea.

Cheers.

importing from usa is a pain is the %%%% !!!!@!

So it's character building? ;) I like the sound of that.

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Originally Posted by Frodo

So it's character building? ;) I like the sound of that.

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well if you like having pain in your arse i suggest eating carolina reapers are a good way to start.

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Originally Posted by gonetropo

well if you like having pain in your arse i suggest eating carolina reapers are a good way to start.

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:thumbsup:

Yes, it will cost an arm and a leg - and possibly your left testicle !

I have looked at the numbers and the economics of importing a single rifle from the USA do not work out for a private individual.

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Originally Posted by KiwiinSeattle

Yes, it will cost an arm and a leg - and possibly your left testicle !

I have looked at the numbers and the economics of importing a single rifle from the USA do not work out for a private individual.

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Cheers for the info. What a shame, aye. There's some really cool stuff up for grabs on the 2nd hand market overseas.

Once the ITAR changes go into effect here in the USA, it should be easier and cheaper to import from the USA as well as purchasing accessories and similar items.

The firearm needs to be very very cheap or special & not available here to make it worth while to import.

Before the changes the process wasn't overly difficult, that may have changed now especially for restricted firearms.

You need to factor in USD $250-400 for an export permit & or a percentage of the value of the item for the exporter, this varies depending on who is used.

Also around USD $4-500 for freight to get it here, then $40-50 Kiwi to get it delivered to you once it is cleared.

Don't forget GST & customs fees & if you are commercial a brokers fee as well.

Obviously if you bring in two or three the fixed costs are spread across them which makes it easier to swallow.

Finding an economic exporter who is willing to do a one off transaction isn't as easy as it sounds either.

All of a sudden cheap US firearms aren't so much once they get here

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Originally Posted by Frodo

There's a website called Guns International which is the equivalent of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory for grown men - full of firearm classifieds and every high quality gun you can imagine.

Has anyone here bought firearms internationally, and is the process relatively easy or a complete headache?

I'm looking at a few options from the USA, but I've heard that an export permit for a firearm can cost thousands. Is this true? And how long does the process generally take? If it costs an arm and a leg I may just scrap the idea.

Cheers.

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I think it depends on what you are buying. Certain rifles are just not available here so it makes sense. As mentioned it not a cheap exercise but if you want something special or different its warranted. I am in the process at the moment. A $US6000 rifle in the US becomes around $NZ10500 delivered in NZ. We have an importer in NZ who advertises the service. I haven't used them personally but if you don't want the hassle this is a good option. But clearly don't try to import a Ruger 10/22!!

What's your timescale could try Tee something up possibly.

My own example from 2010. Invoice in USD, landed in NZ for NZD 6502.00. Worth it back then.

Attachment 112444

If the firearm you are looking for available in Canada, maybe it's cheaper in total and less hassle getting from there.

Shipping could cost a lot especially from North America.

Canadian air freight is DEF not cheap in my experience and the days of cheap surface freight options seem to have gone. As was just said, freight from Nth America in total has become a deal killer- I keep funds in the US but other than small specialist items, it's often of suspect viability to get stuff out now.

I have quite a few projectiles sitting over there with my mate so might have to do another trip to collect them

I'm using boarderview at the moment giving it a go.

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Originally Posted by xiaohan

If the firearm you are looking for available in Canada, maybe it's cheaper in total and less hassle getting from there.

Shipping could cost a lot especially from North America.

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Haha - came here to post this. Canada's prices vary widely (sometimes the same price as USA, but in Canadian dollars due to manufacturer's contracts), and unless it's a restricted or prohibited firearm in Canada, Canada customs doesn't care at all, and Canada Post will happily ship whatever you put in the box aside from powder and primers. None of those dumb USA regulations and money bleeding fees like in the USA.

Another trick is to know that firearms manufactured (not just designed, but physically and positively proven to be in existence) prior to 1899 are not firearms according to US law, so don't need to go through the same export regulations... legally they're a chunk of metal in an amusing shape and nothing more.

No idea how going over the ocean works, but UPS and Fedex charge up to 100% value brokerage fees crossing the Canadian/US border when there's no brokerage to be done, so they're best to avoid. USPS and Canada Post just transit the firearm through after clearing customs. Canada Post requires all firearms (by their definition anything with a receiver that shoots projectiles) must travel ground freight, with signature on delivery, so that simplifies things in that regard.... will probably just take a month or two to get here!

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

The firearm needs to be very very cheap or special & not available here to make it worth while to import.

Before the changes the process wasn't overly difficult, that may have changed now especially for restricted firearms.

You need to factor in USD $250-400 for an export permit & or a percentage of the value of the item for the exporter, this varies depending on who is used.

Also around USD $4-500 for freight to get it here, then $40-50 Kiwi to get it delivered to you once it is cleared.

Don't forget GST & customs fees & if you are commercial a brokers fee as well.

Obviously if you bring in two or three the fixed costs are spread across them which makes it easier to swallow.

Finding an economic exporter who is willing to do a one off transaction isn't as easy as it sounds either.

All of a sudden cheap US firearms aren't so much once they get here

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Sounds like someone's been there done that, Got the tee shirt?
KH

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Originally Posted by Kiwi-Hunter

Sounds like someone's been there done that, Got the tee shirt?
KH

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Yep quite a few times now, first one in 2010, no T-shirt yet :)

I scrapped the idea.

Might be worth it if it's a super expensive, one of a kind thing. But otherwise...naaaaaah.

Fly to the US for a holiday, buy a rifle, dies, projectiles and brass and bring it all back. You will likely spend no more than buying the lot here, even including the cost of the flight. I know a bloke :) who took two rifles home with him from US to UK and it was very easy.

Same story everywhere, from what I know. You can't purchase firearms on a visitor permit? You've gotta be a resident and hold a firearms licence in that country.

It would seem to make more sense to have a holiday in Canada and do what Canross describes.

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Originally Posted by stevodog

It would seem to make more sense to have a holiday in Canada and do what Canross describes.

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It's not quite as simple as Canross describes.

To purchase or possess a firearm in Canada, a person needs a PAL. A non resident can get one, but unless you're planning on a long holiday, you won't get one quick enough.

Every firearm, not just Restricted or Prohibited, needs an export permit. These have been known to take awhile.

"An export permit is required for any class of firearm being exported to a country other than the United States, even if the export is only temporary – for example, if someone takes a firearm to another country to hunt or to target shoot. When individuals apply for an export permit, they must include an import permit from the country of destination and from any other countries that the firearm will be travelling through en route."

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/faq/im-ex-eng.htm

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Originally Posted by small_caliber

Anybody in the US that lets you take possession of a firearm in the US, unless you are a resident in the same state is breaking the law.

If you are not a US citizen you are not eligible to purchase or possess a firearm, unless it is one you are taking into the USA with a valid import permit.

Being in possession of a firearm in the USA and if you are caught with it or caught exporting it without the required permits you would be eligible for a fully funded holiday the same as David Tipple got.

So check the law before trying to do what Spitfire says is easy to do.

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I thought there was a permit you could get that allows foreign aliens to own firearms.

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Originally Posted by Koshogi

It's not quite as simple as Canross describes.

To purchase or possess a firearm in Canada, a person needs a PAL. A non resident can get one, but unless you're planning on a long holiday, you won't get one quick enough.

Every firearm, not just Restricted or Prohibited, needs an export permit. These have been known to take awhile.

"An export permit is required for any class of firearm being exported to a country other than the United States, even if the export is only temporary – for example, if someone takes a firearm to another country to hunt or to target shoot. When individuals apply for an export permit, they must include an import permit from the country of destination and from any other countries that the firearm will be travelling through en route."

Importing and Exporting Firearms (Individuals) - Royal Canadian Mounted Police

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good info, thanks. Looks like you need to do their firearms safety course to get a PAL licience

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Originally Posted by stevodog

good info, thanks. Looks like you need to do their firearms safety course to get a PAL licience

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No worries.

You can do the full course or just the test if you have experience with firearms and knowledge of Canadian firearm laws.

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Originally Posted by Koshogi

It's not quite as simple as Canross describes.

To purchase or possess a firearm in Canada, a person needs a PAL. A non resident can get one, but unless you're planning on a long holiday, you won't get one quick enough.

Every firearm, not just Restricted or Prohibited, needs an export permit. These have been known to take awhile.

"An export permit is required for any class of firearm being exported to a country other than the United States, even if the export is only temporary – for example, if someone takes a firearm to another country to hunt or to target shoot. When individuals apply for an export permit, they must include an import permit from the country of destination and from any other countries that the firearm will be travelling through en route."

Importing and Exporting Firearms (Individuals) - Royal Canadian Mounted Police

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I stand corrected, I've only ever dealt with USA for firearms or antiques so it wasn't an issue. Apologies on the misinformation.

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Originally Posted by Koshogi

No worries.

You can do the full course or just the test if you have experience with firearms and knowledge of Canadian firearm laws.

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I think they stopped allowing challenges in bill C-42 in 2015, but the course is only a day long so not terrible.