Thread: Tasman Research: New NZ made AR15 magazines

Originally Posted by 300CALMAN

I hope the mags work out alright. Spearmags seem to be doing ok so there is space for a local magazine maker.

I just ordered three directly off their web site. Yay for correctly priced locally made products. I think the real market for nz made mags is in 7 rounders because a 5 is just stupidly small for a semi auto and 7 is all you can have on a cat.

My issue with the NZ made mags is the price, I just bought 3 20 round lancers mags for $185 delivered from a NZ website-so I just struggle to see paying the same or more for unproven local mags.

And that's not even going into what mags cost if you get a import permit.

Don't get me wrong, I understand why the locally made mags cost what they do, but unless the day comes when we can't get mags from bigger overseas makers while still being allowed to have them domestically I just don't see it being the most effective business model.

Hi res, where did you get the Lancers?

...I just got some of the 20rnd lancers as well

Originally Posted by dirtyhabit

Hi res, where did you get the Lancers?

A site called usaguns or something like that, he sells the troy pump guns and kidd 10/22 stuff on trademe.

Originally Posted by res

And that's not even going into what mags cost if you get a import permit.

Where IS the cost in importing magazines? Is it shipping, or US State Dept fees or ITAR or what?

Originally Posted by stretch

Where IS the cost in importing magazines? Is it shipping, or US State Dept fees or ITAR or what?

As long as you stay under us$100 there is only the shipping to worry about. And that's not that bad.
And assuming you have your e cat it's not hard to do the needed paperwork.

Last time I imported pmags I got 7 of them for aprox nz$200 to my door. The $ was a lot better then.

When I'm out of the country so much of the time the instant gratification of just ordering from a NZ website when I just need a couple for my varmint rifle(well only need one really) wins out for small stuff

And if I had (hypothetically) one of those Troy pump action PARs or a Mossberg MVP, I wouldn't need a permit to import, would I? Do you even need to own a compatible firearm to import parts? My understanding is you only need a permit for high cap mags if you possess a compatible ecat rifle.

I spoke to an AO about this scenario ages ago and he said I was correct, but that Customs wouldn't allow it. I'm yet to find where/why Customs could withhold goods you are legally entitled to import, but there must be legislation somewhere, otherwise NZ would already be flooded with Pmags available for 1/3 of what they cost locally.

Originally Posted by dirtyhabit

Hi res, where did you get the Lancers?

http://usaguns.co.nz/LANCER.php

has 7,10,20,30 round mags all cost $60ea reguardless of size,

still cheaper to import your own, except i cant find anywhere that exports decent A-cat mags

Originally Posted by stretch

And if I had (hypothetically) one of those Troy pump action PARs or a Mossberg MVP, I wouldn't need a permit to import, would I? Do you even need to own a compatible firearm to import parts? My understanding is you only need a permit for high cap mags if you possess a compatible ecat rifle.

I spoke to an AO about this scenario ages ago and he said I was correct, but that Customs wouldn't allow it. I'm yet to find where/why Customs could withhold goods you are legally entitled to import, but there must be legislation somewhere, otherwise NZ would already be flooded with Pmags available for 1/3 of what they cost locally.

That's a grey area that I personally don't feel like being a test case.

But your probably right, customs would demand prof that they are for a cat guns-probably easy to do if imported with a cat guns but a harder thing to prove otherwise

Originally Posted by Glycerine

http://usaguns.co.nz/LANCER.php

has 7,10,20,30 round mags all cost $60ea reguardless of size,

still cheaper to import your own, except i cant find anywhere that exports decent A-cat mags

Not any more. 30s and 20s are now $75. Good mags though.

Personally I'll take the risk and buy off of Tasman purely to try and support a local industry. I just wish they did 20s.

If they did 20's I may have been more tempted-as they don't they just didn't even get a look in for me as I'm well sorted for 30's

Originally Posted by stretch

Where IS the cost in importing magazines? Is it shipping, or US State Dept fees or ITAR or what?

Hi,
@Banana said he got P-mags again from Brownells? and they are regarded as the market leader. I bring in my own mags and typically save 30~50% of the NZ wanted cost. With Brownels I use international shipping on all parts so its cheapest and do not exceed $99.99USD and then there is no State Department fees / issues. NZ made mags only make sense as long as retailers keep the prices of new US made mags at obscene levels.

Originally Posted by res

That's a grey area that I personally don't feel like being a test case.

But your probably right, customs would demand prof that they are for a cat guns-probably easy to do if imported with a cat guns but a harder thing to prove otherwise

NZcustoms will probably stop it and send you a 'please provide an import permit if going on a non-Cat-A' email. In my case I wrote back and said no its bits for AR15 Cat-A only. Provided you dont own a Cat-E gun I cant see the Police or Customs can do a thing. In terms of a test case they would have to prove otherwise, I wouldnt think you would be in the poo with a genuine reason, ie "its for my troy pump". Anyway, simple really go ask your AO for his advice, I find the Wellington AO very easy and reasonable to get on with.