Importing from US

[alextwogun]

Hi,

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has imported component parts and/or complete firearms from the states to the UK.

I've been researching this for quite a few months. I've arranged a distributor in the US who is willing to export and organise the paperwork state side, talked to the DTI about import concessions, Customs/UKBorder Agency about their procedures and Firearms licensing. I'm at a point where I feel I am almost happy with the process but have found conflicting info in parts.

I wanted to double check with anyone that has done this already as there is no one stop agency that exists in the UK with this information.

Thanks,

A.

[saddler]

Has your research taken you as far as the previous posts on here covering exactly the topic you are enquiring about?

[mag41uk]

Have a look in the library.

Tony

[ovenpaa]

It is surprisingly easy to import things into this country and as long as the correct paperwork arrives at customs with the part/rifle you are importing then all is good. I have an open Import Certificate for such things however it is not necessary in some circumstances and you can always have the parts sent direct to someone like PBS Freight who will deal with the item when it hits the shore and then ship it to an RFD of your choice.

[alextwogun]

Has your research taken you as far as the previous posts on here covering exactly the topic you are enquiring about?

saddler,

I haven't found any info that covers my particular scenario. I put the idea in the back of my head about a year ago so have done many hours of research both on and offline trawling all manner of forums, government websites, white papers etc.

I have found information that relates to an accompanied import ie. travelling through customs, declaring through red channel, getting customs officer to fill out FAC then off you go. Also unaccompanied US dealer to RFD seems relatively straight forward. So this is fine and it makes sense to use this route where I have a specific complete rifle in mind that I can't easily find in this country eg. Unfired JM stamped Marlin 1895 GBL

My problem is for this project I want to import component parts unaccompanied and without RFD (if possible) to build an AR15 sec 1 straight pull myself. I have valid reasons for this, the main being to save on RFD costs in building the riflle, wanting to build the rifle myself and using high spec custom parts that I choose from the ground up. I also haven't found a dealer who has the time or inclination to let me do this under their name. I'm also fully aware of the legalalities and technicalities of Sec 1 builds.

What I'm unclear about is how it's dealt with when it arrives in the UK and would I be breaking any laws. I'm aware all domestic transfers need to be done face to face. Does this also apply to imports? I spoke to my Licensing department who initially confirmed it needs to be face to face RFD or "someone like a customs officer" and that they don't have a facility for me to pop in for them to put it on my FAC. I then spoke to a customs officer at the secure Coventry hub of the UK Border Agency who deals with firearms and the chap said their policy is to hold the parts, send a letter to the recipient requesting domestic authorisation, once received and all OK it gets released to Parcelforce. Next thing you know it's at your door. He said there is no oppurtunity or facility for me to drive up to Coventry to do a face to face transfer with a customs officer. I called back my licensing department and spoke to someone different. They suggested I go ahead with the above, send the 7 day transfer forms into the licensing department as normal once I receive through Parcelforce but along with my FAC for them to enter it on my FAC.

So I have a few inconsistencies above namely, how should an unaccompanied import be transferred to me if I am not using an RFD (if that is possible) and as customs aren't able to do it how should it be entered on my FAC?

If you can find this info anywhere on the internet then I'm not the researcher I thought I was and I'll buy you a beer :cheers:

A

[ovenpaa]

In theory you can collect the parts at the Customs hub and have them added to your FAC by Customs however they have been known to deny this on occasion and I certainly know of someone who had to have a rifle added to his FAC by his FEO. The UKBA should have advised you that the control of the shipping and transit of firearms across the UK is the responsibility of the Police, also the responsibility for the security of such items only becomes your problem once you have taken receipt of them.

A reasonable RFD should not be charging you a lot for accepting the parts and then adding them to your FAC so it may be worth enlisting the assistance of one at some point if only for paperwork.

[alextwogun]

In theory you can collect the parts at the Customs hub and have them added to your FAC by Customs however they have been known to deny this on occasion and I certainly know of someone who had to have a rifle added to his FAC by his FEO.

I had heard of people collecting at customs before but it was just that, hearsay. The only solid info I have is what the customs agent told me on the phone. He was adament that because it was a secure unit they have absolutely no provision for people to collect like you would at a Post Office sorting depot. This makes sense as legally its not really in the UK until cleared through customs and therefore should be secure.

Does having authority to posses a .223 rifle allow you to import parts for thereof or do you need seperate slots for those parts specifically listed? eg. barrel, upper, lower etc.

The UKBA should have advised you that the control of the shipping and transit of firearms across the UK is the responsibility of the Police, also the responsibility for the security of such items only becomes your problem once you have taken receipt of them.

How does this affect my scenario? Are you saying I only have a responsibilty to advise the Police once I have received within 7 days and that the method I receive is not my responsibility? UKBA said they were more than happy to pass over to Parcelforce once my FAC had been checked out and that it would end up on my door or the nearest depot to collect. I'm more than happy with that as long as I'm not breaking any laws, namely face to face transfer which applies domestically, as well as how to get it on my FAC legally if I take this route.

A reasonable RFD should not be charging you a lot for accepting the parts and then adding them to your FAC so it may be worth enlisting the assistance of one at some point if only for paperwork.

It's the labour that will cost me. My RFD will also need to send it to proof before handing over adding to the cost. I also haven't found a dealer that is interested in just receiving parts and building as there is not enough mark up for themselves which is fair enough. Probably more importantly than anything I want to build it myself for my own interest and satisfication.

A

[John MH]

Your biggest problem at the moment will be getting quality parts from the USA, the pool has dried up and it will be a longtime before stock levels in the USA are rebuilt.

What are you trying to spec, there are some dealers in the UK with parts and quite a few without any, some are now looking to the UK or Europe or manufacturing in-house.

[alextwogun]

Your biggest problem at the moment will be getting quality parts from the USA, the pool has dried up and it will be a longtime before stock levels in the USA are rebuilt.

What are you trying to spec, there are some dealers in the UK with parts and quite a few without any, some are now looking to the UK or Europe or manufacturing in-house.

Hi John,

Yes i've noticed a drastic change in supply stateside for all parts in recent times as expected. Most of the suppliers i'm looking at have a 6 month plus waiting list. My Kreiger barrel is 5 months to completion which isn't bad. I'm in no rush to be honest. I'm set on US parts for my AR build for various reasons. I've noticed gunbroker.com has quite alot of new stripped stock thats available quickly but at a price.

A

[John MH]

What will the rifle be used for?