Importing a Pistol magazine

Mahey

Does anybody know what's involved in importing a magazine (or 2) for an existing, licenced pistol (.22lr)? I have an old model with only 1 mag and can only find spares in the US. Would it have to be restricted to 5 shots before arriving in Ireland?

I'm hoping to get more involved in the sport in the coming months / years and 1 mag is a pain in the ass...

clivej

Mahey wrote: »

Does anybody know what's involved in importing a magazine (or 2) for an existing, licenced pistol (.22lr)? I have an old model with only 1 mag and can only find spares in the US. Would it have to be restricted to 5 shots before arriving in Ireland?

I'm hoping to get more involved in the sport in the coming months / years and 1 mag is a pain in the ass...

I'm looking to do the same so I'll keep an eye on this post. :cool:

Grizzly 45

Unless you are importing it from a crowd that are used to shipping outsoiide the US.IE Brownells,Cabelas,etc it has become a major PITFA courtsey of the ITAR and UN weapons trafficking laws.:mad:

Well intentioned laws that do nothing to stop international arms traffickers,but make it viurtually impossible for sports shooters and gun owners world wide to aquire bits and pieces to keep their guns and whatnot working.

Magazines are one of these "Cannot be shipped outside CONUS without State dept permission and Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obamas signatures " items.Irrespective of caliber.:rolleyes:

However,if they are 10 shot or less you might be lucky but its finding a dealer who can and will ship outside CONUS without charging thru the snot for the paperwork is another matter too.
Also,you dont need any major paperwork to impot them here either.Your liscense is your import cert,with a downloadable DOJ import document that you get filled out for free and send off if the US wants it.

Mahey

Thanks Grizzly, my sister in law lives in US so my plan was to have the dealer ship to her (which he has agreed to) and then she could forward to me. I just want to be sure that I have whatever paperwork is needed so that she doesn't hit problems at her end.

So if I understand you rightly, I need Export Documents from the US side and Import Documents on this side. Any idea where I get the import docs, the Justice.ie website seems to only have forms for actual firearms or ammo? I can go to the local station but they generally know less than me - and that's saying something

cw67irl

I imported grips and magazines for my last pistol from a gunshop in the US no problems, Smaller retailers might be more inclinded to bend the rules :-)

Mahey

cw67irl wrote: »

I imported grips and magazines for my last pistol from a gunshop in the US no problems, Smaller retailers might be more inclinded to bend the rules :-)

If I'm honest and this may not be appropriate to say but I'm not that bothered about this side but I don't want to cause ANY possible trouble at the US side, them good folks over there aren't as easy talk to on such matters....

Do you mind me asking where you got your kit from?

cw67irl

Mahey wrote: »

If I'm honest and this may not be appropriate to say but I'm not that bothered about this side but I don't want to cause ANY possible trouble at the US side, them good folks over there aren't as easy talk to on such matters....

Do you mind me asking where you got your kit from?

I cant remember off hand they had grips listed on ebay and i emailed them from there and paid via paypal!

I can remember paying on a Monday and having it by the weekend! Quicker shipping than most of the companies here!!

Grizzly 45

Mahey wrote: »

Thanks Grizzly, my sister in law lives in US so my plan was to have the dealer ship to her (which he has agreed to) and then she could forward to me. I just want to be sure that I have whatever paperwork is needed so that she doesn't hit problems at her end.

So if I understand you rightly, I need Export Documents from the US side and Import Documents on this side. Any idea where I get the import docs, the Justice.ie website seems to only have forms for actual firearms or ammo? I can go to the local station but they generally know less than me - and that's saying something

This is all cevat emptor advice from me .:)
I think that if they are ten round or less you shouldnt have much problems.At least I got a ten round mag sent from Brownells last year with no trouble or paperwork.
anythin over ten rounds is proably asking for trouble.

Your liscense is your import document here,there is a form as you said on the DOJ website and you are proably correct in saying its for full guns or ammo.THink they just brought in that form as they were getting tired of the Feds or whomever ringing up asking about "Irish import permits."I'd give them a ring just to confirm this.

In a nutshell, I'd go and buy these mags if somone will sell them to you,and if possible get them unrestricted if need be over there to five rounds,or not as your liscense allows.And wait and see then if somebody wants some specific type of paperwork on either side.If not ship,pay customs here if needed,get modified and enjoy.
Somtimes,its best to let PTB ask for their specific paperwork rather than making life complex by adding alot of maybe unnecessary paper to a simple matter.;)

Edit,just on a point,things like grips, stocks,springs and certain non pressure bearing parts [even 80% unfinished recivers ]can be exported without much ado.

dc99

Hi,
Have you tried to get them from somewhere in Europe? (Germany for instance).

I purchased 3 magazines from Germany a few months ago, no trouble what so ever from vendor (Triebel.de). they appear to be well up on european law and there are certain restrictions on what they will ship (without paper work). I emailed them prior to ordering asking was there a restriction on them posting magazines- they wrote back saying no.
So I ordered and they shipped. I saw how my existing magazine was limited to 5 shots and copied it to limit the round capacity.

I saved about 12euro per mag - but added the postage (of a seemingly standard 20 euro.
I did all this via email. only strange thing was they don't (or didn't have) an on line payment system - I had to email or phone in my card details.

Mahey

It's just a struggle to find the specific magazines that I need due to the age of the gun and I don't see any at all on European sites.

I've done a bit of research though and it seems there is no legal issue with getting them in the US, it's just a matter of finding a dealer willing to ship internationally.

Grizzly 45

Can I ask what is the name /make of the pistol??
Dunno if you have tried these lads ETSS INC in Littleton [of all places!:eek::eek:]Colorado?[Google them] They ship to Europe and might be able to help you out. I used them for my import a few years ago and they were on the ball.

Mahey

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Can I ask what is the name /make of the pistol??

It is a Browning Medalist from back in the late 60's or early 70's (I keep forgetting to date it exactly from the serial number) - I bought it with only 1 magazine. The magazines are compatible with the Challenger 1 and the Nomad but that doesn't make them much easier to find.

I think I have the answer, I found a couple of magazines that I can get shipped to New York and then have my sister-in-law forward on to me. I've looked into it as best I can and it appears to be fine once 10 round or less capacity and order value of less $100.

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Dunno if you have tried these lads ETSS INC in Littleton [of all places!]Colorado?[Google them] They ship to Europe and might be able to help you out. I used them for my import a few years ago and they were on the ball.

That ETSS web site has no info on it, looks like they're re-designing the site but the message on the home page suggests they would be helpful alright - I'll keep that in mind for future requirements.