Introduction from Pune

[amko67]

Greetings All.

After weeks of lurking here, finally getting around to the intro.

New to air guns and target shooting and contemplating membership of the local district rifle club (Pune District Rifle Association) - prior to importing an already purchased (and currently in storage at a friend's home in the US) Umarex Walther .177 CP99.

- The package is expected to include: the air pistol, red-dot laser sight, 1,000 nos. lead pellets, 25 CO2 cartridges, 25 paper targets and a shooters kit (air gun cleaning kit, lead pellets and paper targets), and a bottle of gun oil.

- Have read in detail the March 11 (consolidated) post re: courier and personal baggage options re: bringing an air gun into India, but still have a couple of questions:


- Can CO2 cylinders (powerlets) be couriered via air?

- USPS, FedEx, UPS et al state online that they will not ship firearms internationally. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
amko67

[nagarifle]

hi amko67

sounds like u have a nice air rifle coming ur way.

no CO2 cylinders can not be taken on airplane as they are risky.

its worth while to contact the airline themselves and ask them.

as for usa postal services have no idea maybe someone who has imported from usa can advice on this

all the best

[dev]

- USPS, FedEx, UPS et al state online that they will not ship firearms internationally. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
amko67
[/quote]

Try U.S. Parcel Posts Priority Mail.
None can ship Co2. Pellets also can't be brought in by courier you will sadly go into a loop with customs.

Regards,

Dev

[amko67]

Nagarifle,

Thanks. I intend to take a closer look at those *toys* you mention in your intro

CO2 cylinders are generally not permissible to ship by air (the US retailer, airgundepot.com, in fact shipped the package to my friend's home via UPS Ground

I've contacted USPS (see Dev's reply).

Btw, just for the record, the Walther in question is a 7" air pistol we are talking about, not an air rifle - it is the first gun here - http://www.umarexusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=117

Dev,

Yes, I did check out USPS - see 'Country Conditions for Mailing — India' at http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/il_002.htm#ep1379945)

- per the info at the above URL, sending pistols to India in the mail, unless on behalf of the Government, is prohibited: that said, I have read several posts here by folks who've brought in their airguns by post - could you please comment/clarify if possible? Thanks.

- Not sure re: sending the CO2 powerlets in the US mail, though - will need to ask - will post their response here shortly, assuming I can get it.

SO, bottom line:

- - guess this calls for splitting up the items in the package, as described in my first: bring the pistol, pellets, sight, shooter's kit (but not CO2 powerlets), as checked baggage (unless there's some way I can bring it in via courier/post - will wait for more feedback from you all)

- - meanwhile, explore if USPS can send CO2 powerlets by post: if yes, fine and fingers crossed

--if not (more fingers crossed) attempt to source CO2 locally at 4 times the price - while I'm at it, where might one be able to source Crossman CO2 powerlets?

Responses welcome, and yes, I ought to have looked before I leapt

Cheers,
amko67

[GasramGandu]

Welcome AMK, hope you have a fun time here.

Do not confuse air guns/pistols with firearms when checking the USPS/UPS rules. Firearms are not allowed but pellet guns are. The tip is to use the word BB/pellet gun when corresponding with USPS. Use USPS express mail and all should be okay.

Cheers
GG

[amko67]

Thanks for the reminder, GG (unforgettable monicker that, btw).

Yes, I did attempt to underscore that critical difference in my email earlier today to the good folks at USPS (have also attempted to sound them out re: taking on the CO2)...

Shall keep you all informed about this saga, as it unfolds.

Cheers,
amko67

[amko67]

Dev, GG, hi:

USPS Cust Serv promptly acknowledged my email query re: shipping an air pistol/accessories/CO2 via Express International - however they honestly admitted ignorance re: what they called 'shipping replica firearms' to India (I had written to them in detail with URLs to the relevant policies/duty waiver etc.).

In their response, they suggested that my US contact call his local 'Mailing Requirements Office' for the info, which they provided (equally promptly) once I emailed them his zip code. No mention re: if Co2 was kosher on Express Int'l, btw.

Will update here once I get feedback from him, hopefully later this week.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Cheers,
amko67

[GasramGandu]

Amk, what exactly are you trying to import? Replica firearms or airguns?

USPS will carry airguns but most probably will not accept CO2 cartridges.

I suggest you bring in your CP99 by post and then worry about CO2.

If I had to import an air pistol it would be a HW40 PCA aka Beeman P3. Simply because CO2 cartridges can be a pain to source.

GG

[amko67]

GG, hi

It's an air pistol. See http://www.airgundepot.com/wather-cp99-laser.html.

USPS customer support erroneously referred to it as a replica firearm.

Thanks for your suggestion re: the Weihrauch HW40, incidentally I did research it prior to choosing the cp99, but ultimately decided against it because of the time/effort required to shoot it every time considering my end-use for the pistol.

The cp99 has been delivered to a friend in the US (right, Airgundepot.com do not not ship to India) - the 30-day 'money back/exchange' period is over.

Guess I could use USPS to send the parcel via Express Int'l (while on USPS, I recall you suggested Parcel Post - from online info at the USPS site, Parcel Post service doesn't cover Pune, apparently so it may have to be Express Int'l.) - *without co2, pellets* - and then attempt to locate co2 powerlets in India.

Not a very attractive option, admittedly, also as you point out.

In case I am unable to crack the co2 transportation challenge, perhaps I could write to Airgundepot.com to try and exchange the cp99 with the HW40 or something in that category after all.

Thanks much for the input.

Cheers,
amko67

[Zafar]

wlcm amk
u could have tried pyramidair, and they would have worried about the shipping and if they could not find it, you would have got your money refunded (minus the restocking if applied)

shukriya
-
zafar

[amko67]

thanks Zafar, good to be here.

Funny you should mention PyramidAir.com - they were my first choice, but these guys (Airgundepot.com) had a sale offer (gun + laser sight ) on the cp99 that rocked, at least at the time...

cheers,
amko67

[amko67]

Hi all,

As you know already, I am trying to bring in a Umarex Walther cp99 .177 air pistol and accessories via the courier/post route - without much success, it seems.

I am writing a last post on this since based on email responses received from UPS, FedEx, DHL, TNT etc. the short answer is: "NO, WE WILL NOT CARRY IT".

For those interested, I can attach the precise text of my query explaining in detail that the gun in question is a .177 air pistol, Indian rules etc. and the cos' individual email responses - but take it from me, it's down to someone bringing it in via checked baggage.

(Aside: I am now wondering if only licensed US airgun retailers - think PyramidAir.com et al - are allowed to ship airguns to India via courier. Individuals, it seems, cannot.)

Dev, update on USPS:

USPS (US Postal Service) now needs my US contact to call the local Mailing Requirements Office to confirm their position on the subject.

My contact unfortunately has decided not to take the risk of sending the air pistol by post, under the circumstances, which totally sucks - apparently there was a case where someone in California mailed a gun to someone in India which fell into the wrong hands and led to irresponsible behavior. (I have no way of knowing if this is true, but I guess I'll have to take their word for it, for the time being.)

Looks like I'm now in for a longish wait until someone can carry the airpistol in for me...any takers among you, particularly folks based in the US?

The US contact will mail the gun to you, wherever you are, if you are coming in. Long shot, I know, but I had to ask Smile

Grateful for any ideas/assistance and please pass this on to anyone who you think may be able to help. Naturally, expect compensation (and then some) for this yeoman service rendered. Please PM me with details.

cheers,
amko67

[Zafar]

if nothing works and you are deparate to get it, you could sell it to pyramid air (i think they buy used , as they sell used item also) and then buy from them. an akward solution but this could be your solution. also i doubt you could get the red dot sight past the custom if it look anything like a little scope and off course you will need a rifle association membership card

shkriya
-
Zafar

[ashkalra]

Hello amk,

Check with Fedex about shipping Co2 cylinders. They do ship Co2 cylinders but as per "hazardous" item, for which they typically charge USD 100 as penalty. Also, Fedex will not deliver this package to your address, it will be sent with special instructions to Customs as it is an hazardous item. You will also have to get it cleared from customs yourself or using a clearing agent. Fedex will not get it cleared from customs.

I used Fedex to get Co2 cylinders from US, but i was in US when i shipped it by going to a Fedex agent personally and signing "hazardous" item decleration form, also i had to get it cleared from Indian customs on my own, for which my NRAI membership was helpful.

Thanks,
Ashish

[amko67]

Zafarbhai,

Shukriya, novel idea. Will look up PyramidAir and see what they have to say.
Appreciate your input - as always.

Anyway, not too desperate for this 'pea-shooter', as nagarifle aptly called it - so just waiting it out until I find a returning person.

agree with your take re: the customs angle. Here is a pic of the scope, btw:

http://www.airgundepot.com/walther-laser-cp99.html


ash,

thanks for your concern and info. I paid $16 for 25 CO2 cylinders. considering the $100 penalty - more $$ (another $50+ for sure, yes?) for transport - then the cost/ hassle travelling to/dealing with mumbai customs, from what you say - and the CO2 is getting to be a rather expensive proposition - more than the price of the gun itself.

comes back to trying to get the gun in thru someone, and look for local co2, I guess.

cheers,
amko67