Thoughts on importing a firearm to India

[Katana]

Folks,

What if a person brings along a nice air gun on TR but is NOT a member of any Rifle Club here in India? Would that be permissible even if he pays import duties?

[Anand]

Katana,
There is no restriction on the import of an air rifle in personal baggage , provided that if the Customs decides, you may have to subject your rifle to the 'Dealwood Test'.
The requirement of Rifle club membership is only for those importing an air rifle/air pistol by post or courier and the limitation is that it should be of .177 cal only. As for import duties that is up to the Customs service.
Regards,
Anand

[full_circle]

Although USA is a firearms friendly country, it aint easy for non-citizens who are not permanent residents. I guess that is to be expected, and I dare say fair. I have managed to find a way through the red tape maze that envelops my particular situation, and will start in the new year. The process is like this: get a permission to posess firearms (from local police) -> get a hunting permit (US federal rules allow purchase of firearms for aliens who have hunting permits) -> buy the firearm from a licenced dealer (if from out of state, buy and ship it for collection to a local licenced dealer) -> collect -> register. Straightforward, if a bit involved, and thankfully, no requirement of "connections". To conform to the 1 year ownership requirement for TR, I will have to buy the firearm early next year, by Feb end.

I have four questions about ammo availability and quota. As this will bear upon my purchase decision, I request you to please help out with the answers...

1) Apart from the IOF manufactured .22LR, .315 and .30-06, which other calibre cartidges are easily and commonly available in India with dealers?
2) For 300 m competitions, the NRAI match book says ammo for practice and competitions will be provided by NRAI. Which calibres (and bullet weights, brands) does NRAI provide for the competition? 6mm BR / 6 XC / 6.5x47 / .308 Win? How about .30-06?
3) For 300 m competitions, instead of NRAI provided ammo, can I use my own ammo? Handloads? (I have no experience of handloading yet, but plan to learn and practice in the coming year)
4) Is the ammo quota (per year) per firearm or per calibre?

I always thought that ammo quota was "per firearm per year", untill I read on the New policy thread about a proposal that ammunition will be restricted to 50 per bore per year. If I understand this correctly, guess this means that for someone owning three firearms in .30-06 with a quota of 50, if that person could buy 150 cartridges a year, now they can buy only 50!

[Anand]

full_circle,
While handloading/reloading for personal use is legal in India, the components for reloading are not available. The only available stuff is black powder and percussion caps for muzzle loading guns. The ammo quota is still per firearm/year. Which means even if the quota was 50 per year and you have 3 rifles in 30-06 you will still be able to buy 50/rifle/year= 150 cartridges. As I understand it, your interest seems to be competition shooting for which an increase in quota can be done by the Home Secretary(even if the new Policy were enforced)
For 300m competitions NRAI may provide subsidized ammo to members, I don't think the situation is such that they want you to use only their ammo and none other! I am not sure so you will have to check this.

Commonly available imported ammo for handguns is: .22LR,.25 ACP,.32 ACP,.32 S&W,.32 S&W L(wadcutters),.380 ACP(9mm Kurz). .357 Magnum is available sporadically and very expensive.

Regards,
Anand

[amit888_2000]

In any competition NRAI provides ammo on ur state license, which u r representing, in absence of which ur license can be endorsed.
Nrai only gives u ammo to shoot the competition, not for practise.
In case u decide to use ur own ammo, may be for practise or competition, NRAI has nothing to say.

Dear full circle,

till you play any national level competition, ur ammo quota remains 25-50, after u play any competition, u can apply for increase in that perticular ammo quota.

Any good .30-06, will be good for big bore competition (300M), and ammo available with dealers.
Blaser is expensive - but u get interchangable 3 barell set, which covers .22 & .30-06 & more...allowed also, pls browse this site, and have a word with the company. http://www.blaser-usa.com/ (Few indian shooters who have recently qualified in big bore, had imported this beauty)..

)))cheers!!!
Happy Safe Shooting

[full_circle]

Thanxx Anand and Amit.

My interest in competition shooting is purely utilitarian. I do not have the inclination to live my life in a foreign, albeit gun friendly land. Although I consider GoI laws and policies regarding civilian ownership of firearms to be a case of massive colonial hangover, I must as a citizen and (soon to be) resident abide by them. As hunting is not an option, competitions are the only outlet available for regular and involved use of the firearm. I may or may not be a good shooter, but I sure wont pass up an opportunity to shoot a not-on-my-licence sixty round in two days! IMHO, better than 50 a year. Plus the possibility of increased ammo quota!!

Given the commendable performances of Indian shooters in the recent past, the GoI isnt likely to ban firearms and calibres that can be used in international competitions. If the IOF introduces a .308, great, but the .30-06 or even .315 for 300m and .22 for 50m arent going away any time soon. The same can not be said of other calibres. Even though I really really want to buy a rifle in .375 H&H, the ammo availability is subject to import policy, plus it is a calibre that has no practical use in India. Best to stick to .30-06 and .22LR...

The Blaser R8, R93, the Mauser M03 are all great systems, but alas not for me. The cost just doesnt make sense if I look only at the .22 and .30-06 calibres. I want a reasonably accurate hunting rifle with controlled round feed, NATO Accessory or Picatinny rails, a ball at the end of the bolt handle and a sculpted walnut stock. One which I can use in a 300m competition.

If I am able to work through the red tape, and more importantly, stay here for another 14 months, I would love to bring back either a Winchester Model 70 or a Remington Model 700 in .30-06 Sprg. If not, the IOF .30-06 will do.