Indians For Guns

a .177cal Ruger air rifle which my parents were carrying in for me from the USA, has been detained by customs at the airport. the officer insists that only rifle assosiations and their members can import airguns, from what i have read on this forum, i understand that anyone can bring in airguns as personal baggage.
what should i do now?
what are the exact rules, and where can i find official notifications/documentation to release the rifle?
thanks in advance for all help/advice.

It is a nice gun but what a waste!! Think about to buy a new gun now and do an import from proper import channel.

Awani,
Perseverance is what you need. You have to be patient, perhaps visit the airport customs a couple of times before it is through. They some how feel goods when a person visits them often for a reason. You will have to pay the tax though. Know some one who got in to the same situation as you and now is a happy shooter. You have a PM.

Hi,
Lucky people have got away a few times witout a eyebrow raised, officially they are right. You still need to be a member of a rifle association, got to have their I Card & covering letter for the gun. When you produce them with a great smile They may even let you off with out the duty.

Patience and time would be the only key.

I have waited for 4 months in the past when I imported pellets along with my air rifle.

Try to get some contact within customs who can help you out.

I guess they might take it for a DEAL WOOD TEST. Members who have had experience can comment on this.

awini wrote:a .177cal Ruger air rifle which my parents were carrying in for me from the USA, has been detained by customs at the airport. the officer insists that only rifle assosiations and their members can import airguns,

The fellow in the Customs are right.You do need to be the member of a rifle club to import a .177 air rifle.

from what i have read on this forum, i understand that anyone can bring in airguns as personal baggage.

Any body who has lead you to believe this, is doing you a disservice.

you should know that you are not a renowned shooter only they can import air guns , forget the gun trust Me nothing can help . Go and buy any indian air rifle .Stay happy . And read each and every post carefully.

cybershot wrote:you should know that you are not a renowned shooter only they can import air guns ,

Another piece of dis-information.Any one who is a member of a rifle club ( district/state/national ) can import an air rifle of .177 bore.

cybershot wrote:you should know that you are not a renowned shooter only they can import air guns , forget the gun trust Me nothing can help . Go and buy any indian air rifle .Stay happy . And read each and every post carefully.

so at most 15 to 20 people in India can import air guns? and what did the "renowned" shooters use before they became "renowned"?

I want to know the exact written word of law concerning this, we cant go on the whims and fancies of customs officers and their like, forever!
i don't care about the rifle if the law says it cant be brought in by passengers in their luggage, however if the import was legal, i wont leave the rifle there!its not an expensive rifle to begin with, thank god they didnt bring the Gamo or RWS 56 that i asked for

Hi awini,

Dont back-off , you need a rifle club membership to clear it from the customs. There is a DGFT document that states that .177 is allowed to be imported by a rifle club member. And you need not to be a renowned shot.Take help from any IFG member from Delhi.

You are fortunate that you did'nt bring a .22 caliber. Try visiting the customs people often.

Best of luck.


Regards,

Awini - Any update on your rifle?

Did you get my PM.

Manicks

if they need you become a member of a rifle club whats the big deal, take a membership at any of the club and show them your membership card and release it . It will save you from lot of hassles.

Hi folks

Well i had found out that getting a club membership harder than rocket science, i had written letters to the Secretery of Harayana state rifle ass, met him a few times personally, started atleast three threads asking help from members to help me join a rifle club, tried to call a few persons associated with rifle clubs for memberships,,,,,,,,but never ever had seen the light of the day. I dont know if theres a secret truce of all the dealers operating here on IFG to not to let the forum memebers to join the rifle clubs and start importing airguns and be saved from bleeding through our noses for paying for air guns, man i had seen air gun for asking price of Rs 2 Lakhs plus on the sales forum, and one lakh + is a common sight here for an item not more than rs 40,000.

well i think finally i will have to stab myself of Rs 25,000 + for becoming a NRAI member.

God knows if somebody can really help us poor souls in becoming a rifle club member.

Regards
Ankur