Air gun imports

[tiwariarrun]

Hello friends,

It's a real great news that the Hon. Supreme court stayed High Court's judgement- and this will definitely help the sport to grow further. People suffered, and people are fighting for justice.

The thing that I have observed is that a lot of people are importing air guns just for the sake of it..In fact, many of us have joined clubs just for the sake of importing air guns (replicas and fancy looking pistols and rifles) just to plink in their backyards. This is absolutely wrong - and must be stopped.

Also, I don't understand how does a club secretary issue a letter to import fancy guns. I really don't get it.

Thanks for listening.

Regards,
Arrun

[SUFFIX]

interesting! do you have any imported gun my friend?

[tirpassion]

I seriously agree with you.

The problem in India is too much of mystery around the firearm which makes everyone so very curious about it. It is a taboo. So everything happens behind the scene.
I had the same inhibitions. The moment I got opportunity to shoot 9mm, .45 ACP, .44 magnum, .357 magnum with some friends in my club here, the whole thing got demystified and I do not have any more interest in these guns, neither am I interested to own them because I do not find them to be very accurate with commercially available bullets.

It is a question of education. My 6 year old son does never point his toy gun towards any living being because he has been taught that way. But he goes with me to my club sometimes to shoot AR, just for fun. The question is, before educating one should be educated oneself. Who will do that if it is not done properly in a shooting club?

best regards
tirpassion

[xl_target]

The thing that I have observed is that a lot of people are importing air guns just for the sake of it..In fact, many of us have joined clubs just for the sake of importing air guns (replicas and fancy looking pistols and rifles) just to plink in their backyards. This is absolutely wrong - and must be stopped.

I fail to see what is wrong with people buying airguns to plink in their back yards. The reason that people are importing air guns is because Indian made air guns are total crap. The reason people join clubs so they can import air guns is because of the stupid regulations that air gun shooters have to comply with.

No sir, what is absolutely wrong is a few people foisting their views on every one else by demanding that the courts ban air guns and unelected officials making laws up to support their agendas.


....unless I have totally misread your post and you intended to be sarcastic.

[hamiclar01]

The moment I got opportunity to shoot 9mm, .45 ACP, .44 magnum, .357 magnum with some friends in my club here, the whole thing got demystified and I do not have any more interest in these guns, neither am I interested to own them because I do not find them to be very accurate with commercially available bullets.

Hmmm,
i. To each his own. The price for a magazine full of .45ACP ammo will buy me a couple of 500 pellet tins: more pellets means more shooting, more shooting means more practise.

ii. I can set up an air rifle range in my backyard, empty lots, garage, farmland etc and shoot safely. I would not do that with a rimfire or centrefire.

iii. most modern airguns from reputed manufacturers are designed to shoot better than their handlers. with the right ammo and tuning, the groups shrink even further. which airgun were you using? what was your stance and ammo? what distance were you shooting at?

If I follow gun safety and have a good backstop, what is wrong with plinking? I am neither interested in hunting nor shooting black circles. When I plink, apart from the joy to seeing bullets hit a target, I get outdoor target practise and learn to judge wind, bullet drops and distances.......increasing my experience

[nagarifle]

i think its wrong for people of Indians to import and use frangi made household goods ie tv ,cameras, cell phone etc. i see no point as we have some very good local made ones here. or anything else frangi made.

if we all buy local made goods then we will be very wise and rich nation. we must tell the government not to import frangi made missals, guns and ships etc.

as for me i will get what i want if i can afford to why should i suffer with cheap and nasty goods? who has any moral or legal right to tell me what i should or should not import?

[tiwariarrun]

Dear xl_target,

I agree with you to an extent. The air guns manufactured in India are crap- that's why Indian government lifted the restriction on importing the airguns for club members.

There is a growing number of rifle clubs in the country- and its just to encourage shooting as a sport. Even I would love to try some plinking in my backyard with a colt or a beretta replica air gun. Also, the clubs have to send the the import data to NRAI so that they could maintain the record of the number or guns imported. Because the government has allotted specific quota.

There will be a huge threat to the sport / imports the day when NRAI starts tracking the number of guns imported, and which guns are getting imported in the name of sport. Replica air guns are not allowed in matches.

I understand the regulations and stuff are stupid. You totally missed my point, and I do not intend to be sarcastic. Instead of getting a club membership just for the sake of importing a fancy replica air gun (which is unethical), people should fight back and tell the government what the hell is wrong with importing an airgun for backyard plinking.

NRAI, and their affiliates should: Before issuing bonafide certificates to so-called shooters, verify which gun they intend to import- and ask them to play competitions, score, and then issue the letters.

Thanks,
Arrun

[hamiclar01]

Instead of getting a club membership just for the sake of importing a fancy replica air gun (which is unethical), people should fight back and tell the government what the hell is wrong with importing an airgun for backyard plinking.

NRAI, and their affiliates should: Before issuing bonafide certificates to so-called shooters, verify which gun they intend to import- and ask them to play competitions, score, and then issue the letters.

Thanks,
Arrun

So, all airguns apart from those used for competitive shooting are unethical? Likewise, I enjoy shooting, but do so for my own pleasure, rather than compete. I am automatically disqualified by your standards, even if people like me form the bulk of shooters worldwide.....the average joes who patronise shops, pay membership and range fees, apply for licenses, are the reason gun companies manufacture products, and can theoretically be called upon to create a citizen's army in a state of emergency.

Currently, PC says, "don't shoot at all". You want to modify it to "don't shoot anything except what I tell you to."? Me thinks this is just exchanging one tyranny for another.

You don't like replica airguns? Fine, neither do I. But who are we to foster our perceived notions on those who do.

[airgun_novice]

Dear Arrun, I wonder what made you think that it was unethical to get "replica" airguns ? If by "replica" you mean look alike airguns to actual firearms or even the autos, then I wonder if the Colt that you fancy using in your own backyard qualify under "unethical". Replicas are not allowed in "competitions" - now which competitions are we talking of here ? ISSF ? Even most of the ARs that look like ARs are not allowed in these. NRAI, Clubs etc. are not "competent authorities" who would allow import of any and all the guns - at the most they can only confirm that XYZ is a member of their association. The law of the land will take its course. Who are the clubs to *force* their members to play tournaments ec. ? What if someone simply wants to enjoy shooting ? And (s)he can not arrange for a backyard/ hoe/ kitchen range ? Anyway, it's safer to shoot in a range than "out there" anywhere. The GOi ought to open exports of AR to encourage more and more people to simply learn shooting and enjoy it. and of course as hamiclair01 stated to keep a secondary standing army in case of national emergency. "chalta hai" attitude of Indian manufacturers and consumers has resulted in sub-standard Indian products. I personally had the chance to view two Indian (non-IHP) guns - one of them had an OVAL breech and the other actually had a tiny portion of metal filing (burr ?) standing up obstructing the insertion of pellet. The GOI simply wants your club to issue a letter of confirmation of your membership so that it can keep tabs on imports. Now which Govt does not ? Even in US, the AR when sold to you online or with credit card etc. has the registration number tagged. In case you purchase it off cash then you still need to register the serial number to get the benefits of warranty. This tagging is inevitable. Even in "secret ballot" voting system of Indian democracy, you are tagged the moment you are issued a form which means you and your candidate of choice are known if the Agency so chooses. Of course, EVM is even worse as any electronic engineer who has studied flip-flops ad PLAs shall confirm. Whatever reforms we wish for - we as citizens have to push for them; NRAI et al not withstanding. Unlike USA's NRA, NRAI can never garner a vote-bank or election time "bank" - so Indian dynamics have to be studied and approach taken accordingly. My 2 cents worth.

[tirpassion]

Hi hamiclar,

Hmmm,
i. To each his own. The price for a magazine full of .45ACP ammo will buy me a couple of 500 pellet tins: more pellets means more shooting, more shooting means more practise.

ii. I can set up an air rifle range in my backyard, empty lots, garage, farmland etc and shoot safely. I would not do that with a rimfire or centrefire.

iii. most modern airguns from reputed manufacturers are designed to shoot better than their handlers. with the right ammo and tuning, the groups shrink even further. which airgun were you using? what was your stance and ammo? what distance were you shooting at?

If I follow gun safety and have a good backstop, what is wrong with plinking? I am neither interested in hunting nor shooting black circles. When I plink, apart from the joy to seeing bullets hit a target, I get outdoor target practise and learn to judge wind, bullet drops and distances.......increasing my experience

There is nothing wrong in plinking. In a club most of the shooters shoot for leisure and pleasure. I respect them entirely. I am only vigilant about the careful handling of weapons. Being a monitor and Initiator, I respect the rules religiously. And since we are not in a hunting club, I strictly forbid everyone to point a blank gun even towards any living creature. Pointing a gun towards any person will lead to expulsion and real definite expulsion from FFTir, the shooting governing body in France.

Personally, I am interested in competitive shooting and that is what gives me pleasure. I do not shoot modern guns because, as I said earlier, I do not find them to be precise enough with commercially available bullets. Having said that, if you do the reloading yourself, you can achieve good level of precision.
But I shoot muzzleloaders (hand guns only) in competitive level. There are excellently accurate muzzleloaders for Match / sport shooters. That is also a huge pleasure, to shoot during practice and obviously during competitions.

I shoot AP at 10m and I use a Hammerli AP40 pistol. The ammo is RWS Club because it is among the cheapest and it gives me quite good results.

best regards
tirpassion

[Gulrez]

Hello Friends...

I am the new member of this family, need some close response of my doubts.
As i have read the discussion below i came to know that court has lifted ban from importing air guns for club members...
1. Do we need to furnish the court order to custom while importing the gun?
2. If even NOT. Is it possible to get the copy of judgement of court for reference because occasionally the custom harasses even if you are legally right. (just to show them that i am aware of the law.)
3. I have newly joined karnataka state rifle association and my card ID says " (IDENTITY CARD) Civilian Rifle Training Course" Joining Date: 30.12.2011 Valid for 3 months. (While my range officer told me it is valid for 1 year, after 1 year you can apply for life time membership.)
So i wanted to know whether i can import with the help of this card or i need a life time membership?
4. If all ok then should i import a GAMO (Bone collector) .77 caliber though pyramid air gun online dealer.? I have seen that many of friends shared their experience of getting their airguns through pyramid.

Please give me some time clear my doubts.
Thanks

[boomboom]

Can anyone confirm that air guns are being allowed through any of the major ports of entry after the Supreme Court 'stay' notification (Delhi - Mumbai - Chennai - Hyderabad - Bangalore - Calcutta - Cochin) . Please quote direct/true instances and not speculation !
Thanks !

[fantumfan2003]

Plinking in the backyard is THE UNIVERSAL WAY of getting into and staying interested in shooting sports......

You might want to tell us about your target shooting career thus far before going onto question people and their actions in your posts.

Do you know that a match air rifle costs upwards of a lac of rupees but a $300 HW30S can also hold its own 90% of the time against these match rifles.

Unless you were born with a golden spoon in your mouth, I'd wager you would also import an HW30S, pick up the required shooting skills then think of, save up and then import that prizey match rifle. Just as most of us have done here.

M.

Hello friends,

It's a real great news that the Hon. Supreme court stayed High Court's judgement- and this will definitely help the sport to grow further. People suffered, and people are fighting for justice.

The thing that I have observed is that a lot of people are importing air guns just for the sake of it..In fact, many of us have joined clubs just for the sake of importing air guns (replicas and fancy looking pistols and rifles) just to plink in their backyards. This is absolutely wrong - and must be stopped.

Also, I don't understand how does a club secretary issue a letter to import fancy guns. I really don't get it.

Thanks for listening.

Regards,
Arrun

[tiwariarrun]

Dear Fantumfan2003,

I agrre with what you said- pretty justifiable. Have a look at the link- http://www.pyramydair.com/a/Air_guns/Ai ... ls/CO2/168

Thats what people are importing in the name of SPORT. Now which rifle club would allow you to use BB replica guns? Would MRA allow that? Would Mr. Pandit write a letter to customs that one of our members wishes to import a .177 cal Beretta ?

So, try to understand my point.

Thanks,
Arrun

[fantumfan2003]

Arun

First of all. Taking names of persons and associations, especially the good ones, is totally uncalled for.

As requested you have'nt told us of your accomplishments in shooting so please share. Now I am curious as to what prompts you from saying so (apart from your being a lawyer!)

Regarding the point you stressed on, I invite you to carefully go through these links........

http://www.ipsc.org/ipsc/

http://www.ipsc.org/pdf/RulesAir.pdf

Particularly the latter.........

These sports uses BB air guns and its a very popular sport all over the world, not just in the US.
Efforts are being made to start this sport in our country too.

And why the Myopia about this is being imported and that is being imported ?

BTW most kids get a BB air gun as their first air gun.

Any one who keeps in touch with world wide shooting sports would understand that the Indian Shooting Governing body/ies have a very old and outdated view of the Global Shhoting Sports scene.

How many here have heard of

Field Target
Benchrest
Sport Air Rifle
3P Sport
3P Precision

All the above are are air gun/rifle/pistol shooting sports. Its just that out here people are not aware of them or are not interested in broadening their views....

So not knowing about them is not an excuse or reason to not allow their import.
There is nothing wrong in importing legitimately what is available for sale.

M.

Dear Fantumfan2003,

I agrre with what you said- pretty justifiable. Have a look at the link- http://www.pyramydair.com/a/Air_guns/Ai ... ls/CO2/168

Thats what people are importing in the name of SPORT. Now which rifle club would allow you to use BB replica guns? Would MRA allow that? Would Mr. Pandit write a letter to customs that one of our members wishes to import a .177 cal Beretta ?

So, try to understand my point.

Thanks,
Arrun