Airgun import experiences - via personal baggage route

[kanwar76]

Hi Inder,

Look up this thread" Diana 35 the old classic!",I too had a similar experience when I imported my BSA stutzen approx 6 years ago!But in my case I had to escort a Customs officer along with the air-gun to the Police comm.office and after verification(NOC),then escort him back with the gun for valuation by Customs.

I got my piece out the next evening after my arrival!

Regards

Hmmm I thought same thing will happen at bangalore, I don't know why process at each city is different

Honestly speaking, I think we need some kind of process to prove that its indeed an airgun and can't be converted to firearms but they can simplfy the process for sure. The A.C.P from C.A.R Bangalore even offered customs a permanent person at airport so that his visits can be reduced but I don't think its happening soon.

-Inder

[sat]

I had to escort a Customs officer along with the air-gun to the Police comm. office and after verification(NOC),then escort him back with the gun for valuation by Customs.

I too went through this exercise a few years ago in Mumbai. Initially a custom officer did say that there is a complete ban on imports of 'guns', I explained that air guns did not come under this ban. Another custom officer came to the rescue, he then had a quick look at a pcp air rifle & asked - CO2 or compressed air?

[Ranjeet Singh]

Congratulations Inder...

All the patience paid off...

Cheers
Ranjeet

[vivek009]

Congrats Inder! She's a beauty! and well worth the effort you put in to free her.

It was a great step-by-step account and will surely guide anyone planning to land in Bangalore with an Airgun.
My friend landed in Bombay with a 0.22 cal AR, and while Mack The Knife did tell me that Customs might ask for a NOC from Police Commissioner's office, nothing like that actually happened. The customs were only concerned with the duty, and that too my friend did not pay, even though his stuff was a bit more than the duty free limit. It was a smooth ride all the way through.

Don't know if procedures are different in Bombay as against Bangalore or I was just plain lucky.

regards
Vivek

[snIPer]

Can you please send this experience of yours to the local papers here so that the plight of a common AIRGUN holder / importer can be understood and so that at least it will be a better process instead of a bitter process. unless such facts are brought to light we have no other option other than consoling each other and the after a tedious process congratulating each other (if you are luck enough).

GG you need to do the same too pal.

[mundaire]

Don't know if procedures are different in Bombay as against Bangalore or I was just plain lucky.

regards
Vivek

Baggage rules allow for a great degree of discretion on the part of the customs officials on duty... Therefore how much trouble they put you through or (on the other hand) how nicely they treat you is entirely dependant on your luck...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[shahid]

I'll make another attempt. Another Diana 35.

[hamiclar01]

Can you please send this experience of yours to the local papers here so that the plight of a common AIRGUN holder / importer can be understood

i wouldn't trust the local journos for this matter. i'm not sure of the sympathy factor around for us, and one nudge from the anti gun lobby will spiral this whole thing in headlines as "evil IFG members flout the law the to import foreign weapons". at least there is a legal process that leads to success (in almost all the cases). given the rigid anti gun laws, what do you expect?

[GasramGandu]

Can you please send this experience of yours to the local papers here so that the plight of a common AIRGUN holder / importer can be understood and so that at least it will be a better process instead of a bitter process. unless such facts are brought to light we have no other option other than consoling each other and the after a tedious process congratulating each other (if you are luck enough).

GG you need to do the same too pal.

There's a good chance this could backfire

[Mack The Knife]

There's a good chance this could backfire

You can bet on that. The anti-gun crowd aside, if you f around with the customs, they will go from plain old strict to super vindictive.

Mack The Knife

[kanwar76]

There's a good chance this could backfire

You can bet on that. The anti-gun crowd aside, if you f around with the customs, they will go around from old strict to super vindictive.

Mack The Knife

Yep!! I also second that.. atleast things are getting out right now.. and If you see it took only one week of serious effort from my side.. from 29th to 6th.

-Inder

[Hamdhingra]

Looks to be a beauty ! "A thing of beauty is joy forever"
WW ...hamdhingra

[Hamdhingra]

Yes do not touch the customs - however much they may spin U. Customs in Amritsar are v good and when u say charge duty -they say Ok this is a manly trait and towards more gold medals.I can not be specific
Cheers...hamdhingra

[conty1]

It was a Tech Force, underlever action. Thankfully not very 'expensive'... but still!!

Here's what happened: My dad was flying from Chicago to Ahmedabad. His customs was scheduled to be in Ahmedabad. (I have previous experience of getting a Crosman through the customs there... without any problems) But call it bad luck or Air India's ineffective scheduling, his connecting flight was changed at the last minute and so he ended up going through customs and taking a domestic flight to Abad. Problem!!

The customs officer started with looking at the gun and calling a superior officer who arrives with 2 policemen. All sorts of questioning begins... you guys know what I mean... and at the end of it, they seal the gun in its case, gives my dad a paper and tells him to get a note from his club and they will 'think about it' then. I did give my dad the TSA printout, the airgun receipt etc.

So anyway, my dad's got to make a trip back to bombay without any assurance that he will get the gun. He's contemplating if its even worth the trip!

Any suggestions? Anybody knows any 'higher-ups' at bombay airport?

-- Amit

[Risala]

Amit,

The Customs are fairly liberal folks.If it is a .177 and your dad can show them his club or state rifle association membership then clearing it should not be an issue.

Off course he will have to go down to Mumbai in person to complete the formalities,a bit painful that.

Good luck and do keep us posted.

Sanjay