Imported Ammo

[Lawman]

Hi, import of firearms was banned in 1986. But new imported ammos are available easily at the gun-shops who issues bills also for the purchase of imported ammos. So, is it true that there is no ban on imported ammos ?

Lawman

[mundaire]

Hi, import of firearms was banned in 1986. But new imported ammos are available easily at the gun-shops who issues bills also for the purchase of imported ammos. So, is it true that there is no ban on imported ammos ?

Lawman

On applying for the same, licensed arms dealers are issued permits to import ammunition of those calibres which are NOT manufactured here. AFAIK the quantity of ammunition these dealers are allowed to import depends on their previous year(s) ammunition sales volume (not sure on this, but this is what I was told).

Ammo is also allowed to be imported by renowned shooters and rifle clubs, for use at the range.

Also as per Customs baggage rules, travellers returning from overseas may import upto 50 cartridges for gun(s) for which they possess a valid arms license. This is to be declared on arrival and will be entered in the license by the customs officials, duty will be charged as well. However, in practice few people bother to bring back ammo with them as -

a) For a tiny purchase of 50 rounds, almost NO firearms dealer will go through the bother of consigning the ammo to the airline - which is what will have to be done in almost all jurisdictions, as you are not going to be in possession of a valid firearms permit overseas.

b) Even if the local dealer (in the country you are visiting) agrees to consign the ammo to the airline, he is likely to charge a handling fee which is in all likelihood going to be several times the value of the ammo purchased.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Lawman]

Hi Abhijeet, thanks for the reply. According to your post "Sanjay picked up a box of 12g Clever Mirage slugs from Garg Armory". So, imported 12g cartridges are available here. Can you inform about the price ?

Lawman

[mundaire]

Hi Abhijeet, thanks for the reply. According to your post "Sanjay picked up a box of 12g Clever Mirage slugs from Garg Armory". So, imported 12g cartridges are available here. Can you inform about the price ?

Lawman

Hi,

As mentioned above this ammo finds it's way into the market through people who do actually take the trouble to pick-up those 50 rounds of ammo that they are permitted to OR renowned shooters import ammo for the class they are permitted to and sell the surplus in the local market. However, the ammo imported by renowned shooters is only no's 7 1/2 and 9 (American shot sizes) for trap and skeet respectively.

Imported 12g ammo will cost you upwards of twice the price of IOF 12g ammo, depending on the shot size and how fresh the ammo is....

HTH

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[art_collector]

At the moment no 12 Bore ammunition CANNOT be imported by a dealer.

However, a couple of years back a dealer ....imported the ammunition due to some mistake. He had ordered something else and instead this ammo came in. The ammo was later released (may be after a few years) to him after paying very heavy fines , damages etc. This probably was the last time fresh ammo of 12 bore came in. Its just a matter of chance that Sanjay managed to find some for his use .

The dealers are allowed to import only specified bore of ammunition..as are mentioned in the import policy. The import licence is granted on the basis of sales in (INR). However , the amount of import licence is limited to 5% average sales of last three years. The sales have to be certified by a Chartered Accountant who has to give a certificate for the same.so if the average sale is 100000,the last year it was 105000& the year before 110000 The import licence wud be just Rs. 5250.

The fact that the dealer issued a bill for the money you paid him ...there is nothing wrong in that ....as a customer thats your right ........and if a dealer dosent give you a cash memo you should demand for one........after all its your money and by giving a bill he dosent oblige you anyway .

For import policy regarding import of ammunition by dealers, please see - http://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopic ... =664#p8243 or directly refer to the document of the DGFT website - http://dgft.gov.in/exim/2000/procedures ... ts0910.pdf

[Lawman]

Abhijeet and AC, thanks for your replies.

Lawman

[shahid]

The amount of trouble involved is huge. I once wanted to pick up some .375 H & H Rimmed ammo for my rifle ( a double ).

Kynoch offered a very reasonable price. And a GBP 60 delivery fee.

Besides a valid licence import permission was required, from a District magistrate level officer, who has to be convinced that this calibre ammo is not made in India and hence import is necessary.

A Kynoch employee would come to the airport and she would deliver the ammo at the airline check in counter only and lock the checked in bag in her presence. Fine. Then there are the airline declareation forms.

The process of forms to be repeated on the domestic airline.

Then Kynoch also mentioned that they had a dealer in India, Ahmad Ilahi Baksh of Moradabad. I sent an e mail, got his number, spoke with him.

A person had to be sent to Moradabad with the licence for five working days. Only 10 are sold in a day.

Not easy in India you see. Everything to make shooting sports difficult will be made.

However of late a gun dealer from Patna who was there for an IFG offline meet said Tahir Arms of Bombay import quite a few rifle calibres and ammunition for many many calibres inclusive of 7x57, 6.5x57, 6.5 x 54, 450/400 and .375 Magnum of both types was available. Prices in the circa of Rs. 400 each. Under the circumstances a better option I guess.

[Risala]

Shahid,

Per the present policy,any individual who holds a valid Lic returning from abroad,can bring upto

50 rounds of ammunition each year,irrespective whether the ammo is made in India or not.

The individual is allowed to bring in ammo of any Cal as long as a fire arm of that Cal is endorsed on his Lic.

No permission from any DM etc is required,you would just need to present your Lic,pay the duty etc at the

airport on arrival and perhaps be a little courteous with the staff.

Sanjay

[shahid]

This permission to import was demanded by Kynoch of England.

[art_collector]

Hi Shahid Bhai,

375 H & H magnum flanged ammo is available much cheaper in Delhi ..........old ofcourse ( May be Ex state stock) and dosent cost you 400/- bucks each.

[shahid]

Yes fine, but the old ones cannot be trusted. Outside India it could be an angry leopard who wouldn't take to you very kindly for misfired ammo.


Or a prized buck that would get away. Hang fires are a most frustrating thing for a hunter all over the world.

For that once in a lefetine shot, even Rs. 800 is cheap.

[Vikram]

If you are shooting outside India, you wouldn't need to worry about the age of the cartridges as one can get new ones.In India, one can do with what one gets.

Best-
Vikram

[mundaire]

For that once in a lefetine shot, even Rs. 800 is cheap.

Ah, but to ensure that one does not miss such a shot, one needs to practice often... and that consumes ammunition too... I think for practice price of ammo would be a consideration for most people - forgetting for a moment the ammo purchase limits imposed on most licenses here...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[andy_65_in]

what are the popular brand of .22 rimfire LR ammo availible in india NOT exceeding 1300 fps MV and generaly what rates can one expect or should pay.i do remember managing some lapua for Rs 9 a round some years back.thanks andy

[miroflex]

Hi, It may be useful to members if fellow members could post information about available imported cartridges viz. dealer's name and address and price per cartridge. This would allow more informed choices to be made about purchase of imported ammunition and ultimately about weapons chambered for these cartridges. It may enable potential buyers of rifles chambered for obsolete or obsolescent cartridges to take the plunge if they find that some ammunition, howsoever old, is still available for the weapon of their choice, if beggars can be choosers. Regards.