Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

importing firearms to USA

plads
how do you go about getting firearms (rifles and shotguns) into the the USA for sale?
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • mark christian
    If you wish to import firearms into the United States for the purpose of resale you will need a Type 8 FFL and register with the Office of Defence Trade Controls, US State Department. Once you've registered and paid your fees with ODTC, the BATF will grant you a license for the purpose for firearms importation. When you have paid your FFL fees you are free to begin making your first million dollars. You are not allowed to import banned items such as assault weapons or anything else that is prohibited.

    All imports are handled on BATF Form 6 and it takes about 3 months to get this form approved. Once your shippment is okay'd you'll have 6 months to get it into the US or you must begin the process all over again. When your shippment arrives it will be inspected and must be approved by US Customs to be sure everything matches up with your Form 6 and cannot be released until they sign off. Once approved by Customs your firearms must be import stamped before they can be sold. Still want to try this? I know a few guys who were pretty good dealers and thought they'd make a killing in the import end of the business- two are now broke and one lost his right to keep and bear arms...it is a ROUGH business on the import side. Who do you know overseas and what are you actually planning on bringing in that none of the big boys are importing right now?

    Mark T. Christian
    0
  • plads
    Thanks Mark, so it's too hard. what about people from there the USA traveling o-seas and buying their own bargains. are they allowed to import them for themselves?
    0
  • mark christian
    NO firearms enter this country legally without using BATF Form 6 and and going through, upon arrival, the same procedures which I outlined. You cannot show up at a US port of entry with a firearm aquired abroad and expect to enter the country with it. It would have to be kept in a "free trade zone" or a bonded warehouse until a Form 6 was completed. As a FFL dealer I am allowed to make an occasional import and have done so twice. It is a long and very involved process, even more so if you do not hold an FFL. I suggest you leave this end of the business to the guys who know the ropes.

    Mark T. Christian
    0
  • madnes
    Mark, How would I go about getting the FORM 6 and can it be in the process of approval while I'm still out of country so it's ready/approved when I return? If that cannot be done, how would I go about finding and having it kept in a bonded warehouse until approval.
    I'm military and travel constantly and I know sooner or later I'll find something overseas that I can't live without.

    Thanks
    0
  • dkf
    It is a different procedure for military bringging weapons into the US. Go to your Military Police Customs Office in the overseas area and they should have the forms that you will need. You cannot obtain a Form 6 in advance, you must apply while stationed in the overseas area, please note I stated STATIONED, not TDY, you can order ATF P 5300.4 (01-00) from the ATP, you will find on page 64 para 178.114 covers your question, you can also order the forms that you will need. Do not leave out anything or the weapon will be sized.
    0
  • madnes
    Thanks dkf, but I know how to do it through the military. I often travel commercially and don't have the benefit of using Weapons Officers/Custodians with the canned procedures. How can I do it as an ordinary civilian traveling?
    0
  • mark christian
    Madness, there is no mechanisim in the law to allow for a blanket Form 6 that is ready made to cover any fiream you may purchase and wish to import. Each Form 6 must be filled out and approved here in the USA. Only military personel staioned overseas for over 60 days have the privelege of beginning the importation process while abroad. Exactly what are you planning on importing? Although it is possible for a non licensed individual to use a Form 6, it is a long and difficult process and I suggest you use the services of a licensed importer. Bonded warehouses are expensive and since it takes over 4 months for a non FFL to get a Form 6 approved (if it is indeed approved), you'd be looking at a lot of money in storage fees. Keep in mind also that if your Form 6 is not approved and the firearm is in bond here in this country it will have to be destroyed or re exported. While many countries are quite free about allowing firearm OUT, they may well not allow you to return it without their own import permits. Guys, if there was an easy way to do this I'd be the first to tell you about it. I really think you'd be beating your head against the wall.

    Mark T. Christian
    0
  • madnes
    Oh well... It would have been nice if I somehow came
    across that one cherry in a bowl full of pits somewhere
    abroad.

    Thanks for the info.
    0
  • dkf
    You have stated that you are in the military, as long as you are in the service you must comply with the military regulations of the overseas command in which you acquire the weapon. For you it will not make any differance how you travel, if you are on any type of official orders TDY or PCS you are subject to that theatre. You can purchase a weapon and have an importer in the US import the weapon from the dealer that you purchase it from but not from an individual as they will not be allowed to export the weapon to the US.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity

Didn’t find what you’re looking for?