Expat. returning to Uk with 4 shotguns and 4 rifles

[kimberman 0]

I left the Uk over 40 years ago now and at that time you could own a shotgun with just a 10 shilling gun license obtained from the post office. At that time I had, and still have, the same double barrel 12 g shotgun.

 

I now live in Australia but circumstances may make it necessary for me to return to the UK to live.

 

I now have registered in Australia in my name the following:

 

2 x S/S 12g shotguns

2 x O/U 12g shotguns

2 x .22LR rifles (bolt action)

2 x .308 rifles (bolt action)

 

I have a firearms certificate issued in Australia to cover all the above.

 

My son also has an Australian firearms certificate enabling him to use all of the above guns.

 

If I return to the UK my son would come too.

 

One of each of the above guns can be transfered to him - he is now 18 yrs old so he can now own his own guns (in Australia).

 

Both our gun licences are for hunting and not for target shooting, although we are allowed to go to a club a limited number of times a year to sight in the rifles.

 

We have both been on gun courses, which is one of the requirements for our licences.

 

We have been using the rifles here for the past 2 years to hunt deer (.308) and wallaby (.22LR), and the shotguns for rabbits.

 

I have read the very informative posts on this forum which alerts me to the fact that it will not be as easy to obtain licences for myself and my son in the UK as it is here in Australia.

 

Our use of the guns in the UK would be to shoot rabbit, pigeon and pheasant etc with the 12G's, rabbit with the .22LR's and deer with the .308's.

 

In the UK I will have shooting permission on a 60 acre property and a 200 acre property and may be able to aquire more shooting land latter.

 

We do not have any land at present to shoot deer in the UK but I would anticipate to pay for a deer stalk once a year for a fee. I understand this is available but perhaps expensive.

 

I understand that if we returned to the UK all the guns would be held by customs until we obtained UK shot gun and firearms certificates.

 

Neither of us have any convictions (apart from a few parking and speeding fines).

 

All the guns would be kept in an approved gun safe (similar to the requirements in Australia).

 

How do you think we would go in obtaining licences for the above guns all in one go?

 

Would it be best to register all the guns in my name, or half in my name and the other half in my son's?

 

Would it be best to sell some of the guns in Australia?

 

I look forward to any comments and, or, information.

 

 

Kimberman

[Richie10 345]

Good luck, you will need it.

[SportingShooter 0]

My common sense judgement would be as follows Kim,

 

First of all, find out which Police force area you are going to be living in and give their licensing department a call to discuss the issue. (Skype is good for not so expensive calls!) Before you can be issued with a formal FAC/SGC you will need to have an address to hold them at and security installed, I fear this will be the most tricky part for you.

 

I would ask them;

 

1. What are the rules with regard to bringing in Firearms from outside the EU.

 

2. Ask them if you will be able to keep your Deer calibres in the UK going on experience of shooting Deer in Australia, they may say yes, they may say no.

 

3. Remind them that you are an expat and that you have shot in the UK before emigrating, this may help.

 

Once you have the answers to these, then you can decide whether you need to sell your Deer rifles and where and when to get paperwork to bring them back. Customs should hold them for you while you apply for your FAC/SGC.

 

Another option would be to contact a local Firearms Dealer that will be near to where you are going to be living and ask whether he'd be willing to store them for you, they normally charge for it, but usually its relatively reasonable.

 

If you choose to go down the Firearms Dealer route, ask the licensing department whether it would be possible for them to issue you a Section 7 permit which entitles you to temporarily hold the guns until they are either sold or lodged with an RFD.

 

Hope that helps a bit

[kimberman 0]

My common sense judgement would be as follows Kim,

 

First of all, find out which Police force area you are going to be living in and give their licensing department a call to discuss the issue. (Skype is good for not so expensive calls!) Before you can be issued with a formal FAC/SGC you will need to have an address to hold them at and security installed, I fear this will be the most tricky part for you.

 

I would ask them;

 

1. What are the rules with regard to bringing in Firearms from outside the EU.

 

2. Ask them if you will be able to keep your Deer calibres in the UK going on experience of shooting Deer in Australia, they may say yes, they may say no.

 

3. Remind them that you are an expat and that you have shot in the UK before emigrating, this may help.

 

Once you have the answers to these, then you can decide whether you need to sell your Deer rifles and where and when to get paperwork to bring them back. Customs should hold them for you while you apply for your FAC/SGC.

 

Another option would be to contact a local Firearms Dealer that will be near to where you are going to be living and ask whether he'd be willing to store them for you, they normally charge for it, but usually its relatively reasonable.

 

If you choose to go down the Firearms Dealer route, ask the licensing department whether it would be possible for them to issue you a Section 7 permit which entitles you to temporarily hold the guns until they are either sold or lodged with an RFD.

 

Hope that helps a bit

[kimberman 0]

My common sense judgement would be as follows Kim,

 

First of all, find out which Police force area you are going to be living in and give their licensing department a call to discuss the issue. (Skype is good for not so expensive calls!) Before you can be issued with a formal FAC/SGC you will need to have an address to hold them at and security installed, I fear this will be the most tricky part for you.

 

I would ask them;

 

1. What are the rules with regard to bringing in Firearms from outside the EU.

 

2. Ask them if you will be able to keep your Deer calibres in the UK going on experience of shooting Deer in Australia, they may say yes, they may say no.

 

3. Remind them that you are an expat and that you have shot in the UK before emigrating, this may help.

 

Once you have the answers to these, then you can decide whether you need to sell your Deer rifles and where and when to get paperwork to bring them back. Customs should hold them for you while you apply for your FAC/SGC.

 

Another option would be to contact a local Firearms Dealer that will be near to where you are going to be living and ask whether he'd be willing to store them for you, they normally charge for it, but usually its relatively reasonable.

 

If you choose to go down the Firearms Dealer route, ask the licensing department whether it would be possible for them to issue you a Section 7 permit which entitles you to temporarily hold the guns until they are either sold or lodged with an RFD.

 

Hope that helps a bit

 

 

 

Thanks SS

 

It would make good sense to make the phone call and follow up from there.

 

I would hate to sell any of the rifles if not necessary.

 

The Dealer route sounds a good way to go and a good way to develop a repoir with a local gun shop - a fee to store would not bother me.

 

If the move comes about it will be to Suffolk, close to Stowmarket - so I guess the local police authority would be either Stowmarket or the county town of Ipswich.

 

 

Regards

Kimberman

[SportingShooter 0]

Suffolk Constabulary,

Firearm Services Unit,

01473 613681 or email firearms.licensing@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

[kimberman 0]

Suffolk Constabulary,

Firearm Services Unit,

01473 613681 or email firearms.licensing@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

 

 

Thanks mate

 

You are a wealth of knowledge - the help is much appreciated.

 

Kimberman

[chimp 299]

can you let us know how you get on please , i wonder if theyb let you keep the rifles ??

 

atb

[kimberman 0]

can you let us know how you get on please , i wonder if theyb let you keep the rifles ??

 

atb

[kimberman 0]

Will do - hope they will let me at least keep the 12g's and the .22LR's

[RicW 67]

You need to contact Waidmann. He was resident in Germany, had his German ticket, brought his guns with him. Worth a pm

 

Ric

Edited October 27, 2009 by RicW

[waidmann 105]

sorry to dissapoint but i sold up in germany before moving back.

the obvious plus for you would be the aussie/uk connection( german qualifications mean nothing here). you can import firearms into the uk without too much trouble,the problem starts when you become a resident(then you must have the relevant licences).

do you know anybody ith permission for deer,rabbit etc over here? they could temporarily include you.

 

if you applied for the licences provisionally for target shooting( obvious drawbacks but at least you will be able to keep them untill you have permission)

you have had a shotgun licence before so i see no problems there.

as i see no real problem getting the aussie fac recognized.although they may condition the new one.

 

the first people i would contact would be the likes of basc,local police force here( with ref importing the weapons and attaining fac/sgc while still in australia,then you could start the ball rolling now. you would need an address in the uk).

and your australien equivilent with regards exporting to the uk and whether your licence covers you here( commonwealth licence???? there is a european firearms provsion).

 

hope i could help and let us know how it goes,feel free to pm me if needed bud.

atb

[kimberman 0]

Thanks for the input all,

 

It all helps to make me feel more confident in bringing the guns across if the move takes place.

 

I phoned the local constabulary last night (our time) and they implied that my Aus experience and licences all help, also me having held a shotgun licence in the UK in the distant past should help. They did point out though, that I would have to meet all the same requirements that current UK residents must have - eg authority to shoot on land, referees, gun safes, any convictions (they suggested putting down my speeding cautions, as a show of honesty), etc. They indicated that the number of guns was not a problem so long as I met all the normal criterea.

 

I can obtain 2 permissions for vermin, rabbit, pigeon, pheasant etc. - so that should be ok for the shotguns and .22LR's. There was a deep breath on the .308's for deer, but as long as I could show a need for them, then that obstical would possibly be overcome. It was implied that signing up for guided deer stalks should constitute a need for such a calibre of rifle.

 

I asked about target shooting clubs and they said that seeking membership was also a valid need for firearms - I suspect that there is a requirement to attend a minimum number of events each year though, similar to how it is out here if you obtain a licence that way - if anyone can confirm and elaborate on this I would appreciate it.

 

They suggested importing the guns to an Authorised Firearms Dealer to hold until I obtained the Licences but also said the guns could be held by customs as an alternative.

 

They told me that I cannot obtain a UK licence until I become resident of the UK - The Aus/UK connection is not as strong as it was prior to Euro.

 

They said the guns could all go on my licence, half and half between myself and my son, or they could all be jointly held on each of our licences: if issued.

 

I do know people in UK with vermin and rabbit etc on their licences - how does one go about getting me and my son included on their licence?

 

Any further info or advise would be most welcome.

 

Kimberman

[waidmann 105]

with ref to including on another permission.

you would need to be able to give the "occupiers" name and address on your licence application as permission/need for a firearm/shotgun.

a whole lot better than having to find permission on arriving in the uk. its a big ask from a mate though.

 

glad you are getting somewhere.

atb