Posted: 4/5/2006 10:48:34 AM EDT
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need advise please. i'm off to the states at the end of the month, does anyone know of the legalities or illigalities of bringing back a flat top upper receiver only. No barrel or bolt group. I have an open slot for the receiver on my ticket. I believe uppers are not controlled bt FFL's over there but obviously are controlled over here. cheers Roger |
could someone please explain why an upper is a controlled item? Its not a pressure bearing component (I thought that was the definition of a controlled item). |
Because someone said so  I suppose their logic could be that it is a major component and therefore needs controlling.....which is bollox Mark |
Technically the lower is a trigger housing so not controlled - but try getting one! In the US the lower is controlled so you'd need an export licence anyway |
ACR is right about this...and we have discussed this on several occasions. It is entirely legal to import parts etc from the US as long as you have authority for them and it is wrong to suggest anyways to circumvent the import/export laws of our two countries. Sorry, but that's the way it is. If anyone does need or want parts such as triggers.....they are available. Just ask Matt or myself. We're here to help Mark |
Roger, et al, This is a common misconception - 'only pressure bearing parts are controlled' - WRONG Gun parts are all controlled to some degree, it doesn't have to be an item or 'slot' on your FAC to be a controlled part. Take shot gun cartridges for example, they are controlled but do not get recorded on a licence or by the dealer, it is the same with some gun parts and tighter controls on others. Trigger parts are controlled, as are receivers, bolts, firing pins and most other AR parts with the notable exception of small common parts such as springs, pins and screws (trigger/hammer springs are a bit of a grey area). They do not have to be pressure bearing parts either. All gun parts are controlled as far as import and export are concerned especially if they can be classed as military parts or parts of military weapons. If you are going to buy some in the States and bring them in you better find out if you are allowed to; a) buy them, b) have possession of them c) take them into an airport and try to put them on a plane (and remember each airline can make up their own extra rules) d) try and export them (the same as c effectively) e) import them into the destination country (in this case the UK, I guess). Talk to the DTI and ask for their firearms importation dept (yes, they do have a specific dept for this) and speak to the airline before you buy anything. And it might be an idea to talk to the BATF office in the State you're going to - what is OK for a resident might not be so for a non-immigrant alien. As far as posting goes the rules are almost the same. If you post them back then you are the exporter and must make the declaration and get any relevant paperwork sorted. If you are ordering from the UK then it is up to the exporter to get the relevant paperwork from the State Dept, you just have to fulfil any import requirements including firearms licencing at this end, as you are the importer. Do this wrong and the nearest you'll ever get to a firearm again is ar15.com. Make the calls now and get everything straight before you try and inadvertantly fall foul of the law. Prisoner 556, Matt Cell 223, AR Wing 
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I phoned BASC about this earlier in the week as I am after a lower possibly from the US. Now I am sure the chap I spoke to knows nothing about AR's compared to some of the people on here, but he said that it was ok to import things to do with firearms as long as they are not pressure bearing. Is he wrong? Kyle |
Yes he is. As long as you have the authority you can import anything you want. If you don't have the authority, then you are committing an offence and will get a 5 o'clock knock from Customs & Excise and they will probably have the police in tow. But you can't get the parts exported to you without a valid export permit from the US State dept and have found a company in the US that is willing to do the export for you. It's not worth the effort and you are better off getting one from a reputable dealer here. There might nopt be many available here at the moment, but they will become available again. Mark |