QED
Super member
Well after that interlude... Any advice from experience?
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the Daily hi thread
Traveling across Europe with an airgun..
- Thread starter QED
- Start date
Peddy
Member Extraordinaire
Personally regardless of what advice you get even official. All you need is one search at a border crossing by an ill informed officer and it’s bye bye gun and a load of explaining to do in broken English.
rockdrill
Member Extraordinaire
Not advocating any justification for ignoring laws etc, but are there any actual border crossing 'posts' inside the 'Schengen' countries of the EU?
I thought that the countries in that arrangement zone had free passage between them.
There was incidents after Brexit regarding firearms and parts crossing through countries and the amount of paperwork involved , its for importers but may still apply to the public taking parts through these countries .
www.fieldsportschannel.tv
There is this also. Mostly to do with certificate Firearms but some of it may apply to airguns if its still the way its working .
www.fieldsportschannel.tv
Guns are latest victim of Brexit border brawls
www.youtube.com/watch?v=INTg99oyVKE Predictions of doom and gloom have been hitting the headlines since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016. How many of them have come true? For the gun trade at least, there have been mixed results since the actual break up at the start of 2021. One...
www.fieldsportschannel.tv
There is this also. Mostly to do with certificate Firearms but some of it may apply to airguns if its still the way its working .
How to cross the UK border with guns post Brexit
It’s got better since 1 February 2020 when Brexit threw it into doubt. Research by the SCI’s UK chapter reveals that most European countries only require you to have a visitor’s hunting licence for the country where you plan to hunt, such as a German Jagdschein, plus a valid UK gun licence. The...
www.fieldsportschannel.tv
Neil54
Member Extraordinaire
Basc would know the answer to this.
I know people who hunt in Germany and elsewhere and they take their own guns.
Same with European competitions.
There must be a way.
Problem with Scotland they need an address where you plan to visit. Travelling in a motorhome to a competition in a field then returning home to England won't get a certificate, if I understand it correctly.
I know people who hunt in Germany and elsewhere and they take their own guns.
Same with European competitions.
There must be a way.
Problem with Scotland they need an address where you plan to visit. Travelling in a motorhome to a competition in a field then returning home to England won't get a certificate, if I understand it correctly.
JacquesC
Member Extraordinaire
I cannot contribute with certainty but, I do know that in France, if you're carrying an airgun in your vehicle, you need not only to have it under lock and key but also to have your ammunition in a separate place. i.e. you mustn't be able to shoot the thing in any hurry! ;-))
You also need justification to where you are taking it; a document showing you are entering a competition, or you are a member of such and such fire-range, or your gunsmith etc.
Legal to own free of permit limits are variable (20 Joules in France) but to my knowledge, the lowest in the countries you're likely to visit is the German 'F' (under 7.5 Joules).
That limit for a start could save you a lot of paperwork.
Don't know if this is any help
.
You also need justification to where you are taking it; a document showing you are entering a competition, or you are a member of such and such fire-range, or your gunsmith etc.
Legal to own free of permit limits are variable (20 Joules in France) but to my knowledge, the lowest in the countries you're likely to visit is the German 'F' (under 7.5 Joules).
That limit for a start could save you a lot of paperwork.
Don't know if this is any help
.
Jay Butts
Member Extraordinaire
Common sense must prevail here. Don’t assume anything, check the law country by country and of course keep it locked up and separate from your ammo. Pretty sure this is the law in the UK too.
Personally, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Some over zealous border guard taking a fancy to your super duper target rig could just confiscate it. What could you do? The guard would have a lovely gun and you end up with nowt.
Personally, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Some over zealous border guard taking a fancy to your super duper target rig could just confiscate it. What could you do? The guard would have a lovely gun and you end up with nowt.
As long as you follow the safe storage rules I can't see there being a problem.
Locked in a hard case and chained to something in the motorhome or in a locked cupboard if it has one .
When I transport my airguns when going long distance for example my brothers , I have them in a locked hardcase and chained to the seat frame of the car . I have taken reasonable steps to stop an unlicensed person getting access to it .
Look at the AWC Guide and you will see the safe storage rules for Scotland are pretty much the same as the rest of the UK , only difference is unlicensed people having access to them with out the AWC holder being present .
Air weapon licensing in Scotland: guide
Guidance published by Scottish Ministers on the practical application of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015.
www.gov.scot
14. Storage of Air Weapons
Under section 30 of the 2015 Act, it is an offence for a person to fail to take reasonable precautions for the safe custody of air weapons in their possession, or to fail to report the loss or theft of an air weapon to the police as soon as reasonably practicable.This is in line with pre-existing law on the safe custody of air weapons. The Crime and Security Act 2010 amended the Firearms Act 1968 in February 2011 to make it an offence for a person in possession of an air weapon to fail to take "reasonable precautions" to prevent someone under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to it. A defence is provided where a person can show he had reasonable grounds for believing the other person to be aged 18 or over.
The issue of reasonable precautions has wider implications in considering more general security over air weapons. Different considerations will apply depending on whether an air weapon is in use or not. In many cases, when not in use an existing, suitably robust, lockable cupboard may provide sufficient security to avoid unauthorised access to the weapon.
Alternatively, owners may use a locking device (such as a security cord) by which an air weapon can be attached to the fabric of a building , in a secure cupboard or to another fixed feature.
End quote
This could apply to the motorhome I would assume .
Quote
While these arrangements are specifically aimed at ensuring compliance with the 2011 Act, they provide good principles for ensuring the security of air weapons more generally.
An air weapon owner may choose to store air weapons in an existing gun cabinet, provided this does not compromise security of other firearms.
Current Home Office guidance on the storage of air weapons is available at the link below and should be referred to by the police and applicants who wish to possess air weapons in Scotland.
Link - Air Weapons Safety
End quote
From the air weapon safety guide.
When using an air weapon
• Keep it under close supervision at all times and never leave it unattended.
Where you have no option but to put your air weapon down for short periods, unload it and gather up all the ammunition. Steps should then be taken to prevent anyone under the age of 18 from gaining
unauthorised access to it. This could include attaching it to a fixed object,
out of sight, using a security cord or similar device, or locking it out of sight in a car.
Locked to fixed object in a motorhome would suffice in my eyes but you can ask the Licensing Office for their advice.
Manley JP
Member Extraordinaire
My earlier comment I really wish i had not typed. It was beyond stupid, posting when you were asking legit opinion. I did know someone once who smuggled his gf into the UK in the boot of his car. I could not believe it. Pre EU days. One of my neighbours garden handymen (I have never met and am anti drugs) was arrested and imprisoned in Mexico for carrying something. Both issues unrelated to airgun question. Some of the members on here are seriously informative on their airgun knowledge and experience, is interesting to hear opinion if one could/should transport an airgun for legit reasons. To a competition etc.
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lloydy12
Well-known member
As mentioned,Germany is only 6ftlb so that is a no go,I know a few people who shot comps abroad, travel to Austria,Bulgaria etc and have been fine as long as you avoid Germany, they have a strict policy, some people have received large fines and had there guns taken off them in Germany,but they haven't had any problems in the others countries,but as mentioned earlier in your thread,make sure you do your research on all the countries your thinking of driving through,hope this helps
It's been asked on another forum where some of the members may have to to deal with it .
shooting-the-breeze.com
Driving in Europe with Air Rifles | General Airgun Chat
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shooting-the-breeze.com