Can firearm *accessories* be purchased in Germany by a visitor?

[Rob62]

In a few weeks I will be traveling to Frankfort Germany on business. While there I would like to pick up some magazines for a Norinco JW-15 .22RF rifle.

NOTE – not a rifle, just a few spare magazines, which are generally not available here in the US due to the stop of Chinese firearm imports. I’d also just like to see what the inside of a German gun shop looks like

Anyone know if I, as a foreign visitor, will be able to purchase firearm accessories like these magazines? Or is it impossible for a foreign visitor to purchase any firearm related items.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

[CleverNickname]

Whether it's legal or not to buy them in Germany, you also need to get the proper BATFE approval to import them into the US. IIRC you have to submit a form 6 to import more than $100 worth of gun parts.

 

[Rob62]

I do not believe BATFE involvement or import permits are necessary as I am not purchasing or trying to import a complete firearm. Only 2 possibly 3, 5 round magazines that should be well under $100 USD (even with the lousy exchange rates ).

Maybe I need to re-look the GCA of '68.

Rob

 

[Afy]

I dont think you will be able to do so. Germany has amongst the strictest laws so it might be a problem. Also for some reason in Europe buying spare magazines is difficult at best, and very expensive. I was quoted the equivalent of $85 USD for a spare magazine for my SHR 970. (Three round capacity).

Get rid of your Nornico and get a CZ 452... which is a much better overall rimfire, and you can easily get spare magazines in the US for these.

 

[1 old 0311]

You can take them apart and ship them in two packages. Make sure you list your 'old auto parts' on the customs form.

 

[win71]

Good luck finding cheap Chinese guns or accessories in Germany. It's almost impossible for a German citizen to simply walk into a gun store and buy a plinking rifle. There are severe regulations regarding purchasing any firearms.
Now, gun stores. I spent some time in Fechenheim and Frankfurt. There is a huge gun store in Wurtzburg. Makes cabalas stores look like a second hand joint. When I was there they had at least 500 high dollar shotguns, double rifles, drillings, you name it. Prices from $6,000.00 up to $175,000.00. With a whole lot of um in the 15 to 25 thousand dollar range. I started getting dizzy and had to leave.
And you won't get any deals there either. I wanted to pick up a pair of Zeiss binoculars and a rifle scope. These were cheaper in Cabalas catalog as was anything imported from Japan. And the exchange rate is worse now than it was then making it even worse.
The only thing I bought on that whole trip was in Spain. An AYA sxs sidelock shotgun. I didn't take custody of it, rather the factory shipped it to the United Airlines custom house in SF where it was inspected and released a month latter.

 

[M67]

I don't think there should be any problem at all.

I don't know specifically about magazines in Germany, but off the top of my head I can't think of any restrictions on such accessories in this corner of Europe. Although I'm sure someone will be along shortly quoting a court ruling in Goatbuttistan to prove me wrong.

Germany and Western Europe in general isn't nearly as restrictive as Americans think. I read somewhere that Germans buy as many guns (per capita) as Americans do. The total number of guns is lower because they have fewer old guns lying around, but the shooting sports in Germany are growing fast.

Go visit a German gun shop. You'll find more $5000 hunting rifles and $2000 scopes than in most American pawn shops, but it doesn't cost to look.

 

[gezzer]

You can take them apart and ship them in two packages. Make sure you list your 'old auto parts' on the customs form.

Great way to go to jail on 2 different counts when caught. Not very High Road suggesting felonies.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

I'd go to the ATF and Customs website and look around. When I was in Germany 20 years ago I brought back lots of equipment and a air rifle no problem.

 

[Afy]

Its ironical that I am planning a "shopping trip" to the US for some acessories... like a bipod, reloading dies, and a couple of decent scopes...

Stuff is very expensive in Europe and even a lowly Braska 4.5-24x50 for a .22 LR is upwards of $300....

 

[DuDochNicht]

You won´t have any problems purchasing some magazines or other not essential gun parts. Essential gun parts after the german law for example are the barrel, slide and receiver. I don´t know how much the magazines will cost or if they are available, because i never heard about your rifle, but me mostly shooting handguns that doesn´t mean much. Maybe it would help you to contact Frankonia, it´s the german counterpart of brownells. Tel. +49/1 80 / 5 37 26 97, Email: [email protected], or search with google for a gun shop in Frankfurt, living near Hamburg, i don´t know one down there, maybe they can order the parts you need, so they´re in stock when you arrive.
Please excuse my rusty english, i don´t use it much nowadays. I hope i could help you, if you have more answers sent me a message.

Regards
Jan-Klaas