Serbia bans the export of firearms

[kje54]

It would seem Zastava USA has confirmed the Serbian President has banned the export of weapons due to the sharp increase in ethnic violence on Kosovo. He's claiming it's being done in case of aggression from the non Serbs in Kosovo.

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/07/10/serbia-halts-arms-exports/

 

[tmd16556]

There’s a lot of populist rabble rousing going on in Serbia and Kosovo. The Serbian President is playing the “do-something” game to handle problems largely beyond his control.

I’m not sure what impact this will actually have here. I just hope they don’t block exporting PPU brass.

 

[dekibg]

I highly doubt this is for commercial semi auto rifles. PPU ammo maybe

 

[Mars5l]

Kinda glad I finally got mine a few months ago. LGS does have an M77 I've been toying with getting. I am worried though with PPU, they make ammo in less popular calibers. Gotta buy some more 7.5 French and 7.5 Swiss

 

[troy fairweather]

Hope it doesn't affect ppu ammo and brass,

 

[JohnKSa]

At least some sources are saying that it could affect arms and ammunition.

https://www.tvr.by/eng/news/v_mire/...ksport_vsekh_vidov_vooruzheniy_i_boepripasov/

It doesn't seem to be a sure thing at this point, so it's hard to say what the detail will be if/when it goes into effect.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I would think this would have a major effect on their economy.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I am worried though with PPU, they make ammo in less popular calibers. Gotta buy some more 7.5 French and 7.5 Swiss

I understand. When the COVID show hit, several LGS still had PPU 6.5 Swede, 7.5 French and 7.5 Swiss in stock at original <$20 per box prices when more mainstream calibers were sold out. I took that as a sign to stock up.

 

[Ignition Override]

If you were Very close to ordering or bidding on a Serbian ZPAP (AKM) online.. any delay could encounter a price spike, depending on the rumor mill.

Speculators might be buying dozens of the rifles?
I have no idea,- but don’t be surprised.

If all areas of former Yugoslavia are awash in concealed guns, then the Serbian President could be just Virtue Signaling.

Despite that possibility, in the US, if enough rumors manage to really drive up prices of the Zastava rifles (possibly reducing sales), there would Still Be:

1) vast numbers of lower steel quality RAS "AKs" (----only $525 ----) produced by Century subcontractors.,
2) huge quantities of good quality Romanian WASRs,
3) PSAs,
4) some Bulgarians and
5) the very infrequent import batches of Very high quality Polish WBPs, plus......

 

[lemaymiami]

The former Yugoslavia is a witch's brew of antagonisms, agressions, and disputes going back for generations. Hope the folks in that region can live in peace...

That said, I've had good results with PPU's 30 carbine rounds in full jacket and softpoint.... Hope that ammo source continues...

 

[Ks5shooter]

No stake in this game but hope it works out.

 

[brunowbe]

It’s official, they are banned from export for the next 30 days.

 

[valnar]

My only PPU "standard" load is 6.5x55 Swede. I was going to buy some more anyway, but decided to order it today.

 

[Ignition Override]

For 30 days. According to the quote. If he is sincere/honest....this is not the end of the world.

But this is just one additional reason why you never, ever should postpone buying a gun or ammo purchase as Soon As you have the cash, desire, and are resolved. An unanticipated problem can suddenly become an obstacle , literally, at Any Time. There are no guarantees for anything.

My decision over a week ago was to add to the .308 ammo reserve, Before the news came out of Serbia. Something unforecast, ie linked to a mass tragedy or State Dept relations, could have influenced (even) Swiss ammo prices or future availability --with little warning.

Don't people "get it" by now?

 

[tmd16556]

This may also only apply to their modest military exports. Serbia still supplies small arms and some larger equipment to countries in the developing world. I somehow don’t think they’re going to get much benefit from hoarding 7.5 French ammo and sporting rifles. Honestly, hoarding their exports won’t matter too much given the fact no one is out to get them and they wouldn’t last long if they tangled with NATO again. Remember 1999?

It’s all diversionary posturing from Serbian political failures (I literally taught a class on the topic yesterday, so at least it’s a good example). Kosovo has been guilty of playing this game too. They just don’t have any quality arms exports for the US civilian market, so it’s not as relevant here.

So in short, everyone in the Balkans needs to take a deep breath so we can get our PPU and Zastavas without any delay.

 

[lsudave]

I'm kinda surprised they weren't already pouring their ammo and whatnot into Ukraine, anyway. I see SGAmmo has been pushing their $389 cases of PPU 556, which I'm sure is about to go away.

 

[tmd16556]

Serbia has tried to stay out of the whole Ukraine thing. Serbia hasn’t sent arms to Ukraine or Russia. They aren’t giving any away, at least. I don’t know what the secondary market looks like.