Bringing firearm accessories back from the USA to Australia

[u/Shaqundaya]

I'm heading to the USA soon and looking at buying some firearm accessories while I'm over there, as they're significantly cheaper than in Australia.

Mainly looking at non-functional/cosmetic parts such as stocks, handguards, grips and mounts. For example, a Magpul SGA stock or Zhukov handguard.

Has anyone had experience purchasing these types of accessories in the US and bringing them back to Australia in checked luggage?

From what I've read, a lot of these parts don't require Australian import permits, but US export regulations seem to be the bigger issue.

Just wondering what people's experiences have been, whether any paperwork was required, and what accessories can legally be brought back without permits.

I'm based in SA. Cheers!

[u/CharlieKiloAU]

Read this one carefully:

https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/prohibited-goods/firearms

If you have any doubts, ask border force before you go.

You might also run into ITAR restrictions getting some stuff OUT of the US.

[u/JFKlivesinmybasement]

Anecdotal: Mate of mine tried to get his sister in law to send a few cosmetic parts - she spent the next 12 months fighting to retain her citizenship proving neither of them were smugglers of sorts.

You will find it very hard to bring any of it back

[u/GlobalizeReconquista → u/JFKlivesinmybasement]

[u/notofuspeed]

Is the below list the entire comprehensive list or just a set of "examples"?

Firearm Parts

To import firearm parts into Australia, importers must first get written certification from the police firearms or weapons registry in their state or territory. Otherwise, they must get written permission to import from the Department of Home Affairs before importation.

Firearms parts, whether or not complete, damaged, temporarily or permanently inoperable or unfinished, include:

• a gas piston, friction ring, action bar, breech bolt or breech block
• a firearm barrel
• a barrel extension
• a trigger mechanism
• a frame or receiver
• a slide
• an upper receiver
• a lower receiver
• a revolving cylinder
• a bolt carrier
• a folding stock
• a detachable stock
• an adjustable stock (which adjusts by more than 120 millimetres)
• something other than a complete firearm, that includes one or more of the above items
• all frames and receivers for firearms (noting these must have a unique serial number and be subject to ABF inspection and verification processes).

[u/notofuspeed → u/notofuspeed]

Can you buy and import by mail or by luggage a 2011 grip module for example (it is not included in the above as they are not the frame or receiver nor have a serial number).

[u/AAA_in_OR]

I see a lot of guys guessing here, but no real experience.

Lets start with export from the U.S.

An ordinary rifle stock (without fire-control components) falls under ECCN: 0A501.y.1. This is now controlled by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). For the destination of Australia only, it's consider NLR (No License Required). So if you're going home via another country, a license may be required.

Scope mounts and accessory rails are ECCN 0A501 and are classified as EAR99, again, to Australia no license is required. This would cover things like, based, rings and mounts as long as they're not specifically made for machineguns.

I've never once had U.S. Customs ask me about anything in my luggage. The TSA though will be interested. Make sure it's in you checked baggage, you can't carry firearm parts in your carry on.

With regards to coming into Australia. Australian Border Force are either incompetent or they are told to tell people items are illegal when they're not. Every time I've had to go through customs, I've had to educate them on their own regulations. Make sure to have print outs (remember, you can't use your phone in customs) of the Border Force regs on what is legal to bring in and what's not. If any of the parts are in packaging, remove them. Hard to explain that you're using you SGA stock for a Remington 7615, when it says 870 pump shotgun on the box, or a Zhukov hand-guard where it says AK47. Even though you can still bring them in even if it was for an AK, they're going to take them. They will want to charge you GST, so make sure to have receipts or be prepared to negotiate. If you purchase used, get a bill of sale.

None of what you've mentioned so far requires an import permit.

What other items are we talking?

[u/notofuspeed → u/AAA_in_OR]

Where do you find or can read up on this full detail you are enlightening us on, like?

"An ordinary rifle stock (without fire-control components) falls under ECCN: 0A501.y.1. This is now controlled by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). For the destination of Australia only, it's consider NLR (No License Required)."

Its fair more detailed than the ABF link.

[u/AAA_in_OR → u/notofuspeed]

U.S. export info is highly complicated. I'll do my best to keep this simple. You can search for items on the commerce control list here: https://www.bis.gov/regulations/ear/interactive-commerce-control-list?isExpanded=&category=&keyword=

So, for your stock, search "stocks", it'll come up with 0A501. Sometimes, knowing the exact term to search is half the battle.

So, scroll all the way down to y.1. That's where I got the full ECCN from. 0A501.y.1

OK, so go back to the top. Note where is says:

Control(s)	Country chart(see Supp. No. 1 to part 738)
NS applies to entire entry except 0A501.y	NS Column 1.
RS applies to entire entry except 0A501.y	RS Column 1.
FC applies to entire entry except 0A501.y	FC FC Column 1.

Now go to the countries chart here: https://www.bis.gov/regulations/ear/interactive-commerce-country-chart

Scroll down to Australia, look in the columns NS1, RS1 and FC1 if there's no X then no export license is required.

Here's the problem there's also lots of caveats! The scope mount specific to MG's for example, or someone you're purchasing from been on the Denied Persons List.

Let me know if you have more questions.

[u/notofuspeed → u/AAA_in_OR]

Thanks for taking the time to write that up. Big help to me and I’m sure a heap of others too!

[u/FluffyEcho7721]

Mail it to your neighbours house

[u/shauny88]

I did the same thing start of the year.

Brought back cheap slings, magpul accessories and so forth. Also lots of cheap pocket knives, hunting clothes and outdoor clothes as they were so much cheaper.

Was going to bring back a full stock from magpul and some sore grips, but didn’t grab them in Arizona or Nevada, got to California and realised I couldn’t even buy the ones and parts I wanted there because they don’t sell them there or had to have the Californian approval/background checks or whatever it was.

So check the silly laws over there. Basically in California most things are harder to get.