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Moving/PCS With Guns

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
Since I approach the end of my year out here in fun-filled Afghanistan and am looking to conduct a move later in the year, I figured that this might be a good place to ask this question.

I'm planning on moving to Puerto Rico within the next 6 months, and--of course--my guns need to go with me. No way in hell am I going to let some jackhole moving company take them, nor would said company likely even do it. I've flown with my guns as checked baggage plenty of times, so that doesn't freak me out. But moving ALL the guns at once does. I'm not even sure if the airlines would let me do that, actually. I'm guessing that they could be shipped to/from FFL dealers if need be, yes? And the jury's still out on whether or not I'll have to pay an import tax like I would with my car.

Thoughts? Suggestions? What about shipping/moving medium to large amounts of ammo?

On another note, I would like to thank each and every one of you for providing the MASSIVE amount of tax dollars that allows me to now use WIFI from my hooch, in the middle of f**king nowhere, Afghanistan. Now if only we could just cough up a bit more dough, we could make the search function work for ol' Gaijin here. You can make the checks payable to me, thanks...
 

H60Gunner

Registered User
Contributor
Thoughts? Suggestions? What about shipping/moving medium to large amounts of ammo?

I have no clue about shipping weps to PR. I shipped mine to/from Hawaii via the Navy with no problems. Ammo I am almost sure they will not ship for you.

On another note, I would like to thank each and every one of you for providing the MASSIVE amount of tax dollars that allows me to now use WIFI from my hooch, in the middle of f**king nowhere, Afghanistan. Now if only we could just cough up a bit more dough, we could make the search function work for ol' Gaijin here. You can make the checks payable to me, thanks...

I think it's pretty awesome that you guys have internet access in the stan all things considered.
 

PropAddict

Now with even more awesome!
pilot
Contributor
I did the airlines thing. . .once. Had the guns inspected, put the "GUNS IN HERE! STEAL ME!" tags on the bag, then waited as they went through xray with the TSA, I snapped a lock on the box (inside the bag) and got on the plane. On the other end, I found the inside lock had been sheared off, the box had clearly been opened, and have no doubt the only thing that saved my guns was daisy-chaining the cable locks to each other and ultimately to the metal suitcase chassis. (As a PS, I read in the paper about a week later that a major TSA thievery ring had been operating out of that airport for "at least 6 months" and had just been broken up by FBI intervention.)

I never let the movers take the guns, but for the move to Hawaii, I did. Me and the movers inspected them together, wrote down all the serials, I locked each one in a box, put the boxes in the safe, the safe got boxed, and I watched it go into the shipping crate. For OCONUS moves, they box everything and put it in the shipping crates right at the house; the crate doesn't get opened until you sign for it at the other end. First move I ever had without something disappearing en route. And, with everything documented on inventory, I felt pretty good about my chances for getting the insurance to pay up should something go missing en route. I guess they weren't really supposed to, but I packed all my ammo in old mil .50 cal cans with dessicants and duct taped them shut, and the movers put it all in with my household goods.
 

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
I've even considered spending some cash and taking a sailboat 'cruise' to PR, with everything locked up in my numerous Pelican cases*. I have no idea what the legality of that would be, and my wife would probably flip her shit when she found out our 'vacation' was just an excuse to move the boomsticks while keeping them in my possession. "What are all those big plastic boxes for, baby?"

Flying with one or two guns is unnerving enough. I'm not sure that I could handle flying with all ~2 dozen of them in the belly of the beast.

*--Once again, your tax dollars supported me here, so thanks. When you get a chance, I'll take a Viking range for my new kitchen...
 

magnetfreezer

Well-Known Member
I've even considered spending some cash and taking a sailboat 'cruise' to PR, with everything locked up in my numerous Pelican cases*. I have no idea what the legality of that would be, and my wife would probably flip her shit when she found out our 'vacation' was just an excuse to move the boomsticks while keeping them in my possession. "What are all those big plastic boxes for, baby?"

Flying with one or two guns is unnerving enough. I'm not sure that I could handle flying with all ~2 dozen of them in the belly of the beast.

*--Once again, your tax dollars supported me here, so thanks. When you get a chance, I'll take a Viking range for my new kitchen...

Might be worth a visit to JAG - according to http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/State/State.aspx?st=pr a permit seems ot be required even to possess weapons.

http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n45/CBWeaponsLaw-en.html mentions a permit that you have to show to buy ammo as well.
 

nittany03

Recovering NFO. Herder of Programmers.
pilot
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Might be worth a visit to JAG - according to http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/State/State.aspx?st=pr a permit seems ot be required even to possess weapons.

http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n45/CBWeaponsLaw-en.html mentions a permit that you have to show to buy ammo as well.
Cross another state/territory off the "possible homes" list. A permit for AMMO? WTF? We ought to jettison that place like the protestors want us to so badly, and see how they like it on their own. That's positively un-American.
 

HackerF15E

Retired Strike Pig Driver
None
Cross another state/territory off the "possible homes" list. A permit for AMMO? WTF? We ought to jettison that place like the protestors want us to so badly, and see how they like it on their own. That's positively un-American.

Can we do that to California, too?
 

Pugs

Back from the range
None
Seems like propaddict has maybe the best experience.

My only suggestion, if you're still leery, is to box them up and ship them to myself at the new address. You could likely write off at least some of the expense as an unreimbursed moving expense. I wasn't aware of PR having such strict gun/ammo regulations. That must explain why there is no crime there. ;) :(
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
I've even considered spending some cash and taking a sailboat 'cruise' to PR, with everything locked up in my numerous Pelican cases*. I have no idea what the legality of that would be, and my wife would probably flip her shit when she found out our 'vacation' was just an excuse to move the boomsticks while keeping them in my possession. "What are all those big plastic boxes for, baby?"

Flying with one or two guns is unnerving enough. I'm not sure that I could handle flying with all ~2 dozen of them in the belly of the beast.

*--Once again, your tax dollars supported me here, so thanks. When you get a chance, I'll take a Viking range for my new kitchen...

PropAddict has the gouge for you. When you move OCONUS, it's not like when you move from state to state and your vacuum cleaner gets put next to some elses couch. Everything is sealed right there on the spot. When I moved to and from HI, I watched them do it right in front of me. No problems and the guns were there at the end.

As for sailing down to the PR... I think the Bahamas are pretty lax and would just require you to register them. Not sure about T&C or the DR. Often times places require you to check in your weapon in the city police station when you arrive and then you check it out when you leave. I'm sure there's not chance for theft there... Apparently this is an issue in Europe big time w/ cruisers.
 

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
I read (a translated) version of the laws, and spoke with my father-in-law and the maid of honor from my wedding. He's a prominent small business owner, and she's a practicing lawyer. From a legal perspective, as long as a have nothing too adverse on my record (nothing there at all) and I pay the outrageous fees, maid of honor girl says that they essentially have to issue a permit. The permit, provided you don't specifically ask for a target shooting permit, is a permit to own firearms, purchase/keep ammunition, AND carry. According to both, there are occasionally certain extenuating circumstances that will greatly expedite the 120 day advertised time, such as certain professions, businessmen who carry large amounts of cash/high-value merchandise on their persons, being under a death threat, etc. My father-in-law also pointed out that the Mayor/HMFIC/whatever he's called from the local district was also a guest at my wedding, along with a bunch of others who could, in theory, further speed up the process. Glad I sent those thank you notes out...

One thing I did find interesting is that it's apparently law that you have to own and store your firearms in a safe-like container if you own more than 15. It's a smart choice to begin with, but in PR it's actually the law. Learn something new everyday.

Incidentally, I think that I would have a bit more leeway if this were a PCS move, but I don't think that transferring to 1st CIV DIV (and maybe a reserve unit if I get bored) technically counts.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Incidentally, I think that I would have a bit more leeway if this were a PCS move, but I don't think that transferring to 1st CIV DIV (and maybe a reserve unit if I get bored) technically counts.

It's still a "PCS" move. It's still the government that's moving you. It's still the same merry band of movers. It's still OCONUS. But do what you want. FYI, you don't "PCS" to a reserve unit. You only affiliate unless they bring you on for more than 139 days.
 

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
^Sorry, it was late, and I wasn't thinking straight when I typed that bit. I was trying to get at was that I may affiliate with a reserve unit there, and that there are certain allowances made, specifically in the arena of firearms, in certain places for people living there on orders, vice moving there after completing their obligated service.

And after a little research, it looks as though it's neither 1st CIV DIV, nor 2nd CIV DIV. It is, in fact, RCT151: Rum Consumption Team 151.
 

DangerousDan

I could tell you but I would have to kill you
Sorry to threadjack but has anyone ever bought guns while you were in Europe? I have PCS in my ADSW orders. Id considering buying a gun direct from either HK or Walther and then shipping it back with my unacompied baggage. Any thoughts?
 
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