Bringing in Guns from US to Finland

amberpatomo · Post by **amberpatomo** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:16 pm

Anybody done this before? What are the laws and regulations?

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onkko · Post by **onkko** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:40 pm

What kind of guns?

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:20 pm

Are you moving here permanently or just coming over for a temporary visit?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:22 pm

Getting a licence has changed in the past year to more stringent... Its all there but you have to read it with Finnish eyes so where it says "may be granted" means "will not be granted unless you fully comply with all the rules" at least in 2010 they're planning more rules. http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... endocument

amberpatomo · Post by **amberpatomo** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:44 am

We are moving permanently. My Grandfather (I'm American) left a shotgun to my husband when he passed away. We have learned that my husband would have to register it in his name in the US and then ship it through the proper channels. Then he would have to join a gun club in Finland and get it registered there. Sounds easy but... The shotgun was cut to help it shoot better, faster, stronger... I really don't know why. They said in the rules in Finland that a shotgun cannot be cut. So, is there any point for him to mess with trying to get it there? It's not like it's a GREAT item. We are okay if we can't take it. Also, could my Dad register it in his name and send it like a gift to Finland? Would customs open it? Is that legal?

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:21 am

Is that black powder one?
and forget about that mailing, you would be in deep !"#¤% if police founds unregistered gun.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:32 am

A sawed off shotgun? Jebus you really do want to get into trouble? Black powder and not a cartridge-loading then if its a "collector"... maybe... if you get it deactivated then not a problem, but it needs to be made into such it can never fire ever, lock welded, pipe burst etc.Why its a no-no is as Finland has a lot of hunting guns, the "saturday night special" here is traditionally... a sawed-off shotgun (like in that one western movie)

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:51 am

Isn't it also illegal to possess a sawed-off shotgun in the US?

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:55 am

Hmm, evidently not entirely so. Depends on the length and some other things. Must be registered as sawed-off to be legal.

amberpatomo · Post by **amberpatomo** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:09 am

Actually it's not a gun powder gun. It used bullets and is a standard shotgun. He just cut the barrell for some reason. Yes it is legal to have the sawed off in the US. We are just looking around for answers. You all helped a lot! Now it's just a matter of making the decision on it. I think a permanet resident (which he is here in the US) cannot register a gun. He has to be a citizen. So it may not work out anyway.

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:41 am

Yeah you can saw some of the barrel of a shot gun off in the US, but there are limits. It cannot have a barrel length less than 18 in. and an overall length less than 26 in. But I think there are rules about how it was done etc. and getting some stamp of approval etc. But in this case it seems to me it might be more hassle than what it's worth.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:56 am

Off Topic: I used to work with a guy who was one of the few people in the UK authorised to own a sawn-off shotgun. (He used it for testing bullet-proof glass security screens, windscreens etc). He had some amusing stories about taking it on plane trips, especially one when an ex-prime minister was on the same flight and his bodyguards got very interested when they overheard Clive checking in! Another time he said his case contained the tools of his trade: hammer, screwdriver & sawn-off shotgun. The girl on the check-in desk asked "What do you do" and he replied: "Post offices"!

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:13 am

Right...

How about someone explaining what exactly are the benefits of sawing off part of the barrel?

From what I know about shotguns, and I use them far less than rifles, only benefit in hunting is little less cumbersome handling as it is smaller.

You lose power as gas propels the shot shorter distance and likewise the shot scatters more early.
I could see some use for rapid scattering if you shoot at really short range, rabbit getting actually hit by shotgun blast from very short range will have little left in it, but on opposite side you lose effective range dramatically due to both earlier scattering (shot is too dispersed to be effective at longer range) and reduced speed.

Only reasons I could see for sawing off is to make it possible to hide... Which in itself tends to hint at rather questionable direction.

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:19 am

Tiwaz wrote:Right...

How about someone explaining what exactly are the benefits of sawing off part of the barrel?

From what I know about shotguns, and I use them far less than rifles, only benefit in hunting is little less cumbersome handling as it is smaller.

You lose power as gas propels the shot shorter distance and likewise the shot scatters more early.
I could see some use for rapid scattering if you shoot at really short range, rabbit getting actually hit by shotgun blast from very short range will have little left in it, but on opposite side you lose effective range dramatically due to both earlier scattering (shot is too dispersed to be effective at longer range) and reduced speed.

Only reasons I could see for sawing off is to make it possible to hide... Which in itself tends to hint at rather questionable direction.

You are right, there isn't really much reason to do it unless you want to hide it or use it in small quarters but what again would be the reason behind that? At least concerning legal activities? Can't think of any.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:35 am

jas_rho wrote:You are right, there isn't really much reason to do it unless you want to hide it or use it in small quarters but what again would be the reason behind that? At least concerning legal activities? Can't think of any.

Doh! Self defense, of course! Also reduced power over distance makes it safe for airplanes!

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