Buying a gun while out of the country

[Bolillo]

If all of the paperwork is in order I don't see way you could no drive it across...

NO! Don't even think about it. The USA ATF forms might get you through US Customs, but you specifically don't want to have a firearm in Mexico without the correct Mexican (in Spanish, signed, sealed) paperwork. Because of all the narco issues, main roads in MX have frequent military checkpoints, staffed with 19-year-old, M16-toting conscripts, looking for weapons. Unless they believe that everything is in perfect order, you're in for major hassles.

Far better approach is to have a USA FFL take shipment through a Mexican exporter, and let the exporter deal with all the Mexican paperwork. Buyer stays at arms length back in the USA.

[Cali-V]

Regardless of what country you purchasing in, you want the purchase to be legal; both in and outside of the US.

[IrishPirate]

so no matter what, buying a gun on a whim in a foreign country is not likely to happen...no cash and carry, then lock it up for the transport back to the US and fill out docs once here???

[Bolillo]

so no matter what, buying a gun on a whim in a foreign country is not likely to happen...no cash and carry, then lock it up for the transport back to the US and fill out docs once here???

Short answer: No cash & carry.

You're not legally getting any weapon into the USA without a Form 6 from an FFL who understands imports, and that takes 60 days minimum to go through ATF. And a seller sending it without that form means, at best, it's going to sit in Customs or get kicked back to the exporter. The seller either has to have experience exporting weapons, or is willing to use an exporter that has experience with weapons. All of that hassle, shipping, brokerage, duty, etc..is most likely to be on your dime and on top of the actual in-country selling price.

[Decoligny]

While I have never met the OP, I have a hard time believing his story. Recently, while driving toward the Mexican border crossing in New Mexico, I saw a sign warning that guns are illegal in Mexico.

So is prostitution, and drugs. Doesn't mean someone on the street isn't going to offer to sell you those either.

[a1c]

So is prostitution, and drugs. Doesn't mean someone on the street isn't going to offer to sell you those either.

I think your sarcasm detector is not working.

[Glock22Fan]

I brought a .22LR rifle here from England. I contacted the ATF who sent me a form. I completed it and sent it in and got it back a few weeks later. I transported it myself by air (London Heathrow to Newark), declaring it to customs at each end. The UK customs took it seriously and professionally and processed their end without hassle. The US Customs didn't even glance at the paperwork - their exact comment being "It's not as if it is a real gun."

This was a while ago, so things may have changed, and I might have needed a FFL then were it a handgun, so YMMV.

[Norsemen308]

While I have never met the OP, I have a hard time believing his story. Recently, while driving toward the Mexican border crossing in New Mexico, I saw a sign warning that guns are illegal in Mexico.

Lord knows Mexico is the moral compass for all law abiding citizens...