Guns in Germany?

[Dave870]

Hi all,

I am PCSing to Germany, and wanted to know if anyone here has taken their personally owned guns to Germany? Was the process worth it? Or should I just leave my guns back here in the states with family?

[Whiterabbit]

I don't know the answer to your question, but if you have never been to a shooting cinema (there is one just outside Regensburg and I am sure they are all over Germany), I would be trying to get a hunting rifle into Germany just so I could give that a try. It looks like great fun.

[DonFerrando]

Difficult. Need to be a member of a gun (essentially sport shooting) club.

"Members of gun clubs, who have been practicing regularly (min. once a month) for at least a year can apply for a Green licenses, if a registered shooting association, which the shooter has to be a member of, confirms their active involvement in the sport. Two handguns, that are compliant with the shooters' shooting associations' rules are allowed to be purchased these holders, as well as three semi-automatic rifles, which also have to be allowed by the associations' rules. Each firearm must be pre-approved before purchase."

Different rules apply for collectors or Hunters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_legislation_in_Germany

Funny thing is if/when the assault weapons ban passes folks in Germany can actually own a wider variety of firearms than us.

[deadcoyote]

And free advice, if you're like me, resist buying all the FAL upper recievers over there and send em back. They're not classified as firearms unlike here (on the FAL the upper is the firearm. Some guy on FAL files posted pictures from a German used sporting goods store where the just had buckets of receivers for $20 each. The torment....

[Mr.Caketown]

And free advice, if you're like me, resist buying all the FAL upper recievers over there and send em back. They're not classified as firearms unlike here (on the FAL the upper is the firearm. Some guy on FAL files posted pictures from a German used sporting goods store where the just had buckets of receivers for $20 each. The torment....

How does that work ? Are the upper serialized ?

[Archon_g24]

I can use a G1 upper

[DennisCA]

Hi all,

I am PCSing to Germany, and wanted to know if anyone here has taken their personally owned guns to Germany? Was the process worth it? Or should I just leave my guns back here in the states with family?

I have (several times) it's a PITA but doable (although it's been many years since I've done it). The only reason I did it is I wanted to keep my guns with me. I never took them out shooting, then again back then I only had a couple of rifles and a couple of shotguns. If I remember correctly you have to ship them with your household goods.

[deadcoyote]

How does that work ? Are the upper serialized ?

On a FAL the upper is serialized and they're classified as firearms (in the US). The lower/stock/trigger group/grip portion of a FAL is not controlled in the US. In Germany, they're (the receiver) not a firearm, and since building up semi auto firearms is a no-no, they have no value. They sell them for like 15 Euros as a paper weight/conversation piece. It's amazing these giant totes of receivers have so much value here and are worthless there. Much akin to the fact new manufactured class III firearms cost the same as normal firearms, if you have the proper permits, yet a pre-86 transferrable sample is worth an insanely inflated amount.

[Mr.Caketown]

On a FAL the upper is serialized and they're classified as firearms (in the US). The lower/stock/trigger group/grip portion of a FAL is not controlled in the US. In Germany, they're (the receiver) not a firearm, and since building up semi auto firearms is a no-no, they have no value. They sell them for like 15 Euros as a paper weight/conversation piece. It's amazing these giant totes of receivers have so much value here and are worthless there. Much akin to the fact new manufactured class III firearms cost the same as normal firearms, if you have the proper permits, yet a pre-86 transferrable sample is worth an insanely inflated amount.

is it legal to ship them to the states or is that a no-no ?

[deadcoyote]

is it legal to ship them to the states or is that a no-no ?

It's a no go. I don't think they can be imported. Hence my original post about don't do something naughty if tempted.

[Petro6golf]

I sent you a pm. Basically your going to a country which is the 4th largest gun ownership country in the world. That being said, they have very strict rules regarding gun ownership and like everything in Germany, you have to take extensive tests to own it.

Due to the Army being stupid, you will have to keep your guns in the Arms room to which they will be messed with and you will never shoot them or you can illegally ship them and keep them at home to which you will never shoot them. If you get caught doing the illegal thing im assuming UCMJ will apply and you will end up in the Mannheim Prison prior to your un-honerable discharge.

Just keep em at home

[Zamble]

Unless things have changed, it is not necessarily time at Coleman Barracks. Actually it is Sembach Barracks now.

My tank commander back in the day, had a loaded 1911 under his driver seat when he took his family to West Berlin. The MP's found it. He never reported he had one and kept it at his home in family housing.

They did absolutely nothing to him, despite the laws he broke. He should have been put away.

[kevman0154]

Yea its a no-go you might as well have someone store it for you back in the states. Im stationed in Italy and its worse off here. No gun ownership, not even able to bring guns into the country. Sucks..

now about these FAL uppers... How would anyone know what it is unless they actually knew what an FAL upper looked like. You could pack it in your household goods on your way back to the states and call it a flower vase...couldn't you?

[Zamble]

When I ETS'd, customs MP came cleared me. He left and hours later the movers showed up. I could have put anything in my things. The crate was sealed and was not opened until it was delivered.

[kevman0154]

see what I mean..hmm I wonder..