Hi, during next late September I will cross Austria and Germany, going to north east Poland for a red stag hunt; being a foreigner, will I be allowed to buy some powder (1-2 Kg.) over there? Unfortunately in Italy powder choice and availability are limited and prices are very high. That's only a possibility. Thanks.

In Germany you need to have passed a test and have a valid test certificate (expires every so often) to buy powder. Trust the Germans to come up with a system like this!! Man, you need to pass a test to go to the toilet in Germany

I have never bought powder in Austria, but at least as far as guns and ammo is concerned, the Austrians tend to be a bit more relaxed than their neighbours to the north.

If need be, pass by Switzerland on your way home (to avoid passing several borders with several pounds of powder... ). Here we should be able to get you all the powder you need, although not all brands are available and prices are a good deal higher than US prices - probably on par with Germany.

Here: http://www.waffenwildi.ch/wiederladen/PulverPreise.htm you can get an idea of what is available and at what prices (in Swiss Francs). This is one of the better shops in Switzerland for powder...

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
.... and prices are a good deal higher than US prices ....

Swiss prices are really interesting! Here 454 g. of any US powder cost 110-130€ and 1 KG. of Norma MRP about the same. The only brand that is somewhat available and at a reasonable price is Vihtavuori, at 65-70€ per KG.
Anyway, I (unfortunately) will not cross Switzerland with my rifle, since the EU weapon permit is not recognized.

quote:

Originally posted by wildboar:
Swiss prices are really interesting! Here 454 g. of any US powder cost 110-130€ and 1 KG. of Norma MRP about the same. The only brand that is somewhat available and at a reasonable price is Vihtavuori, at 65-70€ per KG.
Anyway, I (unfortunately) will not cross Switzerland with my rifle, since the EU weapon permit is not recognized.

Wildboar, as far as crossing Switzerland with your rifle, I VERY much doubt that will be a problem. There are no requirements here for you to have valid Swiss papers for a firearms in transit (in fact there are no Swiss papers, as firearms are not registered here). If the Customs officer should ask, which he likely won't, just tell him you are on your way home from hunting, and here are the European papers. I'd be VERY suurprised if this did not do the trick. I know of other people having passed through Switzerland on their way to or from hunting. Most likely the Customs officer might be interested in the caliber because he hunts himself... If the worst comes to the worst, we can produce an invitation for a shooting event in Switzerland... We have done this before.

If you should decide to try the Swiss route, let us know in advance. We'll figure out something regarding what powder you want and in what quantities. We'll probably have to buy it in advance, and then just arrange a meeting for pickup. When are you going to Poland??

- mike

There should be NO restriction to buy Powder in Austria. How do you intend to reload? LEE loader?

Aks a hunter you know for buying the powder: being known nobody will ask him.

Don´t buy too much, and chose carefully where: the average Gunsmith hardly will stock powder, so you´ll have to preorder.

H

Thanks guys:

mho: You are very kind and helpful, the problem with Switzerland is when you get out, since customs inspections are still there.... but keep it like it is and stay away from EU as much as possible!
My hunt will be from 18 to 23 of September.

Arminius: No Lee loader; at home I have an ordinary reloading gear.

MHO,

It looks like Switzerland has better gun laws than the USA.

Wildboar,
Living in Germany for several years as a foreigner has left me with a new found respect for the freedoms us and other countries enjoy. Yes, in order to buy powder there you must obtain a liscense. Sounds simple? It's not. First you must find a "meister" who is willing to teach you and is a certified teacher. All of the classes I have heard about lasted a week and they ran in the neighborhood of 250 Euro.

Their firearms laws are worse. After jumping through all the hoops for about 15 months and about 1000 E to get my waffenbenzeits (sp?) card, I was told they were not processing them at the moment. My paperwork sat on a desk for another 12 months because they did not want to process any. I finally gave up and just brought it back to the States with me when I went on leave. And no, since they are not charging you the money for all the classes and stuff, you pay for that on your own to an individual or club, they don't refund any either.

Germany seems to be quite unfriendly towards shooters and hunters...

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
MHO,

It looks like Switzerland has better gun laws than the USA.

No no, that is not the case. Guns are not registered, but in order to purchase guns you'll have to apply for a permission. The permission is waived for long guns if you have a hunting license, otherwise it amounts to showing a clean criminal record. There are basicaly two forms (one for the excerpt from the criminal record, and the other the actual permission application) you have to go through, and thus also two fees to pay - maybe a total of 40US$. You can buy several guns on one license (application), though. I believe up to 3?? Fortunately, as a hunter you are better off for rifles and shotguns, no applications, no licences and no fees!!

- mike

Mike,

Several American (communist American states, but none the less in America) require more than that.

quote:

Originally posted by Ammo Troop:
All of the classes I have heard about lasted a week and they ran in the neighborhood of 250 Euro.

When was that? Nowadays it is one day and costs about 100 Euros which are in fact a good investment for a beginner.

quote:

Their firearms laws are worse. After jumping through all the hoops for about 15 months and about 1000 E to get my waffenbenzeits (sp?) card, I was told they were not processing them at the moment. My paperwork sat on a desk for another 12 months because they did not want to process any.

Nowadays you can get the German hunting license ina couple of weeks, formerly it was never longer than 9 months by the way. Once you have it, you can get any long guns you want plus two handguns, no more questions asked.

To be honest, being my country so small I do noit mind at all that there is a relatively steep hurdle to get through the exams. You also learn a lot, safety training is excellent and you meet nice people. Once you have it, opportunities are indeed great!

I fond it hard to believe they let your papers sit and rott there for 12 months. "Usually" our burocracy is a little bit more efficient. Maybe there was another reason?

Per quello che ne so, al ritorno fermati a Klagenfurt e compra senza problemi. Mi ero informato a riguardo durante una trasferta in Ungheria e mi avevano cetto che potevo comprare tutto quello che volevo.

Hi Steve!

You still have your 9.3 x 62?

I can´t Italian, but I presume, there are no problems getting smokeless powder in Klagenfurt?

WH H

Steve are you trying to tell us that we can get all the powder we want in Hungary, with a little off-market help?

Ok, grazie Stefano.

D99, Klagenfurt is in Austria, near the italian border

D99, Wildboar already answered and I confirm,in Austria, Klagenfurt that is near to the border. For the hunters travelling to hungary from Northern Italy is an easy solution.
About your question, well, they are ready to sell, but in Italy we have some limitation in quantities.
Arminius,
yes I still have it and always working well.

quote:

Originally posted by DUK:

quote:

Originally posted by Ammo Troop:
All of the classes I have heard about lasted a week and they ran in the neighborhood of 250 Euro.

When was that? Nowadays it is one day and costs about 100 Euros which are in fact a good investment for a beginner.

quote:

Their firearms laws are worse. After jumping through all the hoops for about 15 months and about 1000 E to get my waffenbenzeits (sp?) card, I was told they were not processing them at the moment. My paperwork sat on a desk for another 12 months because they did not want to process any.

Nowadays you can get the German hunting license ina couple of weeks, formerly it was never longer than 9 months by the way. Once you have it, you can get any long guns you want plus two handguns, no more questions asked.

To be honest, being my country so small I do noit mind at all that there is a relatively steep hurdle to get through the exams. You also learn a lot, safety training is excellent and you meet nice people. Once you have it, opportunities are indeed great!

I fond it hard to believe they let your papers sit and rott there for 12 months. "Usually" our burocracy is a little bit more efficient. Maybe there was another reason?

That was about 4 years ago. The system may work a little differently for you than it did for Americans stationed there. The only reason I recieved was that they were not processing anymore at the moment.