I've heard its fairly easy, customs-wise...just wondering if anyone's " been there & done that?"

We just had two American hunters hunt Roe deer with us, all we needed was their rifle information before hand to get their permits. Its pretty hassle free at French customs.

Arjun Reddy
www.huntersnetworks.com

I've been in and out of France many times with a rifle, since I live there. But almost everyone who hunts in Burkina Faso, Cameroun and the Central African Republic goes through France and some even go through France on their way to Johannesburg.

If you are travelling from the USA the standard US customs form is generally enough for them if they want to see proof of ownership at Customs, but I have never been asked. Air France and Delta now require prior declaration of firearms and ammo before flying there however so make sure you get that straight before flying on those airlines.

Normally France does not allow hunting with military calibers, and that includes a lot of calibers used for hunting the US like 30-06, 7 X 57, .223 and any other cartridge used in military rifles. But no problems with the rest.

I've done it twice. Embarrassingly easy compared to flying into USA or any African country. My rifle case came out on the regular carousel both times and I picked it up and caught a cab into Paris one time and the train another. If you fly air France you need to tell them your bringing one on their plane maybe a month before. This has always been handled by my travel agent.

The USA based on my experience is the most anti hunting anti firearm Country when measured by the hassles of bringing a gun in. Even for people like me who are citizens. I can't imagine what they do to visiting sportsmen.

Wink:

You said 7x57 isn't allowed. Is 7x57R allowed? What are the most popular calibers for hunting in France?

Thanks........Larry

I understand current military calibers are banned.

quote:

You said 7x57 isn't allowed. Is 7x57R allowed? What are the most popular calibers for hunting in France?

A lot of your American cartridges are popular, but, of course, the big medium calibre player in continental Europe is 7x64. Other calibres are such as 270 Winchester and 7mm-08 in bolt action rifles.

In self-loading rifles you'll see 300 Winchester Magnum and, less so nowadays, 280 Remington.

7mm Remington Magnum? In Europe they tend to go straight from 7x64 to 300 Win Mag and pass over the 7mm Rem Mag.

You'll get cartridges for it, of course, it's legal too, but if you have a choice? Bring a 300 Win Mag as you'll get ammunition for it anywhere and, of course, it is a good boar cartridge where 30-06 is not allowed.

7x57R is both legal and, occasionally, available but again 7x65R dominates. Ditto with 8x57R.

But DO NOT bring 30-06, 308 Winchester, 7x57 or 8x57 as simply you won't be able to buy sporting ammunition for them.

They are banned military calibre chamberings.

So as no-one in France can legally use a rifle in that chambering for HUNTING...no gun shop stocks sporting ammunition for them.

And, of course, 223 Remington is a no-no!

To give you an idea visit the "Armurerie de la Bourse" website to see what ammunition they stock. Also Armurerie Jeannot on outskirts of Paris.

Sadly the big Kettner stores in Paris and Tours that stocked a huge range of ammunition closed two years ago.

Bottom line?

If, as an American flying into Europe, wanting to bring my rifle to shoot?

In a common US calibre that was readily available in France?

I'd bring a 270 Winchester or a 7mm-08 in .277/.284 size (assuming that 150 or 140 grain bullet weight is acceptable to you host) OR a .300 Win Mag in .308 size with 180 grain bullet weight.

At a pinch you'd also just, still, and only just, about get away with 280 Remington in France. But only thanks to those old Remington 740s and 760s in that calibre that still "hang on" with some old timers!