Hi, I got the idea from an "Australian and New Zealand hunting" recent post. During the last 5-6 years, I purchased several rifle scopes, mainly Leupold, from US retailers.

I never had a problem with my credit card, I always got the parcel within 15 days and I always saved 40-50% over the local prices. Four weeks ago, I bought in the US a Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x50 illum. duplex, I paid it 526€ + 90€ of Customs duties and I got it 2 weeks later.

Yesterday, I was in a gun shop in Nice (F), and I asked the price for said scope, but the guy said that it's not imported (?); he gave me the price of the small Leupold VX-III 1.5-5x20 illum. circle dot.....1229€!

I'm sure that buying it in the US, the price + Customs duties could be 460-470€, that's about 60% less! With the €-USD exchange rate at 1.44/1.45, there is no reason to pay US products so much!

I agree with wildboar on this one, recently I brought in a pair of binos from the US and even with paying duty etc. saved myself £200. They were Minox so far from top end money where even bigger savings can be made.

I've heard some rumours that some European rifle scopes are "built down" for the US market and so are not of the same quality as we might get here in Europe. Does anyone know if this is true or is it only a ploy to protect the mad prices being charged here in the UK for something you can get for half price in the US?

I agree I have just taken advantage of the £$ exchange rate and bought another Nightforce scope from the US. The saving will be circa £300 from buying it in the UK. Can't afford not to do it really.

"....We DO NOT ship most items outside the USA such as Holosights, Nightforce riflescopes, Red Dot sights, Night Vision equipment, Trijicon, IOR, Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski, Meopta, Kahles products, CQT scopes and several other lines...."

This is the policy of www.bearbasin.com, a major US retailer; this is certainly due to some sort of pressure that manufacturers put on them, to protect the mad price situation we experience here; I bought 3-4 scopes from them in the past but not any more; fortunately, there are several other retailers that are more open-minded.

Caorach, I've heard that Minox are great scopes binos, do you agree?

I have a pair of the Minox 8.5X43 HG binoculars and they really are wonderful.

For use in the field I really cannot find any fault with them at all, they are very functional, have excellent low light performance and have just survived 3 weeks of awful weather and rough treatment on difficult terrain.

I could have spent maybe £1,000 more on top end binos but the small improvements in optical quality over the Minox would just not make sense for me and, in truth, in any realistic use would be unlikely even to be noticed.

So, the Minox certainly get my recommendation. I may not be too demanding of my optics but several others who have used my binos and who are better qualified to comment then me have also been most impressed.

If anyone wants help buying from a USA seller who will not ship overseas, I (in USA) would be happy to receive an item for you....and then send it on to you marked "gift".
Alex in Florida, USA

Thanks Alex, you are very kind!

Wildboar,

I think the reason for not shipping is because it is illegal for them to export component parts of a firearm without the requisite licences.

I'm getting my stock sent over from the states and that is being imported as a wooden sculpture, but if I had the Mag box attached then it becomes a firearm...

Shame really as I would love to buy some actions and other bits when I go over there but I'm not allowed.

Rgds,
FB

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Wildboar,

I think the reason for not shipping is because it is illegal for them to export component parts of a firearm without the requisite licences.....

Rgds, FB

I disagree, a rifle scope is not a component part of a firearm, it's an accessory; furthermore, they agree to send you a Nikon scope but not a Zeiss nor a Swarovski.

Not in UK, Lorenzo, not in UK. In UK it is part of gun. An Italian hunter has lost a lot of time to solve the "problem" of the rifle scope in the hand luggage. He is still custing the Security of Heathrow Airport for this.

I think there are several different issues at play. One is commercial agreements imposed by some of the big companies to protect there oversea's distributors margins. Another is that certain types of components, among them, scopes with illuminated reticules and some military style sniper scopes, require export licences and end user certificates.

The third reason is just inertia. Some of the US suppliers just can't be bothered to deal with the hassle of exporting. Their home market is big enough to keep them happy.

I just bought in a Leupold VX3, 3.5-10x50 from DNR of ebay. After VAT on import is was a few quid over half the listed UK price. Took about ten days to arrive.

So far I have had exellent service from Alex Roy at www.eurooptic.com located in PA. USA.
He deals in european scopes and binos and his prices are defenately a bargain compared to Norwegian prices.

I have bought two Zeiss scopes from him without any hassel at all.
Bear Baisin on the other hand has not even responded to the mail I sendt them regarding a Leupold scope.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
Not in UK, Lorenzo, not in UK. In UK it is part of gun. An Italian hunter has lost a lot of time to solve the "problem" of the rifle scope in the hand luggage. He is still custing the Security of Heathrow Airport for this.

I think it was a problem of idiocy of the security staff, rather than a licence/permit problem; of course it's only my opinion...

Excellent deals can be had by buying elsewhere. My moderated M700 project will feature Williams bottom metal, jewell trigger, talley bases and rings and Mcmillan stock all bought direct from the US saving a large amount of money.

I could have sourced the donor rifle too BUT with quality control as it is I decided to buy in the UK in case there was an issue.

And that's the rub - when there is a problem with an item there can be extra issues.

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
.....Bear Baisin on the other hand has not even responded to the mail I sendt them regarding a Leupold scope.

I had the same experience; I hate that kind of attitude.

quote:

I think it was a problem of idiocy of the security staff, rather than a licence/permit problem; of course it's only my opinion...

Sadly it was not a problem of idiocy of the security staff. are The UK rules on guns. Maybe Fallow Buck or Pete E can confirm it or not.

Steve,

When these things get sent accross the pond it is often because the guy at the other end turns a blind eye and just posts the package. However in many states they view any item that can attach to a rifle or be a componenet part as a firearm in it;s own right.

Of course for us this is lunacy but we are operating inside a framework of laws designed to deal with overal arms trading. Hence we occasionally get caught up.

The law does state that they are not allowed to send such things overseas without an export permit. The fact that some ignor it and post scopes doesn't mean it is legal.

Perhaps some of our american cousins can chime in with some more accurate information.

Rgds,FB

Certainly some of the products such as night vision equipment is now restricted by our 'homeland security 'agency to prevent them from being sold to terrorists.Some of these rules become blanket prohibitions though the typical bureacratic mind !!

The reason I could not obtain a Nightforce from the majority of suppliers in the US was as Claret states - ie the manufacturer imposing rtrictions on the distributor to protect the margins of overseas retailers.

One well known and respected retailer with whom I dealt with to get my first Nightforce would not send out of the country but would send to some friends of mine who were on holiday over there and they brought it back duty free.

I have subsequently found a retailer who would break the rules and according to the UPS tracking info I get my second Nightforce tomorrow - woohoo.

So, whenever is possible, let's buy optics and other items overseas; it's cheap, easy and we will laugh at those fuc#*+% importers that always try to rob us.

im trying to get some .577 650 grns woodleighs at the moment.

midway usa 27 $
midway dk 110 euro
johansen germany 55 euro

even the cheap ones are dbl the price here in europe, that stinks to high heaven.
and the responsible one should be at the reciving end of that 20/577 as soon as i get my woodleighs...
im trying to get some from aus, but the restrictions are bad right now.

peter

Can't have your cake and eat it. I suspect our US friends would swap cheap prices on optics for a comprehensive welfare state.

I would swap prices for optics in Europe for prices for European made rifles. Especially used drillings, double rifles, and used high end German and Austrian stuff.

Other than that I think, I will pass on your comprehensive welfare state.

It doesn't make sense to me that a pair of EL 8.5x42 Swarovskis are $1600 in the states and E1600 in Germany or Austria.

this has nothing to do with a wellfare state, this is the different country dealers that set a price for a given region.
i dont mind people making money on me, but they have to do it in a way so i dont feel cheated.
i have my buisness and know enough about the taxes etc. and yes i to pay for clothes where the mark up is 250%, the main thing is for them to make sure that i come back as a happy costumer, i dont if i feel i get it up the a**.

rant off(sorry)

peter

If you look at all the things that plague life in America, even with all our firearm freedoms we aren't perfect.

Optics prices are lower, non-USA rifle prices are high as hell. $3000 for a Mauser 03 basic model.

Hunting clothing is cheaper or more expensive, but quality is just as variable as the price.

Probably have the best boots in the world in companies like Danner.

And other than the Land Rover and Benz G-Wagon we have the best hunting cars.

Tit for tat eh?

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
If you look at all the things that plague life in America, even with all our firearm freedoms we aren't perfect.

Optics prices are lower, non-USA rifle prices are high as hell. $3000 for a Mauser 03 basic model.

Hunting clothing is cheaper or more expensive, but quality is just as variable as the price.

Probably have the best boots in the world in companies like Danner.

And other than the Land Rover and Benz G-Wagon we have the best hunting cars.

Tit for tat eh?

well the ford company f##ked the land rover as well, a defender with a ford transit motor in it. is an direct insult to the land rover heritage and it made me go and buy a used LR instead.
american cars are pretty good for hauling the load but for driving in the woods and fields the list should be

land rover defender
range rover classic
toyota land cruiser
mercedes g-wagon

american trucks

at least where im driving in northern europe.
but i like the size of the trucks.

peter

peter, that extra room in a full size american truck is nice , but as the man says you can't have your cake and eat it too. For me I will suffer all the bad things for living in the Greatest Country on earth!

The original and current Jeep wrangler, Hummers, and Chevy, Ford, and Dodge full size trucks without IFS (greater than 3/4 ton) trucks are twice the offroad vehicles of anything made in Europe not marked Unimog.

The land cruise has independant front suspension, try that in axle cracking nasty stuff.

Dana 60 all the way!

How many horses can you tow at 65 mph behind your range rover? 2 at best? And that's in a fiberglass framed Euro livestock trailer.

Not 9 1200 pound quarter horses in a 4000 pound steel 9 horse fifth wheel trailer. Pulled by a Dodge turbo cummins 1 ton at 65 going up a 6% grade Montana mountain pass.

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
The original and current Jeep wrangler, Hummers, and Chevy, Ford, and Dodge full size trucks without IFS (greater than 3/4 ton) trucks are twice the offroad vehicles of anything made in Europe not marked Unimog.

i beg to differ

The land cruise has independant front suspension, try that in axle cracking nasty stuff.

i did, thats why it is below the land rover

Dana 60 all the way!

How many horses can you tow at 65 mph behind your range rover? 2 at best? And that's in a fiberglass framed Euro livestock trailer.

4 or 3500kg total

Not 9 1200 pound quarter horses in a 4000 pound steel 9 horse fifth wheel trailer. Pulled by a Dodge turbo cummins 1 ton at 65 going up a 6% grade Montana mountain pass.

i would proberbly use a ford 250 or a dogde ram but thats not offroading thats hauling which they are perfect at

dont get me wrong d99, i like american iron just cant use them in the woods where i drive. they are simply to big and tend to bog down alot.
the last range rover classic i had did have a american 6.5l v8 diesel under the hood.

peter

This seems to be a

quote:

Originally posted by wildboar:
This seems to be a

sorry about that wildboar lets get back on track


peter

Another thing that is worth buying in the US if you live in Europe is a fishing rod. This chap has built me two rods, one on a custom blank and one on a Sage blank, and they are great quality and great value for money:

http://www.performanceflyrods.com/

Here in the UK we get ripped off even more than many in Europe as the pound is so strong and we tend to pay a pound for a dollar. Take a look at the prices on Midway UK and multiply by 2 to get an approx dollar value;

http://www.midwayuk.com/

There is no question that it is daylight robbery, and I don't apply that exclusively to Midway who are perhaps better than some.