I have seen, in the past, restrictions on taking "military style scopes" or guns with target turrets into Europe. Don't ask me where I saw it, I didn't pay much attention at the time.

So, now I want to take a gun with a Nightforce on it to Romania. Is this a problem? Do they consider this a "military style scope"? I am inclined to think it won't be a problem, but never hurts to ask.

You could consider leaving the Nightforce at home and buy a nice IOR tactical scope at it's place of origin.

US Customs are real pricks. They will seize and scope going to an OAS country based on regs written by the commerce department on a treaty many OAS members did not sign. You have no appeal. (ask me how I know !)
If you go to sell a scope on Ebay they forbid any export sales anywhere and will quote you several paragraphs telling you all the permits you need.
No webstore will ship optics overseas.
There was a story on a military site last year about a man whose son was a sniper in the sandpit. For some reason the kid was issued an ancient Vietnam era 700 with the Redfield tombstone reticle scope. The gun shot well but the scope was trash. The old man bought a 3-12 Schmidt, the civvy version of the USMC scope.
Even though it was going to an APO on a "US" military base over there, customs seized it. The father appealed through channels all the way to Obama and got the same answer ..... FU & your son.
Insofar as buying an IOR over there, getting it back here might be a problem unless you know someone who can stick it in a diplomatic pouch next to the cocain.

quote:

Originally posted by metalbeater:
US Customs are real pricks. They will seize and scope going to an OAS country based on regs written by the commerce department on a treaty many OAS members did not sign. You have no appeal. (ask me how I know !)

I know you can't ship a lot of products out. But, remember, US Customs has no checkpoint going out of the country. Only coming back in where they check your customs form.

Has anyone taken a Nightforce overseas?

Wendell, all I can say is you will not have any problem with Romania Customs.

A Nightforce is an American scope. You have to declare on your exit forms just as you would a Rolex bought here in the states. Then you can bring either out and back in. If you don't you will pay duty on the Rolex and the scope will probably be seized.

As I said they are pricks.

Think you need to catch up on current customs regs or contact any big scope retailer and ask about shipping a scope to you out of the USA.

You are right about Romania, Canada also cares not BUT we have met the enemy and they are us.

Here's what Optics Planet has to say:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/export.html

Note the inclusion of "Optical Sighting Equipment". That includes your plain old 2-7 VX II.

This is the form you must fill out before you leave. Anything not on the form is subject to duty or seizure when you come back.

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf

They are pricks and depending on your port of entry, probably antigun as well.

Wendell

There are rules about Exporting military style scopes out of the USA.

I do not know if taking a Nightforce style scope out of the country for a hunt and then returning it qualifies as "exporting".

I have never had my scopes checked when leaving or returning. However I always have them listed by serial number on the 4457, and I have never had Customs give me any problems when regestering any of my optics...

I do not personally know of any one else that has had any problems, traveling to a hunt with "those" kind of scopes...

quote:

Originally posted by metalbeater:
As I said they are pricks.

That's gubment for ya huh? Can't argue with you there.

Ok, now, don't think I am being difficult, but there are some nuts and bolts to this process that differ greatly from an actual "export." The main difference is that there is no Customs check when leaving the country.

Consider that it is illegal to export a rifle from the USA without the proper stack paperwork (not talking about the simple 4457 either). But we take our guns out all the time. When you travel with your gun, you are not exporting it. You are taking it with you and bringing it home.

So, if nobody checks on the way out, which they don't, not even the rifle, there is no function for it other than TSA, and it is not their scope to enforce Customs Laws, then the first time US Customs sees it is when you are clearly bringing it back in when you land in the USA on your return. Like your rifle, you clearly didn't export it. You just took it with you and brought it home. (A 4457 on the scope is a very good idea though, especially more expensive scopes.)

I guess a case could be made if you took the scope with you that you might leave it there, essentially exporting it illegally. But there is no Customs check on the way out of the country for US travelers. Only on the way back in.

It's not the "taking it with you" part I was concerned about. It is the customs guys on the ground in Europe that concerned me. But, I appreciate the info you posted.

Still the issues surrounding the military style scope may be enough to cause me to change my mind and buy a top of the line Leupold instead.

450, I didn't see your post until after I posted, but you and I are on the same page.

Wendell

Also I always put any expensive items I am taking with me on a 4457.

Cameras, computers, binos, etc.

I have never been asked for any of that except on actual guns.

I have gone through US Customs on return and not even had my "stuff" checked.

Must be my Honest face...

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Wendell
Must be my Honest face...

Yeah ... must be!

I too put all my goodies on the 4457 and also have never been checked on anything other than the gun. I have even asked guys if they wanted to see the 4457 on my guns, and they just said no, you're good.

You do not need an export license from The Commerce Department to bring a riflescope with you to hunt and then return. The export regulations are for exports, not for personal use and return. Otherwise you would need a license from the State’s DDTC to bring a rifle with you every time you leave the US for a hunt.

It also looks like the Nightforce is a standard riflescope and not a "specially designed" military scope making it controlled for export under the Commerce regulations. The OAS treaty mentioned earlier only pertains to riflescopes exported to OAS member states--which include Canada and most countries in the Western Hemisphere.
As others have mentioned, put it on your form with your rifle so you are not charged duty when you bring it back and you should be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Atticus:
You do not need an export license from The Commerce Department to bring a riflescope with you to hunt and then return. The export regulations are for exports, not for personal use and return. Otherwise you would need a license from the State’s DDTC to bring a rifle with you every time you leave the US for a hunt.

It also looks like the Nightforce is a standard riflescope and not a "specially designed" military scope making it controlled for export under the Commerce regulations. The OAS treaty mentioned earlier only pertains to riflescopes exported to OAS member states--which include Canada and most countries in the Western Hemisphere.
As others have mentioned, put it on your form with your rifle so you are not charged duty when you bring it back and you should be fine.

Good info and exactly my point.

However, my question was bringing it into Europe, which huntromania answered. SHould not be a problem.

The Nightforce is going to Romania!