Posting cartridges abroad from the UK

[Tony Williams]

A few months ago I posted a couple of complete rounds to a friend in Russia. They were a .5 Vickers Class D High Velocity and a 15.5x106 FN BRG. Obviously, the only guns which could fire live rounds in these calibres are in museums. Both rounds had been inerted but, to make that obvious, I also had a small hole drilled in the side of each case. I also wrapped them in a paper inside the package labelled DUMMY. INERT. DOES NOT CONTAIN POWDER OR FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES in both English and Russian. Then I crossed my fingers. I had both sent and received inert rounds to Russia without problems before, but mostly ones in which the bullet was separated from the case, and nothing this big.

Nothing happened for more than two months and I had given them up for lost. Then today my friend reported that they had arrived! They had a couple of stickers on them saying "Do not fly - send by surface mail only" (thereby accounting for the delay) and "UK Border agency - examined and approved". I have to say that I was rather surprised as well as delighted that they had been allowed through - all credit to the Border Agency for making a sensible decision!

I had sent them as a standard Post Office package. In future I will specify surface mail for such items...

 

[kahu1]

I have received cartridges and related items from UK , same sort of treatment and labels, sometimes takes months (and still waiting over 5 months for one item....?) but otherwise no problems.
Have been told some of the delay is the items are initially segregated then when there is a quantity they are checked out,so a bit of a lottery as to when they actually ship.

Any more spare .50 vickers HV? :tinysmile_twink_t2:

cheers
Bob

 

[smle2009]

Funnily enough I've had this with UK internal mail also,usually sending or receiving from up North or Scotland,as the Post office sometimes take it on themselves to send surface mail by air.....and arrive with the orange day glow do not fly sticker

 

[Falcon]

I had this happen before with an empty 2 Pounder case. I sent it to Italy and eventually decided it was lost. It turned up 2 months later with one of those stickers on.

 

[kahu1]

A new variation on this theme.
Just received some items today,after a 5 month mail journey from UK.
A pompom case, seperate empty projectile and a smaller empty HE projectile.
With the attached letter apologising for the delay.
The actions taken seem very reasonable , apart from the bit about 'undeclared dangerous goods' (because they weren't dangerous and the declaration was accurate for what they were,and a note inside clearly stating same again).
Fair enough,safety first and i got my items.
Nice to see at least sometimes common sense prevails!.


cheers
Bob

 

[Hoeksel]

Personally I do not ship abroad anymore from the UK to The Netherlands. From the three packages getting lost somewhere in the mail without explanation over the years as collector of shell cases (not even projectiles), three were out of the UK. I have heard this from several collectors, that the UK ranks high for issues with packages getting lost. That is on top of the thread discussed.

 

[DanTheMan]

You can pay for surface mail parcels online now and just drop them into the post office, I try to keep all my parcels within the UK but always specify surface if it's destined for Europe.

 

[EOD]

A few months ago I posted a couple of complete rounds to a friend in Russia. They were a .5 Vickers Class D High Velocity and a 15.5x106 FN BRG. Obviously, the only guns which could fire live rounds in these calibres are in museums. Both rounds had been inerted but, to make that obvious, I also had a small hole drilled in the side of each case. I also wrapped them in a paper inside the package labelled DUMMY. INERT. DOES NOT CONTAIN POWDER OR FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES in both English and Russian. Then I crossed my fingers. I had both sent and received inert rounds to Russia without problems before, but mostly ones in which the bullet was separated from the case, and nothing this big.

Nothing happened for more than two months and I had given them up for lost. Then today my friend reported that they had arrived! They had a couple of stickers on them saying "Do not fly - send by surface mail only" (thereby accounting for the delay) and "UK Border agency - examined and approved". I have to say that I was rather surprised as well as delighted that they had been allowed through - all credit to the Border Agency for making a sensible decision!

I had sent them as a standard Post Office package. In future I will specify surface mail for such items...

Tony, very lucky event as mailing ammunition or even inert components is forbidden in Russia.

 

[hicky1300]

Interesting thread that`s of use to members both sides of our shores.
I only send by surface now as I have had several items knocked back/confiscated.
If I sell to a non-UK resident I always say that they are responsible for ensuring that the item conforms to their allowed items.
On a bit of a tangent I found out last year all UK internal 1st class post is Xrayed. This came about as my wife had a visit (again) as a parcel from Scotland had been intercepted. Totally inert, safe & legal. Apology from police & post office to myself & seller as it was believed PO staff Xraying items to see if worth nicking!! Even if not 1st class (this item sent 2nd recorded).
I now always post in UK 2nd recorded.

Reading the experiences here I think it can be the luck of the draw as to the `interceptors` understanding, common sense, interpretation of the rules/laws (& level of literacy??!!).