Going to Brownells

JimmieA.

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Looks like I will be passing right by Brownells store in Iowa so I have to stop in for a look see. I was there last spring but it was a long weekend and I didn't know it. The store is in a little town 30 miles off the highway.

What should I pick up while I'm there?
 
The Brownell's warehouse in Montezuma doesn't really have a retail store. It's basically order over the counter through their catalog. The new 200,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Grinnell will have retail floor space but that won't be open until later this year. Not sure if they will have time to do up your export papers while you are there shopping.
 
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is it even possible to buy stuff at their retail location and bring it back in without export permits?

... and I'm not talking about hiding stuff in a suitcase!
 
is it even possible to buy stuff at their retail location and bring it back in without export permits?

... and I'm not talking about hiding stuff in a suitcase!


Haha no. There is not a LEGAL way to do this. That's why mailorder makes so much sense... they'll only ship you what they are allowed to ship you.. no way to get in hot water for illegal export that way. Personally, I don't risk bringing any gun parts up from the US physically... even if specific parts are 'allowed', not everyone on both sides of the border can be expected to know the law 100% correctly.
 
Haha no. There is not a LEGAL way to do this. That's why mailorder makes so much sense... they'll only ship you what they are allowed to ship you.. no way to get in hot water for illegal export that way. Personally, I don't risk bringing any gun parts up from the US physically... even if specific parts are 'allowed', not everyone on both sides of the border can be expected to know the law 100% correctly.

Great advice! Brownell's stays on top of this for us. I love 'em. Price of postage is worth it. Got a call from them one day about an order. They told me if I didn't mind wainting a week, new limits were coming into effect. Instead of a $100 limit per shipment it was going up to $500. They would be able to combine my three sub $100 orders into one order and save me a bunch of shipping charges. They know what they can legally export and what they cannot. Go there and buy it if you want, but have them ship it home to you. Safe travels!
 
Been to Brownells in Montezuma lots of times. Buy non-gun part "stuff" that they don't ship out of USA because it has to be shipped by truck (land not air) such as hot blueing chemicals. Not only will they sell you items over the counter (up to the $100 limit for gun parts falling under IATA -recently upped to $500) but I had tours of the warehouse while waiting for the orders to be filled. On one trip bought a complete set of hot blueing equipment and a GOOD supply of salts and other chemicals that are next to impossible to get in Canada otherwise. FWIW from personal experience.
 
When they sell you gun parts, do they give you the export papers also?

Nope. Brownells is a licensed exporter. You are not. There is no legal (if you are Canadian) or practical (if you are an American) to get an export license to just bring your order with you out of the US.

Gun parts, almost every single gun part regardless of cost, size, quantity is regulated for export out of the US under ITAR. You can't even buy it at the store, walk it down the street to the post office and stick it in the mail to yourself.

If you want a part exported out of the US, stick with a licensed exporter. Superted's post above is very good advice.
 
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