BajaNomad

Pellet guns?

Santiago - 6-29-2014 at 10:43 AM

I pretty sure this has been discussed before but I can't find the thread.
I want to take my .20cal air rifle to Baja (pump-up, not CO2):
1. I seem to remember that there was a caliber size restriction, the .177 and the .20 OK but the .22 not?
2. Is it better to bury it way deep and play dumb or have it in plain view?

donkey shame

[Edited on 6-29-2014 by Santiago]

Skipjack Joe - 6-29-2014 at 10:53 AM

Speaking of BB guns (close enough). I found that if you shot one on the Cortez at a low angle that bb would skip across the water like crazy. Sometimes hitting the rocks on the opposite bank. The gulls always have a puzzled look.

woody with a view - 6-29-2014 at 10:59 AM

stash it.

Santiago - 6-29-2014 at 11:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
stash it.

Yes, I was going to do that; but is it legal?
By the way, I bet I can reach your windows with just 5 pumps......

ehall - 6-29-2014 at 11:09 AM

Can you buy one in baja? The thought of taking it across the border makes me nervous.

woody with a view - 6-29-2014 at 11:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
stash it.

Yes, I was going to do that; but is it legal?
By the way, I bet I can reach your windows with just 5 pumps......


anything under .22 cal is legal. being the new kid on the block i guess i should expect some harassment now and then.:light:

cessna821 - 6-29-2014 at 11:57 AM

I have a couple for sale if anyone interested.

.177 Steyr Match CO2 Gas pistol with full set of spares

.177 Feinwerkbau 65 Match pistol

[Edited on 6-29-2014 by cessna821]

Santiago - 6-29-2014 at 12:17 PM

I received the following via U2U - I have edited some personal items out.

1. I live in XX and own XX pellet rifles and XX pistols. All rifles were purchased in the town I live in.

2. Pellet guns in both .177 and .22 are sold here by wallmart and at least 3 sporting goods stores.

3. they come with documentation stating they are not a firearm and do not require registration and are legal in all of Mexico. Also states they may be carried openly in your car or truck.

In a nut shell the pellet guns are legal in all respects here.

Has anyone used the cleaning pellets before? Curious on if they are worth it.

larryC - 6-29-2014 at 03:02 PM

Jim
I asked the police chief in town and he said yes they are legal, you just can't shoot at people with them. Darn, I got it to keep Kiki at bay. Anyway I asked about restricted calibres and he said no restrictions. It is not a firearm and in Mexico is considered a toy. When I brought it down I hid it just to avoid the hassels. Mine is a 25 caliber PCP and is very accurate at 50 yards. On a trip to Mexico city last year I saw a store with lots of them in their window for sale.
HTH
Larry

Jim
Here is the link to the last time the question was asked and scroll down to my response and go to that web page and check out the frequently asked questions.
Larry
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=69125#pid8421...

[Edited on 6-29-2014 by larryC]

Russ - 6-29-2014 at 03:28 PM

I have brought 3 airguns down and didn't try to hide them. I left them in the original boxes pretty much in the open. All were 177's and the last one a PCP. I have seen springers at the larger stores here in 22 & 177.

805gregg - 6-29-2014 at 05:27 PM

Just put it on you dash, it's legal

KaceyJ - 6-29-2014 at 07:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by larryC
Jim
I asked the police chief in town and he said yes they are legal, you just can't shoot at people with them. Darn, I got it to keep Kiki at bay. Anyway I asked about restricted calibres and he said no restrictions. It is not a firearm and in Mexico is considered a toy. When I brought it down I hid it just to avoid the hassels. Mine is a 25 caliber PCP and is very accurate at 50 yards. On a trip to Mexico city last year I saw a store with lots of them in their window for sale.
HTH
Larry

Jim
Here is the link to the last time the question was asked and scroll down to my response and go to that web page and check out the frequently asked questions.
Larry
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=69125#pid8421...

[Edited on 6-29-2014 by larryC]



***********************************************
Thanks Larry:


Good thread at a good time ,

I was just wondeing if my Benjamin Marauder .25 would pass muster

I would gladly leave it at home if I knew I could find one in mex.

Any info available????

mulegemichael - 6-29-2014 at 07:41 PM

they are everywhere....sorianas sells them, all the big stores sell them.....but for a premium price....i'd STILL stash it so no hassle....but i have three of them down here i brought down with no problem.

bajalearner - 6-29-2014 at 09:04 PM

last week I saw a used pellet rifle for sale at a swap meet in Tijuana. Not that I would take his opinion as informed but I asked the seller his opinion of legality and he said it's legal in your house but not on the street. He said if you need to take it somewhere just put it in a guitar case. I found that comical but now I wonder what's in guitar cases on the streets. :?:

Martyman - 6-30-2014 at 09:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by larryC
Jim
I asked the police chief in town and he said yes they are legal, you just can't shoot at people with them. Darn, I got it to keep Kiki at bay.


Kiki is a sea slug-go ahead and get 'em

Bob53 - 6-30-2014 at 09:38 AM

I have been thinking about bringing my pellet rifle to Baja for some time now. I wound up bring a wrist rocket instead on my last trip down.

Alm - 6-30-2014 at 03:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalearner
last week I saw a used pellet rifle for sale at a swap meet in Tijuana. Not that I would take his opinion as informed but I asked the seller his opinion of legality and he said it's legal in your house but not on the street. He said if you need to take it somewhere just put it in a guitar case. I found that comical but now I wonder what's in guitar cases on the streets. :?:

I hope most people here saw "Mariachi" movie :) - quite a lot you can fit in that guitar case.

That swap meet seller probably meant that it's illegal on the street because it's expensive and cops are not paid too well in Mexico.

Cliffy - 6-30-2014 at 06:34 PM

OK it begs the question- what are you going to shoot it at in Baja?

woody with a view - 6-30-2014 at 06:39 PM

I think Kiki came up, no?

larryC - 6-30-2014 at 07:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cliffy
OK it begs the question- what are you going to shoot it at in Baja?



So far the only thing I have shot it at are paper targets. It'll shoot less than 1" groups at 50 yards on a calm windless day. if the horses come back this year trampling everything in the yard and breaking my plumbing i'll see what a 1/4" slug does to their rump.
Larry

fdt - 6-30-2014 at 07:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
I pretty sure this has been discussed before but I can't find the thread.
I want to take my .20cal air rifle to Baja (pump-up, not CO2):
1. I seem to remember that there was a caliber size restriction, the .177 and the .20 OK but the .22 not?
2. Is it better to bury it way deep and play dumb or have it in plain view?

donkey shame

[Edited on 6-29-2014 by Santiago]
Don't do it!!!
While guns "Are legal" in M閤ico you must have them registered with the SEDENA (Mexican Department of Defense) and they must be for your or your properties protection. You can belong to a "Club de Caza y Tiro" and use them for hunting or on a shooting range and thus travel with yoour firearms within mexico.
As for BB guns and rifles, no worry, they are legal, pump or CO2, no permits required.
So much for that, now to answer your question about bringing them....DO NOT!!! They are not allowed across, nada, not bb guns, nada, not even paintball guns. If you were to get caught at the border with them you are at minimum looking at your vehicle and all possesions confiscated and you and whoever is with you hauled to the Ministerio Publico Federal. No weapons whatsoever are allowed across just like that.
You can import them if you belong to a hunting club but not just drive across. There is no tax on them, only confiscation and straight slammer, federal.
What goes on within the country is one story, what goes on at the border and the customs laws is another.
Saludos Santiago
Flowers

Santiago - 6-30-2014 at 08:40 PM

Well now, This is very interesting. And you know, I somehow get the distinction between internal and border. This could be true. So mi amigos, how did you get your guns thru the border - on the dashboard or in a giant jar of p-nut butter??
Me thinks Flowers may well have a point to consider.

larryC - 7-1-2014 at 09:07 AM

Before I brought mine down I asked at the border about pellet guns. The lady said absolutely not and did I have the pellet gun with me? I said no but she searched the car pretty well and told me that pellet guns were not legal in Mexico. Maybe she meant for tourists, I don't know. Anyway for that reason I hid it pretty well when I did bring it down.
Larry

woody with a view - 7-1-2014 at 11:03 AM

part of going to Mex is the pucker factor! this should provide 2 or 3 trips worth of pucker.....

Skipjack Joe - 7-1-2014 at 11:20 AM

My advice is to not bring the pellet gun. "You'll shoot you eye out"

BajaRat - 7-2-2014 at 09:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
My advice is to not bring the pellet gun. "You'll shoot you eye out"



:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Flatfish - 8-18-2025 at 06:33 PM

*bump*
I鈥檓 looking at a Berna air powered projectile type of handgun for boondocking. Not gunpowder fired and only shoots .68 pellets at 365 ft/second. Confused by what is and what is not allowed anymore. Conflicting stories I have been reading. And bear spray still not allowed? Pardon my stupidity on the subject matter. How about tasers? All electric. ????

JZ - 8-18-2025 at 06:44 PM

We took many pump action BB guns to Mexico for the kids (and adults) to play with. They took small pellets. Cheapy guns.

We'd throw beer cans into the water and shoot them from the bow of the boat. Fun times.



JZ - 8-18-2025 at 10:17 PM

My sniper son. Pointing at Martini Cove circa 2015.


bajatrailrider - 8-19-2025 at 07:21 AM

I can only add 3 years ago friend's crossing they took them away. Told them you can pick them up when you leave

AKgringo - 8-20-2025 at 08:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Flatfish  
... only shoots .68 pellets at 365 ft/second. Confused by what is and what is not allowed anymore.

If that's .68 inches, I'd suggest you do some research; as I recall, civilians can't own anything over 22 caliber.

Where that puts paintball guns, I do not know. Is that "a thing" in Mexico?

-------------------

Edit: My info may be obsolete; I just found a site selling 45 caliber air guns, seems like to the Mexican Market. Legal? No idea.


A twelve gauge shotgun slug is .69 caliber.

mtgoat666 - 8-20-2025 at 04:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
A twelve gauge shotgun slug is .69 caliber.

This is interesting;
From the Ley federal de armas y explosivos
Quote:
Arma o armas de fuego, todo instrumento que cuente con ca帽贸n y que lance a trav茅s de 茅ste un proyectil o bala por la acci贸n de una deflagraci贸n de p贸lvora; por sus efectos imilares a un arma de fuego, se incluyen en esta categor铆a las armas accionadas por alg煤n tipo de gas inerte, aire comprimido o pist贸n que generen una energ铆a cin茅tica superior a los 140 Joules;

(Firearm or firearms, any instrument that has a barrel and that expels a projectile or bullet through it by the action of a gunpowder deflagration; due to effects similar to a firearm, weapons powered by some type of inert gas, compressed air or piston that generate a kinetic energy greater than 140 Joules are included in this category.)

I.e. technically, most air guns produce under 100 joules and possibly don't fall under the firearm caliber rules.

Though discussing this with an Aduana agent, might be... good Spanish practice. :lol:


Interesting, the 140 joules legal limit for air guns was added in may of this year. Not sure how air guns were previously defined or limited. 140 is a really high limit, you can't really find any .177 or .22 air guns on the market with muzzle energy greater than 50, and most are much lower.

I think there are prohibitions on importing some or all air guns into mexico, despite fact that they are legal in the country.

Airgun in Mexico

Bajahunter - 1-4-2026 at 07:49 PM

Not sure if anyone already posted it, but the scopes are illegal with aduanas not the air rifle. My buddy got spun last year because of scope only. When I import a rifle with scope on my gun permit it isn鈥檛 a problem 馃し鈥嶁檪锔. It鈥檚 Mexico

Flatfish - 1-5-2026 at 08:32 AM

So, what I鈥檓 getting here is that you can buy a air powered gun/rifle in Baja, be in possession of in Baja, and use (in only thinking when boondocking or our house there), but just don鈥檛 cross with it? I鈥檓 guessing that either a Permanant resident or legalized citizen can do this not us FMM folks鈥︹

Timinator - 1-5-2026 at 10:07 AM

There are air gun dealers in Mexico where you can buy online and have sent to FedEx or DHL for pickup by you on your way down. Much like Starlink was when it first came out.

However, I brought my .25 cal pellet gun down, no problem.

My neighbor brought his .177 pellet gun down and had it out on the back seat if full view when crossing the border and they said nothing. No problem.

Now, the person who's brought down PCP guns, I'd like to know more about what caliber and gun they brought. I have a bunch of those her in the states and would love to "import" one.