You can still buy from RSOV etc, however now expect to have the import held up at customs rather than just delivered to your door . The courier will ask you to process a "firearms declaration" at which point you will need to give your defence ...and the UKARA scheme is still the most accepted way . You will be charged the import duty, and a customs clearing fee etc it's not like the good old days anymore because C&E are on the lookout for rifs .
Put it in context I just imported a pistol from RSOV three weeks ago .
Pistol , £56 ...RSOV delivery £17 .....UPS customs clearance etc £30 .... total of £103 
which is crap compated to last year when it would have been more like £70 all in to the door. Now compare the £103 to some of the UK retailers ...and private import is not a good as it was frankly, plus you run the risk of some numpty not understanding your "defence" and loosing the item all together.
Shop about, UK traders do good deals, plus you get a warranty, easier to return the product if it breaks,
Steve.D
I've found ordering to be reasonably straightforward as long as you have your "defence" paperwork. I always send a copy to the retailer when I order, with instructions for them to attach it to the package. I've had stuff delivered more quickly to the UK from HK than from most UK retailers.
Where you DO get problems is when the package gets to this bloody country. As Guy mentioned, expect your package to be stopped, held and opened. You can also expect "customs charging" or "handling charges" from the couriers, who appear to pluck a random figure from the air for the cost of said charges. There is no fixed process it seems, and the couriers make it up as they go, so, depending on which "service" you use, your charges can vary dramatically.
That said, I've still found it cheaper to get my stuff from abroad. UK retailers tend to charge "pounds for dollars" (ie, if it's $300 in HK, it's £300 in this country). With the pound still strong against the dollar, this adds up to better value from HK and a bit of a rip off to buy from UK retailers in my opinion. I manage to save between 20 - 40% ordering from HK. As for warranties? Well, 99% of UK retailers don't know a piston from a nozzle anyway. I'd rather save money in the first place and take my chances. If it breaks, I fix it myself. Anyway, most of us invalidate any warranty when we start tinkering with our guns, so it's not a big selling point for the robbing UK dealers IMHO.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
man you guys must have terrible luck. had no more trouble since the vcr as opposed to before. my first order after the vcr came in rsov sent me a letter to fill out detailing my defence etc. every time I order them them they print that and attach it to the packet so its visible for customs and it always sails through.
one thing I will say is I always choose the regular airmail option over a courier. alot less likely to get stopped. perhaps due to the volume of packages they deal with
As a rough guide to what it's finally going to cost I add 20% (duty+vat) to the cost of the item and postage plus £13 for the handling fee that all couriers charge.
I recently bought a Star SLR and after applying the above costs I wouldn't have saved any money importing it so I bought it from Fire Support which turned out to be a good move as the day after it arrived it went wrong, I contacted Fire Support and they offered to replace it so I drove up there on Saturday got a working one and they threw in a spare mag for my troubles 
, try doing that with a supplier in Hong Kong.
