Hey Everyone,
Other 1/2 and I are planning to visit Canada on our vacation. We live in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. My question is, once we're in Canada can I go to a local gun shop and purchase reloading supplies. Items like Brass castings, Bullets, Powder, Primers, etc.
And then return back over the border to the U.S. without any issues.
Thanks Much For Your Replies.

Hi from North Dakota

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John

Welcome from Tampa.

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NRA Bene Life, SWCA 2372

You might want to review Canadian entry restrictions. Generally at this time Americans can’t go there.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Who can travel to Canada – Citizens, persons registered under Canada’s Indian Act, permanent residents, foreign nationals and refugees - Canada.ca

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Only if you SNEAK them across the border.

1) I’ll guess the Canadian shop owner won’t sell to you without ID and if you do show ID, he may not sell to you for that reason (this is ONLY my guess)

2) American crossing the border back in to the USA is a gujillion times easier than American going in to Canada

3) last I heard, Covid-19 has the border closed to most pleasure trips

It is a plan... I don’t think it is a plan that will pay off but I wish you all the luck.

Oh, last tip. Don’t breathe half a peep about anything on the subject when you are entering Canada. Anyone reading this that cares to take issue with what I said should GO DO IT, and have someone snap pictures so we can enjoy it when they are posted here.

Not worth the trouble/risk. Especially during these "times".

The attached excerpt from the ATF refers to commercial (which you are not doing) importation (which you are doing). Technically if you had enough of it, they could question the commercial part of it.

Even w/o COVID if you could go back and forth, I wouldn't want to be "that guy"...you know that "test" guy that ends up in jail.

Attached Images

powder.jpg (22.5 KB, 31 views)

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aka "Mooncat"

Been there, done that. During the last crisis, we went to Canada just for sight seeing and a lunch at a restaurant we like. Primers and .22s were not available in the US at that time. I stopped at an Ontario shop and they would not sell them to me.

Actually, I had NO thoughts of crossing the border with hazmat stuff in my trunk, it was just idle curiosity.

Moot point now. The US / CDN border will be closed for a LOOOOOOG time. They don't care about the tourist economy and such. They just don't want covid Americans up there.

i've crossed the canada/us border many, many times. even without the covid restrictions, i would not do it. the border agents on both sides have nearly unlimited authority to search and hassle you, and many are shockingly ignorant of the laws and your rights. in my experience the land crossings are much worse than airports.


these days you can expect your vehicle to get x-rayed while you wait to cross, and things like dies and presses will definitely get their attention, even if (especially if) they don't know what they are. they might ask if you have any tools in the vehicle, and if you performed any work with them (tax reasons). they will also ask you about your purchases while out of the country, and wont be happy if they think you are trying to deceive them.


you can also expect random walk-arounds by drug/explosive sniffing dogs, who will for sure smell gun powder, no matter how well packed it is.


my advice for an easy crossing (once things open up again) have all your documents ready (passports, hotel confirmations, receipts), don't speak until spoken to, don't make small talk, take off your sunglasses, roll down all your windows before they ask, and don't be this guy:

Customs lets man with bloody chainsaw, wild tale into U.S.

Seriously though, regardless of laws/interpretations of such, gunpowder is probably one of the worst things you can come up with to bring into the US from another country right now.

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aka "Mooncat"

The last time I was up there,
Went through US Customs at the Vancouver Airport.
Then there was the first time.
The sign on the Arena was flashing Hockey Game Tonight!
Montreal playing one of the usual Suspects.
Ticket Booths are open.
So I step up and say, One ticket please.
Lady looks at me and says, That game has been sold out for a Year!
What tickets are you selling?
ICE Capades!
My Bad!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Don't think you'd be able to purchase anything other than accessories. I'm pretty sure that you'd have to show proof of Canadian firearm license. Any state issued permits etc., would be non-starters for them. I lived in Canada for almost 20 years. Their gun control laws are very very strict. My best advice is to not even think about it. And yes, as others have said, the land border is and will be closed for the foreseeable future. Only essential personnel i.e.., commerce, people that must cross the border daily for work related issues and medical professionals can cross. Other than that it's a no go situation.

My neighborly impression: Canada just ain't worth the trouble, coming or going.

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It's what I do, not what I am.

Welcome aboard from coastal North Carolina. Too bad covid has messed up your vacation plans.

Myself and another employee had to go to Calgary on a work trip 3 years ago. Upon arrival, after waiting for an hour in a holding area with the rest of the people on our flight while half a dozen customs people loafed around behind the counters doing nothing at one o’clock AM, then being interrogated for an hour over what my associate and I were going to do in Canada. The Customs official went over and over the company’s letter to Canadian Customs about the purpose of our visit, and wanted information we did not have regarding shareholders, subsidiaries, percent of ownership, etc. ( all we were there for was to observe operation of some test equipment my company had bought from a Canadian company that we were a subsidiary of. It looked for a time that they were going to make us go back home.

When it was all over I swore I would never go back and deal with those Socialist bast**ds for any reason again.

Mark me down as disenchanted

Covid aside, we've had little trouble crossing the Canadian border in either direction, except once, coming back to the USA at Sault Ste. Marie.
Our USA Border Police held us there for about three hours, tore apart our car, and emptied our belongings on the street, then strip-searched us, and without any explanation said we could pick up our belongings off the asphalt and leave.
Those Border Police seem to have substantially expanded police power, and I wouldn't give them any additional reason to ruin your day.

I can not express my appreication stronge enough towards everyone's replies and input. Don't think we be vacationing across our northern border. All I'm looking to do is my personnel reloading. Retired for a year and disliking it. Working in my woodshop to make Bee Hives and such, (can't live without The Honey Bees) my workmanship so much better then what the commerical hive makers are putting out and I enjoy it.
At any rate, Thanks Again for your words of Wisdom.

Welcome to the Forum!

Welcome from Bastrop, Texas

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Dogs are better than people.

A Canuck here, late reply. The situation in Canada is much different. I read about people going to gun shows and gathering for dinners together and realize just how different. In many provinces bars and restaurants are totally closed. All events, concerts, shows, conferences are csncelled. Home parties for Super Bow? l $2600 fine.We are strongly urgrd not to travel beyong locally. Don't leave your province. Sports teams remain local.Border is closed. If you fly in you'll be qauranteened in your hotel for two weeks! Masks must be worn at all indoor locations. Federal mandate. Sound like fun?

And no, you can't buy reloading supplies, or mail them home. I am in BC in we have under 2000 deaths in total, 4200 active cases now, mostly around Vancouver. Vaccine is slow arriving. Only old folks homes so far. The new variants may trigger more lock downs this Friday.

Call us sheep, or fools or socialists if you like. Im just warning any travelors what to expect.

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Brassmonkey/ a coastal Canuck.

Boy have things changed! 25 years ago my father was in the later stages of Alzheimer’s and wanted one last road trip into Canada. So Ma set it up. Just before they left home she realized her green card (it’s actually pink) was expired (She has dual citizenship,just not here ). They went for it anyway and no one at the border checked anything coming or going

yeah, the passport requirement came in 15 years ago, but it remained pretty easy for a long time after that. only got really sticky in the last few years. i suspect part of the problem is friction between the two governments over immigration, trade, and terrorism policies, which really should only impact a tiny percentage of people crossing the border, but in the end impacts us all.

I think it will all relax again once Covid is beat. I used to go to Washington/Seattle monthly with no issues as I am minutes from the border. Miss it. Never hac any issues going either way. Have a Nexus pass.

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Brassmonkey/ a coastal Canuck.

Isn't this the new member introduction forum? Welcome from Ohio!

Greetings from the Oregon Coast!

Welcome from the Great Plains of Nebraska!

Welcome from Va.

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Roger

To make my crossing into Canada we tied up to the dock in front of Canadian customs, or whatever their title was, and I walked on up the ramp alone. Only one person is supposed to step off a boat before the boat clears Customs. We were sailing through to Alaska. One of the first things I said was that we had a Model 1895 .35 Winchester aboard. From his chair the official answered so what? All you Americans have guns. I asked did he want to look at it or the boat. He answered "I'll bet it's blue and white." He gave us his blessing to proceed without ever getting out of his chair. They never did look at any boat that I sailed north in.

That was the 1970s & 1980s.

Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Too bad we can’t have that kind of security on our SOUTHERN border.

Hi from Salome, AZ.

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Paul
Salome, AZ

Hello from KY.

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Life is short,live it fully.