Canada question

[JLK*]

Is it possible to buy ammunition in Canada and bring it back across the border?
I'm not talking about shipping it but buying it in person.
Crazy question I know but just a random thought...
I get lots of those!

JLK

 

[jonesy814]

Nope, not without a permit from ATFhttp://https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/610/kw/Ammunition%20Transporting%20Policy/session/L3NpZC9LUVR3VHFrbA%3D%3D

 

[yzf128r]

I wouldn't think it would be an issue getting ammo across the border. I don't know anything about Canada's gun laws though. I'm not sure you can just walk into a store and purchase ammo? For some reason I think they have pretty strict gun laws, but I'm not sure why I think that. I wonder if the ammo situation in the US has affected ammo availability in Canada? I would have to think so unless Canada has there own manufactures, and if they do why don't they sell in the US? You have sparked my curiosity. Hopefully someone with some actual knowledge will chime in because I am curious. I live in Washington, so Canada is close. I would be surprised if I could just cruise up there, walk into a store and see the shelves stocked with reasonably priced ammo and have the ability to buy it.

 

[rockyrider]

There are so many online Ammo dealers here, I wonder if it would be cost efficient, let alone the hassle.

 

[bullmack]

I am licensed to carry a long gun in Canada and am pretty sure that you need the appropriate gun license to buy ammo. I've never bought any ammo up there because for just about anything their prices are higher than ours.

 

[JLK*]

bullmack,
Thanks for the input. The specific situation I was daydreaming about was IF .22 long rifle ammunition was readily available and reasonable cost in Canada could one LEGALLY go across, buy a case of CCI Std Velocity and LEGALLY bring it back for personal use? I live in NE Ohio and Canada is not that far.
Thanks!
JLK

 

[Texas Star]

Canada once had an ammo maker called Canadian Industies Limited (CIL) that made Dominion brand ammo. I think they're out of business.

I doubt that you can buy ammunition there, let alone bring it back.

 

[Orgone1]

Canada is Shumer/Bloomberg/Cronestein dreamland. Forget about going across the border and buying ammo. But you could try...tell the border agents your plan....see you in 25 years

 

[JPriest]

I might be the first in Canada to comment on this post.
In Canada you can not buy ammunition unless you have a Canadian Firearms License/Possesion and Acquisition Certificate. Every time I go to the the club that I have been a member of for years they need me to pull the card out and show it to them (having the info on file is not good enough). You can not even possess ammunition without this card. I am aware that there temporary licenses for foreigners who come for hunting etc., to bring in firearms and ammo, but I am not certain that will allow you to buy ammo here.

Also, every single seller of ammo that I have ever seen here in Canada, whether bricks and mortar, or online, has posted that they can not ship firearms or ammo to the states. It is such a hassel for them to get the US import licenses that none bother with it.

On an unrelated note, many Canadians wonder about buying ammo in the states and bringing it in. The Canadian Border Services website says we can bring in upto 5,000 rounds for personal use. However, I am also pretty sure that Canadians are not allowed to possess ammo or firearms in the US without a lot of fancy paperwork. I have heard cases where Canadians come back and declare ammo at the border (which is legal if they actually could get back in), but the Canadian border guards hold them and call the ATF to report a Canadian in possession of ammo while still on US soil and they come and seize everything and then good luck every going back into the US.

 

[JPriest]

As follow-up I just checked my online supplier to see what .22 is going for nowadays. Most 500 round bricks run between $18 and $30 depending on the brand, etc. CCI Standard is $28, but they are sold out at the online place I often buy from. How does that compare with your prices?

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Is it possible to buy ammunition in Canada and bring it back across the border?
I'm not talking about shipping it but buying it in person.
Crazy question I know but just a random thought...
I get lots of those!

JLK

Nope-not gonna work. Even if you can get it across the border remember that Canada is on the metric system-that ammo was made for export and won't work in your gun.

 

[bobelk99]

Is it possible to buy ammunition in Canada and bring it back across the border?
I'm not talking about shipping it but buying it in person.
Crazy question I know but just a random thought...
I get lots of those!

JLK

Nope.

I have hunted some in the provinces. prices not glamorous in 'outback'. Last gas I bought was 3.90 a liter

 

[jgh4445]

I remember when I was stationed at CFB North Bay, we (NATO Personnel) were considered "Landed Immigrants". Don't know if that has anything to do with it, but we used to go to Canadian Tire and buy whatever ammo we wanted. We didn't have to show any card or permit. I think I still have some of the shotgun shells marked "Cartouches". This was in the late 80's though.

 

[kamloops67]

nope we aint got no extra,now git!

 

[Dragonfly]

As JPriest mentions upthread, you need a Canadian Possession and Acquisition License (more commonly known as a PAL 'round these parts) to buy ammunition in Canada. No dealers will sell you ammunition without one (unless they want to risk breaking the law).

 

[JPriest]

I remember when I was stationed at CFB North Bay, we (NATO Personnel) were considered "Landed Immigrants". Don't know if that has anything to do with it, but we used to go to Canadian Tire and buy whatever ammo we wanted. We didn't have to show any card or permit. I think I still have some of the shotgun shells marked "Cartouches". This was in the late 80's though.

Back in the 80s I could walk into Canadian Tire as a 12 year old and buy ammo without showing ID (what 12 year old would have ID anyway). That all changed shortly after.

 

[Texas Star]

I'm pretty sure that I bought ammo in Hudson's Bay Company stores in Nfld. in the 1960's, but that's ancient history now.

I think I got both .270 and .303 wih Dominion brand Sabre Tip bullets. But there's less freedom now, eh?

Is CIL even still in business? Any other Canadian ammo maker?

I think the only cutlery company up there is Grohmann in Nova Scotia.

 

[JPriest]

CIL broke the business up, and parts were bought and sold. As far as I know they don't make ammo anymore, more like paints and other chemicals. There are about 20 small ammunitions companies in Canada from what limited info I can find. None are too big, and most of the ammo I see for sale is the big US and International companies.

 

[Glacialhills]

Here is what I know (which is not much). Across the border from Detroit is Windsor Canada. Recently there have been a number of ammo shops that have sprung up right after you cross the bridge or tunnel. I have a engineer friend that has to go to Detroit for automotive work every so often. One of the other guys he goes with went over to Windsor for dinner one night and saw the ammo stores all over the place and while the others were getting a table he just ran across the street to the nearest one. He said it was like NIRVANA....one whole wall was nothing but bricks of 22lr and the prices were under 20 bucks US. CCI 100 packs for 6.49! He said he saw ammo brands he had never even heard of before. 223, 7.62 x 39, 9mm, 40 cal. you name it they had it and the prices were all like what we had 3 years ago. You need a Canadian ammo licence to purchase though, but seeing as they are popping up right near the border I think there must be some way people from the us are buying and bringing back across. Now I have 2 questions...first, how are they doing it and 2nd and I think the real question that we should be asking is why do they have cci,federal,winchester and remington ammo along with all the foreign brands coming out their ears and we cant find any? anyone from windsor want to fill us in,or at least point us in the right direction?

 

[Dragonfly]

Now I have 2 questions...first, how are they doing it

Two possibilities--the dealers are breaking the law (which I would be surprised to find) or else Canadians are buying and selling to the Americans (also illegal but less likely to get caught. The penalties would be stiff--you'd probably at the least lose your license and all your firearms, plus there could be "illegal gun trade" type charges. Or maybe they are just selling to Canadians?

why do they have cci,federal,winchester and remington ammo along with all the foreign brands coming out their ears and we cant find any?

A couple of reasons--there are far fewer shooters in Canada--both in total number and per capita--so it takes a while for most stores to go through their stock. And, since we have been a little immune to the ammo buying pressures that you folks have seen recently most shooters here have not felt the need to stock up "just in case", which also results is a more slowly-depleted stock.

I must say it's a little disorienting for Americans to refer to a Canadian gun store as "Nirvana".

 

[Glacialhills]

I Don't believe these places are selling guns, only ammo,might that have some bearing on them being able to sell to us people? Or maybe the temporary license that we can get to go hunting in canada? I am sure that it is not just a coincidence that they are popping up right at the border and they are only selling to Canadians. Indiana has tobacco and fireworks shops at their border with michigan also because tobacco has less tax and fireworks that fly or go boom are not legal in mich but are in Indiana...but both of those (about time) have changed recently. I was really hoping to find out from someone that either works at one of the shops or at least goes to one. (maybe if we dont hear anything we can conclude that there IS something underhanded going on???).

 

[Dragonfly]

I Don't believe these places are selling guns, only ammo,might that have some bearing on them being able to sell to us people?

Even ammo sales in Canada still require a valid firearms license (I've been checked every time, even at stores that the staff know me...I think they're worried about being caught in a sting operation). I'm not sure about temporary licenses, though, I don't know if that allows ammunition purchase or not. What about importing ammunition back into the US? Are there customs, ATF or ITAR concerns?

 

[Rule3]

Perhaps drive way South to Mexico. I hear all the ammo is there, most of it bought in the US.

 

[rwsmith]

I'm going to Mexico

Perhaps drive way South to Mexico. I hear all the ammo is there, most of it bought in the US.

I'm going to Mexico to buy ammo and I'm taking my guns with me....... NOT!

 

[Foodfuzz]

Say, trying to buy Canadian ammo, eh? I believe the ammo exchage rate at this time is one and one half Canadian rounds for one U.S. round.

 

[shouldazagged]

Look, Canada already gave us Red Green and over half the cast of "SCTV"--what more would you ask of them?

We'd owe them big-time just for Red Green!

Quando omni flunkus moritati.

 

[kamloops67]

Look, Canada already gave us Red Green and over half the cast of "SCTV"--what more would you ask of them?

We'd owe them big-time just for Red Green!

Quando omni flunkus moritati.

dont forget anne murray , celine dion , stompin tom or the cast of "the beachcombers" haha ..no?.. ok forget it