You don't need to join a club to own restricted. You can own a restricted if you do not belong to a club. It just sits in the safe. Not much fun.
You need to join a club to shoot restricted and to get an ATT to take it to the club and back.
Legally, no you don't have to be a member of a club, but practically, you do. You are asked to state your purpose in owning restricted firearms when you apply for the license, so you will have either declared yourself a collector or said that you intend to use it for target shooting. A collector doesn't have to shoot so he/she doesn't need access to a range, so they don't need a club membership. In this case you would ask for a short term ATT to bring a newly-acquired gun home. If you aren't a collector the CFO assumes you are going to need a club membership so you can have an approved range to shoot your restricted gun at, so they won't issue a long term ATT until they know where you are going to shoot. But you could still ask for a short term ATT to get your new gun home, and if you explain that you aren't joining a club right away because you are planning to move soon, they should issue the short term ATT.
I'm in Ontario and about to buy a restricted off the EE but I'm going to be moving within the next couple months, so it doesn't make sense for me to join a club and pay like $200 to shoot for a month or two. I plan on asking if it's possible to get the transfer approved and I'll just store it at home until I get settled in my new place (after getting a temp ATT for the move of course)
I'll report back with my findings![]()
Simply, you can buy any restricted without being a member, but you will NOT be issued an Authorization to Transport (ATT) without being a member of a shooting club. They need to know where you are planning on taking said firearm.
Legally, no you don't have to be a member of a club, but practically, you do. You are asked to state your purpose in owning restricted firearms when you apply for the license, so you will have either declared yourself a collector or said that you intend to use it for target shooting. A collector doesn't have to shoot so he/she doesn't need access to a range, so they don't need a club membership. In this case you would ask for a short term ATT to bring a newly-acquired gun home. If you aren't a collector the CFO assumes you are going to need a club membership so you can have an approved range to shoot your restricted gun at, so they won't issue a long term ATT until they know where you are going to shoot. But you could still ask for a short term ATT to get your new gun home, and if you explain that you aren't joining a club right away because you are planning to move soon, they should issue the short term ATT.
+1 Nailed it.
Also you don't need to be a member of a gun club you must as I recall "be in the process of joining or intend to join a shooting club" or something like that.
Collectors can have the gun shipped to their home and throw it into the safe.
My experience with Alberta\B.C.\NWT CFO is if you are a new owner and are looking to buy restricted you MUST be a member of an approved club and provide proof. Applying as a collector is the same. I did everything I could to not have to shell out more money to finally get a handgun but no dice. It worked out in the end, just had to find a better club.
$200 to join a gun club!? Where are you applying? The handgun club closest to my house told me $500!! I wouldn't hesitate to sign up if it was $200, but $500 seems a bit steep for me!
I WISH it was only $200 to join a club in Ontario.
Some stories I hear from guys out West, they pay $50/year.



























