Transporting a scope from the US

I travel into the US on business too many times a year (35 times last year!). I cross at the Buffalo/Ft. Erie Peace Bridge most times.

As mentioned above, on several occasions I have seen Homeland Security check points set up just before you leave the US, right next to the Duty Free shop! Usually 4 - 6 cars/suv's parked with officers looking right at the you as you approach. They seem to pull over cars at random. Armed to the teeth, and with a few dogs as well.

Also, don't forget if your checked baggage is inspected (scanned) at a US airport you are departing from, if they pickup something on the scan that looks like a weapon or firearm, they will open it. I find a note in my bag informing me they have phyically inspected the contents many times. If they find an ITAR restricted item, then see the bag belongs to a Canuck............................guess what?!

If you are pulled over for a traffic violation, etc. in the US and the officer happens to check your car, and contents, if he finds a firearms item, and he is aware of the ITAR restrictions, when he asks for your licence and you hand him your Canuck Lic.....................guess what?!

To make a long story short, don't take the risk of being caught with ITAR regulated item(s) if you don't want to end up getting arrested on the spot, go to jail, get fined, and also be 'flagged' so you can't return to the US........................that is, after you get back home!

Also, I find that the gap between US and Canadian prices is very close now. I can buy most of my ammo at the likes of a LeBaron sale for the same price, or less than I see ammo go for in the US. Scopes are also very close in price.

Besides, keep our money in Canada and support our Canadian businesses and vendors.

That's my 2 cents.
 
Last edited:
tiriaq said:
That's nice.
The first time you do, let's hope you aren't exporting anything.
Click to expand...



Yeah thanks.

I wasn't inferring that I would or ever have brought anything back into Canada that isn't permitted. Just simply stating that where I cross ( Windsor/Detroit ) I have never seen a Homeland Security checkpoint.
 
doublelung said:
Yeah thanks.

I wasn't inferring that I would or ever have brought anything back into Canada that isn't permitted. Just simply stating that where I cross ( Windsor/Detroit ) I have never seen a Homeland Security checkpoint.
Click to expand...

The checkpoint isn't something you'd notice unless it's manned. At the big border crossing here in MB, all that's there is a white booth the size of a large outhouse with a red light on top, when they're checking, there's 2 or 3 of the green/white vehicles there and often a portable x-ray unit (large white truck).
 
blackacres said:
I travel into the US on business too many times a year (35 times last year!). I cross at the Buffalo/Ft. Erie Peace Bridge most times.

As mentioned above, on several occasions I have seen Homeland Security check points set up just before you leave the US, right next to the Duty Free shop! Usually 4 - 6 cars/suv's parked with officers looking right at the you as you approach. They seem to pull over cars at random. Armed to the teeth, and with a few dogs as well.

Also, don't forget if your checked baggage is inspected (scanned) at a US airport you are departing from, if they pickup something on the scan that looks like a weapon or firearm, they will open it. I find a note in my bag informing me they have phyically inspected the contents many times. If they find an ITAR restricted item, then see the bag belongs to a Canuck............................guess what?!

If you are pulled over for a traffic violation, etc. in the US and the officer happens to check your car, and contents, if he finds a firearms item, and he is aware of the ITAR restrictions, when he asks for your licence and you hand him your Canuck Lic.....................guess what?!

To make a long story short, don't take the risk of being caught with ITAR regulated item(s) if you don't want to end up getting arrested on the spot, go to jail, get finded, and also be 'flagged' so you can't return to the US........................that is, after you get back home!

Also, I find that the gap between US and Canadian prices is very close now. I can buy most of my ammo at the likes of a LeBaron sale for the same price, or less than I see ammo go for in the US. Scopes are also very close in price.

Besides, keep our money in Canada and support our Canadian businesses and vendors.

That's my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

+1

Everyone wants to save money. However sometimes it is not worth it.

Another consideration is warranty work: if you purchased a scope from the US dealer network (easy to determine with serial numbers) you will encounter costs and issues getting it serviced. Plainly speaking, some distributors will offer no support for optics purchases outside of the domestic distribution/dealer network (such was with Leupold) and you will be saddled with eating all of the shipping costs as well as any paperwork required to get the scope back into Canada (i.e. if it has to travel to a US warranty center).

Most Canadian dealers (myself included) are more than happy to deal on an item if the US vendors are more competitive. The unfortunate truth is that with some lines, the minimum allowed advertised price is lower in the US than in Canada.
 
so how does an american hunter bring his hunting rifle into canada with his evil 3x9 bushnell scope that could cause a breach of american national security?
 
I know of an American that left his gun for the guide as a tip. The guide had to register it. I didn't hear of any problems for the American returning home.
How finite does this get? Are flip up caps on the list? Scope rings or bases?
Anyone have a link to the list?
I don't have a problem supporting local business at all, in fact I did just that today. It's when you can't get a specific item locally due to stocking issues. Weaver quad lock rings and Traditions Pursuit Ultra Light muzzleloaders come to mind. (26" nonported barrel model)
 
blackacres said:
I travel into the US on business too many times a year (35 times last year!). I cross at the Buffalo/Ft. Erie Peace Bridge most times.

As mentioned above, on several occasions I have seen Homeland Security check points set up just before you leave the US, right next to the Duty Free shop! Usually 4 - 6 cars/suv's parked with officers looking right at the you as you approach. They seem to pull over cars at random. Armed to the teeth, and with a few dogs as well.

Also, don't forget if your checked baggage is inspected (scanned) at a US airport you are departing from, if they pickup something on the scan that looks like a weapon or firearm, they will open it. I find a note in my bag informing me they have phyically inspected the contents many times. If they find an ITAR restricted item, then see the bag belongs to a Canuck............................guess what?!

If you are pulled over for a traffic violation, etc. in the US and the officer happens to check your car, and contents, if he finds a firearms item, and he is aware of the ITAR restrictions, when he asks for your licence and you hand him your Canuck Lic.....................guess what?!

To make a long story short, don't take the risk of being caught with ITAR regulated item(s) if you don't want to end up getting arrested on the spot, go to jail, get fined, and also be 'flagged' so you can't return to the US........................that is, after you get back home!

Also, I find that the gap between US and Canadian prices is very close now. I can buy most of my ammo at the likes of a LeBaron sale for the same price, or less than I see ammo go for in the US. Scopes are also very close in price.

Besides, keep our money in Canada and support our Canadian businesses and vendors.
That's my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

You hit the nail right on the head! I will admit that when my work took me into the states, I did some shopping at the hunting shops I came across, but I then realized I was hurting our economy by leaving my money down there. Now I will only shop there if it can not be found here in Canada.
 
pbonura said:
Stupid laws. Pretty damn stupid. Not sure they point. Makes no bloody sense that a country like the US makes shipping scopes and barrels impossible into canada. No worry barrels cost 250 in the US and 400 in canada. Import duties, paperwork and taxes. Makes no sense to me. Heck some vendors will not ship anything hunting related. Even ear plugs are tough to buy online.
Click to expand...

Not sure on scopes but barrels are no problem. Prophet river has imported a few for me in the past year that I purchased on US auction sites.Well worth it still even after paying to import them.
 
Also, I find that the gap between US and Canadian prices is very close now. I can buy most of my ammo at the likes of a LeBaron sale for the same price, or less than I see ammo go for in the US. Scopes are also very close in price.

Besides, keep our money in Canada and support our Canadian businesses and vendors.

That's my 2 cents.[/QUOTE]

I don't on scopes, reloading gear and reloading supplies. I am all about buying what I can in canada and do, especially the site supporters. However that being said on a fixed pension I can also only go so far or I won't be shooting.
Last November I was buying new rcbs reloading gear and sent my list of items to three canadian vendors plus priced it out at lebarons and wsports.
The best price delivered to my door was $930 CD for the lot.
I ended up buying it in the US and saved 28% CD all taxes, shipping, etc etc paid to my door.
I'm sorry but I just cannot afford to put out that much extra to buy in canada for the exact same items.
 
Last edited:
doublelung said:
Exactly how would one get caught in the US with said item? At Every border crossing iv'e been through you get searched coming into the country, not leaving.
Click to expand...

As mentioned, they have Export Control roadblocks, and I've been through more than one. At the Ivy Lea crossing, they have large permanent road signs stating "Export Control - Be prepared to stop".

Last one I went through had at least a dozen border agents doing searches. Usually when they do these, they do everybody leaving, not just random.
 
Yes, really - happened to me three times so far - nice and friendly - actually more friendly that the guys at the entry points (and I have a Nexus and work visa ).
Now , why on earth would anyone consider being banned from US - never mind the punishment and penalties?

Remember - we are not from below the southern border - Democrats will not rally behind us.

doublelung said:
Really?? I cross quite often and have never seen one.
Click to expand...
 
JasonP said:
What if we buy off Ebay and someone ships to us? Can we still get banned?
Click to expand...

Not likley, (but they could) or they could always put you on a watch list.

However for the smuggler trying to send it out of the county illegallyn, it will cost them a lot of money (into 5 figures when you include fines plus legal costs), and possibly a felony charge.
 
Perfectly legal to transport scopes from US to Can provided you have the US export permit.

I'm waiting for an eBay seller to get the permit prior to shipping my scope. Getting the CDN import certificate was real easy, done online, had it email to me in next bus. day, no charge. Send that to the seller who said may take up to 6 weeks to get US export certificate.

Sweet deal, Sightron Big sky for $230US that sells for $600 locally.
 
burnaby said:
Perfectly legal to transport scopes from US to Can provided you have the US export permit.

I'm waiting for an eBay seller to get the permit prior to shipping my scope. Getting the CDN import certificate was real easy, done online, had it email to me in next bus. day, no charge. Send that to the seller who said may take up to 6 weeks to get US export certificate.

Sweet deal, Sightron Big sky for $230US that sells for $600 locally.
Click to expand...

Link please for permit online thank you!
 
The good folks of E-Bay don't seem to have a problem with shipping scopes to Canada.
They actually make it across the border quite well.
So I've been told!;)
 
Fewer and fewer will ship as most are now aware of ITAR and what happened to Cabelas.
trebor2880 said:
The good folks of E-Bay don't seem to have a problem with shipping scopes to Canada.
They actually make it across the border quite well.
So I've been told!;)
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom