American Gun lover moving to Canada Please help!

G

GMarciano

New member
EE Expired
Location
Southern Ontario
Hello everyone.

I am an American engineer for Toyota and last year was on assignment in Canada and ended up meeting the girl of my dreams. I am currently on an assignment in WV where the gun laws so wonderful. We are getting married in Oct. and at the end of July I will be moving up to Southern Ontario. I have heard alot about how strict gun ownership is in Canada and it has really been a sore spot between my fieancee and I so i hope you all can offer some advice. I love my guns and the right to keep them. I have been told that many guns are not allowed in Canada, but much may be speculation. I need to the what i can bring and what the process is. I'm glad i found a forum for guns in Canada!


Please help!
Thanks!



Current firearms.
Ruger 10-22 .22 cal rifle
Ruger 22-45 MK III Target Model .22 cal. pistol
Olympic Arms AR-15 .223 cal. rifle
Remington Model 700 .270 cal. rifle
Remington Model 1100 12 ga shotgun
Mosburg Model 500 12 ga. "Cruiser" pistol grip shotgun
Traditions by Fausti 12 ga O/U shot gun

PS: I also hold a Concealed Carry permit for West Virginia. I hope it is transferable or will at least help my chances of keeping my guns.
 
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Everything but the pistol should be pretty straightforward. Get a RPAL (restricted-class possession and acquisition license), you will most likely need to become a member of a range in the process. Everything else looks non-restricted to me so a regular PAL would be fine for you to possess them. The export from the US and then import to Canada will be the tricky part but there are some US-based businesses that can help you with that, for a fee of course. Leave your AR mags at home, you <can> get them legally pinned to 5 rounds before trying to import them, but there are some horror stories out there of customs agents being rather on the zealous side resulting in seizures and possibly charges, not worth the trouble IMO.
 
Olympic Arms AR-15 .223 cal. rifle would be restricted as well, same license type as the pistol.
 
As someone who once walked a mile in your shoes - you probably need a bit more background than that:

In Canada, owning or purchasing a gun of any kind (even some air guns) requires a license. This license is called the "Possession and Acquisition License", and is commonly referred to as a "PAL".

There are several designations of guns in Canada which require different levels of licensing. The only two (as far as I know) available to the general public are "non-restricted" and "restricted". When guys around here refer to an "RPAL", they mean your license says you can own restricted firearms. A non-restricted firearm would be pretty much any hunting or target rifle. A restricted firearm is typically a handgun, but there are a few rifles (such as your AR15) that are included in the restricted class. Magazine capacity is also limited by law in semi-automatic rifles and handguns (5 for rifles, 10 for handguns if I'm not mistaken). There are some guns you would consider common down there that are prohibited weapons up here (any handgun with a barrel less than 4.something inches for instance).

To get your PAL, you have to take a test and pay a fairly nominal fee ($60 or so as I recall) and then wait a month or three (or more). There are some test-preperation books available for both the PAL and the RPAL (they are two separate tests). If you're a gun nut already (and it sounds like you are), buy the books, read them, and then go take the test. The test-prep books will clue you in to the more intimate details (stupidities) of Canadian firearms law.

Once you're through the hurdles - owning a non-restricted gun in Canada really isn't much different than owning a gun in the U.S. Lots of hunting, target shooting, etc goes on up here, and as you can tell from this website, there are certainly plenty of gun nuts up here (some of us more nuts than others). :) Restricted guns aren't that big a deal either, except for the fact that you can only legally shot them at a shooting range (one of the main reasons I don't own any myself, even though I have an RPAL).


Hope that helps,
 
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thanks for speedy response! :)

I have been reading up on the forms and stuff, there are alot of them. Can I apply for a RPAL before completing the course(s) or should I wait untill the courses are complete?

It also says that I need a letter from my local police department here in the states.

I have never even seen a 5 round .223 mag for the AR> I have 20's and 30's... which i am fine with leaving home, just need to find a place that i buy some 5 rounds i guess.

Should I get the PAL and they latter apply for the RPAL or can i do them at the same time? I have not found the form for the RPAL yet.

The PAL form seams fairly strait forward. I would feel comfortable doing the "challenge" test based on the topics listed, the only one I would be unsure of is "display" and if there are any regulations on safe transportation.
 
I'd suggest you take both PAL and RPAL at once at get er done with. I did both of mine (as well as my hunting test) in one night. Took about 3 hours.
 
slowly learning.

brotherjack said:
As someone who once walked a mile in your shoes - you probably need a bit more background than that:

In Canada, owning or purchasing a gun of any kind (even some air guns) requires a license. This license is called the "Possession and Acquisition License", and is commonly referred to as a "PAL".

There are several designations of guns in Canada which require different levels of licensing. The only two (as far as I know) available to the general public are "non-restricted" and "restricted". When guys around here refer to an "RPAL", they mean your license says you can own restricted firearms. A non-restricted firearm would be pretty much any hunting or target rifle. A restricted firearm is typically a handgun, but there are a few rifles (such as your AR15) that are included in the restricted class. Magazine capacity is also limited by law in semi-automatic rifles and handguns (5 for rifles, 10 for handguns if I'm not mistaken). There are some guns you would consider common down there that are prohibited weapons up here (any handgun with a barrel less than 4.something inches for instance).

To get your PAL, you have to take a test and pay a fairly nominal fee ($60 or so as I recall) and then wait a month or three (or more). There are some test-preperation books available for both the PAL and the RPAL (they are two separate tests). If you're a gun nut already (and it sounds like you are), buy the books, read them, and then go take the test. The test-prep books will clue you in to the more intimate details (stupidities) of Canadian firearms law.

Once you're through the hurdles - owning a non-restricted gun in Canada really isn't much different than owning a gun in the U.S. Lots of hunting, target shooting, etc goes on up here, and as you can tell from this website, there are certainly plenty of gun nuts up here (some of us more nuts than others). :) Restricted guns aren't that big a deal either, except for the fact that you can only legally shot them at a shooting range (one of the main reasons I don't own any myself, even though I have an RPAL).


Hope that helps,
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Thanks for the info and please keep it coming. I would proudly take the label "gun-nut" so thank you for the complement! and let me tell you all, I am super happy to have found this forum and even happier to know here that i have a chance of keeping my firearms. I just heard so many horror stories from people at work that all i could have is a water pistol!

Where can i get those books in a hurry, I am moving at the end of July. I guess no matter what I will need to store my guns somewhere in the US for the time being. I doubt it would go over well to tell the boarder patrol that I am visiting, get the temp permit for 60 days while i wait for my PAL/RPAL

How are the availability of ranges in southern Ontario?
 
Lots of ranges in S. Ont depending on where you're living. I don't know if you NEED the books for your pal. I fell asleep during pretty much the entire course and ended up with a 96% on the test. It's pretty simple if you've been around guns. You can probably just challenge the test and be done with it.

Where in Ontario will you be staying? Someone close by can probably help you out.
 
As EvanF wrote, one of the first things will be to get the tests out of the way.

If you're comfortable sharing the info (perhaps by PM), let us know where you are moving to. Probably someone here is an instructor and as such can administer the test for you as soon as you get here, or even before if you're going to visit any time sooner. If not, someone can cetrainly put you in touch with an instructor to supervise your challenges of the tests asap.

[edit: mine and previous posts occurred near simultaneously - sorry for the double info]

RG <><
 
Also, It was mentioned that magazines for semis are limited to 5 rounds... This Dose not apply to your 10/22. There are no limits on RIMFIRE rifle magazines.
 
Location

That would be awesome. If i can get hooked up with a local instructor. I will be moving to Kitchener ON. July 20th. Not sure if I will make it up before then.

Question on the application... I need two references of people who have known me for longer than 3 years... does this have to be Canadian Citizens? I have not known anyone in Canada for longer than 1.5 years.
 
GMarciano said:
I have never even seen a 5 round .223 mag for the AR> I have 20's and 30's... which i am fine with leaving home, just need to find a place that i buy some 5 rounds i guess.
Click to expand...

The mags for sale up here are still 30RD, 20RD, ect, they are just blocked (usually with a rivet) to only accept 5 rounds. Good news is, since there are AR-15 "pistol" mags on the market, you can legally buy 10 round mags and use them in your AR if they are maked for use in the AR pistols. Your head hurting yet?
 
All Good Info

Ljungman said:
Your head hurting yet?
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No no no! this is all awesome news to me. I thought for sure the AR15 and my Ruger MKIII would have to become my fathers by the end of next month and was quietly dreading moving to Canada because of it. However the fact that AR15 pistols are legal in Canada makes it a better place to live than NY!!! :dancingbanana:

One awesome Gun i have already sold to my dad for this reason because I was sure i could not have it in Canada is the Taurus Judge. 3in stainless .410/45 colt revolver. This is an awesome Gun, but it has a barrel length of less than "4.something in" so im guessing its not aloud. it will likely be banned in the US soon as well as it is an un-traceable pistol

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Revolver
 
Yea, min barrel length is 105.1mm sad eh? This means my Makarov has to have an ugly extended barrel cause I don't have 12(6)
 
Welcome aboard!! :D
Sorry 'bout your luck (moving to Ontario) :p
Must be quite the girl to get you to move here (I would have insisted on her moving... ya, right)
There are quite a few of us Nutz in your new neck of the woods.
Contact us when you're here and maybe we can help you get settled in.
 
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