Buying an airgun in the US and bringing it across the border

.30/06 FTW

.30/06 FTW

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I was just wondering if there were any regulations regarding bringing a pellet gun across the border that I may not be aware of or aren't explicitly stated on the RCMP website.

Obviously, if the FPS is 500 or greater it's considered a firearm, but this doesn't apply to the one I'm looking at (450 FPS). The gun in question is a Crosman T4, which is ~$70 USD from Amazon in the states and $200 CDN at Canadian Tire here. AFAIK, it only comes in a kit with pellets, BBs, and CO2 cylinders, so I'm not sure if those may cause an issue. I'm also planning on bringing a copy of the regulations regarding airguns from the RCMP website, as well as a print out of the gun from the Canadian Tire website, just in case there are any uninformed border guards who might give me trouble.
 
Just watch out for the replica firearm laws...the fps is much lower and more stringent for replicas.
 
Should be no problem. I have brought back four different PAL-rated pellet rifles. Border folks just wanted to see my PAL.

You might want to check out replica status as mentioned by kcwcc. Last Border Officer I spoke to said that the replica issues are mainly with airsoft pistols. If I were you, I'd give Canada Customs a call and ask them.
 
ricksplace said:
Should be no problem. I have brought back four different PAL-rated pellet rifles. Border folks just wanted to see my PAL.
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A word of warning regarding bringing any PAL rated firearms or firearm related material ( magazines, scopes ec) from the U.S. into Canada because IF you get stopped by U.S. border agents and they discover you are attempting to bring such items back into Canada you will be in big doo doo. The U.S. authorities would treat this most seriously as you do not have a U.S. Federally approved license to export. You may be acting within the rules of Canadian laws (having PAL license for PAL rated gun) but you are breaking U.S. laws if you get caught on their side.
This subject has been discussed in previous posts regarding people bringing back a scope they purchased in the U.S. while on vacation ect and again if your are caught on the U.S. side of the border you are screwed. There was even some discussion of police agencies taking down license numbers of vehicles with Canadian license plates who are parked at a gun show in the U.S. and then having these owners pulled over by U.S. border agents later as the owners are at the border crossings.

Be carefull- fortuna
 
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I have brought over via land crossings both pellet pistols (non-PAL, but over 400 fps) and a ~600 fps rifle (PAL needed for entry). Declared at both entry into USA and re-entry into Canada. USA didn't care at all, and I subjected myself to a brief vehicle search on my re-entry to Canada after answering all the questions at the booth, and then was back on my way home. Never had anything interesting for them to find in my car, and never had to pay any duties.

What FORTUNA said may be true but the question was not about scopes. While pellet guns are treated as uncontrolled firearms on the Canadian side, they are not considered firearms at all on the US side (even ones which would be PAL-rated in Canada) and are not export controlled.
 
Thanks for the responses guys!


kcwcc said:
Just watch out for the replica firearm laws...the fps is much lower and more stringent for replicas.
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It's definitely not a replica, Canadian Tire wouldn't sell it if it was.

ricksplace said:
Should be no problem. I have brought back four different PAL-rated pellet rifles. Border folks just wanted to see my PAL.
Click to expand...

If it's PAL-rated, shouldn't you have had to theoretically fill out import forms? I'm just curious because I saw an airgun on Amazon that had an FPS of 1200.

popcanhunter said:
have you checked airgunsource, scopesandammo, D&L, etc?
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Yes, only scopesandammo had it, and with taxes and shipping it's still cheaper for me to pick it up over the border and pay taxes on it there since I'll be going over there anyways.
 
Airguns are not considered firearms in the US so the rules affecting other items such as rifles, shotguns, scopes, ammo etc don't apply. If you purchase one that is over 500 fps, you will have to show Canadian Customs a valid pal.
 
[QUOTE What FORTUNA said may be true but the question was not about scopes. While pellet guns are treated as uncontrolled firearms on the Canadian side, they are not considered firearms at all on the US side (even ones which would be PAL-rated in Canada) and are not export controlled.[/QUOTE]

I am aware that the question was specific to airguns and that my reply included scopes and other firearm related items. I included these other items in an attempt to make people aware that these are also controlled.

It may surprise some people that some areas in the U.S. have strict rules regarding airguns

Perhaps the best reply would be for the original poster to read the sticky: Sticky: Importing Firearms, Ammunition and Parts from the USA located in the Legalese section under General Firearms Discussions
 
From the looking that I did you need to be aware of the regulations locally where you'd be buying the pellet gun. Some states and some jurisdictions with states have varying laws related to pellet gun sales. If that's not an issue you're not buying a firearm not under the jurisdiction of the ATF. Buy it bring it to the border declare and show your PAL you're good go go.
 
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