BUYING AND IMPORTING A GUN FROM USA - HELP!!!

avsecb2

avsecb2

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It seems much cheaper to buy a gun from the USA than to buy it here in Canada.
Has anyone had experience with this? If so please tell me how. I have sent for the import application from the gov't. and it seems I just need to locate a US exporter (same as FFL I think), who will either ship it to me or take it to the border. Fees and duties seem very minimal from what I have found so far.
Thanks for your input fellas.
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mot US stores will not help you, until you ALSO have an export permit from the US gov't in addition to your CDN import permit.
 
FFL and export licence are two diff things . I got "Leroy's Big Valley gunworks " in Montana to export my Les Baer 1911 . They charge 50 bucks U.S and do all the U.S paperwork for you , they have an export licence and basically ship guns tom Canada on a weekly basis ( they know what to do ) , most U.S gun shops do not have an export licence . But there is a new player in Canada that is set up to handle all your import and export paperwork and shipping , they are a new member on board here also.... http://www.questar.ca/ , get a hold of them and they will help you out .
 
I used Leroy's too on a special order S&W. But the fees add up, cost me near $200 in "brokerage" at YVR and customs was a PITA. Then there was Leroys' fee (which is VERY reasonable), shipping, taxes, the time it took etc etc. Customs wanted to hold onto it for three extra days, "mandatory referral", and it costs $25 a day to sit in "firearms cleared" brokerage until they decide to clear you, can get pricey if you get an officer on a bad day. Overall I'm happy with how it turned out, I saved a teeny bit despite the massive initial price difference. Not sure I'd do it again, but I'm happy and would think about it if I needed another niche item.
 
Import Steps...
To import a firearm from the U.S. you will need to follow these steps...

Contact Questar with importation details. We will need: a high resolution scan or fax of your current PAL (firearms
license - both the front & back);

a high resolution scan or fax of your Driver's License (both
the front & back);

details about the firearm(s) being imported (make, model,
serial number, value, etc.)

a "stated purpose" for the firearm ("hunting" or "collecting" or "target/competition shooting")

name, address and contact info for the current U.S. owner/seller

fee payment arrangements



A copy of our U.S. Exporter's FFL (Federal Firearms License) will be sent to your U.S. seller.

You arrange for U.S. Seller to transfer firearm(s) to the U.S. Exporter to await export.

We apply for your IIC (International Import Certificate). Approval normally takes 14 to 21 days

We then apply for your U.S. Export Permit. This normally takes 8 to 12 weeks for approval.

Once all required permits are approved and received we then arrange to transport the firearm(s) to Canada and clear the shipment through Canada Customs (you will be responsible for payment of any duty and/or taxes levied by Canada Customs on your imports).

We will then verify and register your firearm(s) into the CFC database and arrange for the firearm to be registered into your name.

We will then contact you to arrange final shipment of the firearm (cost to be paid by customer).
 
It is important to note that either way, YOU will need to be granted an export license for that particular gun from ATF. This same process must be gone through for each and every gun you hope to export out of the US. There are no blanket export permits. And, as I understand it, that is the part that can take up to 3 or 4 months.

Now, something else to possibly consider is what you might have to go through in the unlikely case of needing warranty work done to the gun....

:wink: I'm still trying to sell you on the idea of sticking to tried and trusted Canadian dealers like www.theshootingedge.com and www.p-d-ent.com. Sometimes the short-term savings don't add up to long-term savings. But, to each, his own. :)
 
krausb said:
And, as I understand it, that is the part that can take up to 3 or 4 months.

Now, something else to possibly consider is what you might have to go through in the unlikely case of needing warranty work done to the gun....

quote]

3 or 4 months is nothing compared to good wine and whisky aging. 3 or 4 months is rot gut liquor.

On a 50 or 100+ year old gun, the warranty is long gone...
Click to expand...
 
...uh, we're talking about a brand new Sig 226 here (but I guess you'd have to read avsecb2's other thread to know that). But your point in regard to older guns is very valid nonetheless.
 
maybe I will

:wink: I'm still trying to sell you on the idea of sticking to tried and trusted Canadian dealers like www.theshootingedge.com and www.p-d-ent.com. Sometimes the short-term savings don't add up to long-term savings. But, to each, his own. :)[/quote]

Maybe I will buy it here, but I'm still working on it. I have found a way to import, without the extra costs some have mentioned, but right now I am working on finding an FFL exporter who is still doing it. Many have quit because of all the new hassles from the US gov't.

If you win this little skirmish, krausb, I will let you know. You are as persistent a SOB (Such Outstanding Brilliance) as I am.
 
Re: maybe I will

avsecb2 said:
:wink: I'm still trying to sell you on the idea of sticking to tried and trusted Canadian dealers like www.theshootingedge.com and www.p-d-ent.com. Sometimes the short-term savings don't add up to long-term savings. But, to each, his own. :)
Click to expand...

Maybe I will buy it here, but I'm still working on it. I have found a way to import, without the extra costs some have mentioned, but right now I am working on finding an FFL exporter who is still doing it. Many have quit because of all the new hassles from the US gov't.

If you win this little skirmish, krausb, I will let you know. You are as persistent a SOB (Such Outstanding Brilliance) as I am.[/quote]

OK OK OK!!! I surrender (but no without a shootout). I found a Sig P226ST .40 S&W NEW in Vancouver, just went on sale for $1109.00 CDN.
I bought it. The poor dealers in the US are getting such a rough time right now that a lot are quitting (I contacted 3 myself that have quit, and got emails returned from 6 others.
 
LOL, thanks avsecb2. I'm sure you'll come around... Wouldn't you rather be spending all that extra time on your hands down at the range with a new 226 instead of waiting on permits and licenses? If you REALLY want to save money, you should be looking at investing in a Dillon reloading press (also available from the 2 dealers I mentioned earlier or direct from dillon www.dillonprecision.com )... you will cut the cost of 9mm ammo by a solid 1/2 - 2/3. Now that's long-term savings!!!

After a few months of shooting dirt cheap (and high quality) ammo you'll forget all about the 2 or 3 hundred bucks you might have saved buying your Sig in the states. :wink:

*edit* - I'm sure you'll save just as much on .40 ammo, but I can't speak from experience...
 
Re: maybe I will

avsecb2 said:
OK OK OK!!! I surrender (but no without a shootout). I found a Sig P226ST .40 S&W NEW in Vancouver, just went on sale for $1109.00 CDN.
I bought it. The poor dealers in the US are getting such a rough time right now that a lot are quitting (I contacted 3 myself that have quit, and got emails returned from 6 others.
Click to expand...

Good move! Now get it registered and get out there shooting! Good price too, by the way. See, it doesn't have to be painful to buy local...
 
Re: maybe I will

krausb said:
avsecb2 said:
OK OK OK!!! I surrender (but no without a shootout). I found a Sig P226ST .40 S&W NEW in Vancouver, just went on sale for $1109.00 CDN.
I bought it. The poor dealers in the US are getting such a rough time right now that a lot are quitting (I contacted 3 myself that have quit, and got emails returned from 6 others.
Click to expand...

Good move! Now get it registered and get out there shooting! Good price too, by the way. See, it doesn't have to be painful to buy local...
Click to expand...

I'm excited about it! If there is a brave FFL out there still working, there's still a saving of $200 (with a bit of effort and wait time), even on this great price. Thanks for all your positive harrassment (I think I just invented that phrase).
 
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT. YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR A RESEARCHING FOOL LIKE MYSELF.

I HAVE BOUGHT A SIG P226 STAINLESS .40S&W, BRAND NEW, JUST WENT ON SALE HERE IN VANCOUVER FOR $1109 CDN
 
avsecb2 said:
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT. YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR A RESEARCHING FOOL LIKE MYSELF.

I HAVE BOUGHT A SIG P226ST .40S&W, BRAND NEW, JUST WENT ON SALE HERE IN VANCOUVER FOR $1109 CDN
Click to expand...

What is the US Price across the border?
 
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