crossing border for ipsc?

johan

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What's it like trying to pass at the US/Canada border to attend ipsc events down in the US?

Or is it too restrictive to try?
 
HOWDy; No sweat! just paperwork from ATF and canada.
The USA watchs meat products more than guns . The Canada customs are ingorant of there own laws . Had to instruct the little girl in the canada customs booth more than once on what paper work to look at. Had a binder full of paper work and a truck full of guns . Good paper = easy time
 
VICIOUS said:
The USA watchs meat products more than guns

Very true. I had my motorhome trashed by US Customs and US Agriculture when I produced a bag of dog food that wasn't Made in USA. Guns? I've NEVER had a problem getting into the US with my guns. Never.

VICIOUS said:
Good paper = easy time

Exactly.;)
 
Going down: no problem, most of them even wish you good luck and tell you how they did their last match; coming back: when they hear "gun", people start popping up everywhere, and most of them can't wait to get their hands on them just to say they saw a real, live baby-killing death machine.
 
I drive through the US-Canada border maybe 10 times a year to compete in various IPSC/Speed Steel matches in the US. In the last year, I've only ever had 1 problem, and that was going down to the US.

The problem didn't even have anything to do with me declaring my handgun. It turns out I was the lucky 1000th customer (or something like that) through the border, and was the lucky recipient of a random check. I had to fill in the whole customs declaration form (have you been on a farm in the last week...what is the total value of goods coming in...yada yada yada) and everything. The customs officer even apologized to me as she was conducting the whole inspection.
 
StoneHorse said:
Mike K, where in Washington(?) do you attend ipsc matches?

I shoot the monthly rifle matches at Custer and attend all sorts of silly courses down around Seattle. There are IPSC matches on a regular basis a couple of places within an hour south of the Peace Arch crossing, but I've been putting my time into the rifle game instead.
 
well we should all get used to this now
as if the gov.ca ban handguns the only ipsc we will get to shoot will be in the us.
now that sucks
when the ipsc nats were gig nto be 20mins from my house in 2006
FCUK! the Govetment.
bbb
 
Non-residents can only attend NRA or IHMSA approved pistol competitions in New York State, that applies to other Americans too. I got that straight from the NY AG. Some obscure State law. You can drive through the State to a competition in another State, that's allowed under Federal law.
 
brigado said:
what's the nearst place to shoot ipsc in the states from Montreal!!!

SDC said:
Vermont, at the Alburg club; the Green Mountain Practical Shooters also put on a heck of a charity match (the AWARE match) each year.

Contact your S/C, Frank Crcek, he pretty much does all of his shooting there in the summer. He'll hook you up.
 
Mike K said:
I shoot the monthly rifle matches at Custer and attend all sorts of silly courses down around Seattle. There are IPSC matches on a regular basis a couple of places within an hour south of the Peace Arch crossing, but I've been putting my time into the rifle game instead.
Thanks Mike:)
 
Check the USPSA website for the Area 7 matches in upstate NY. There are a ton of good matches if you don't mind travelling a few hours. I am over there for maybe 20 matches a year, and they have some awesome shooting stages at many of the larger matches.

Some of the better ones are Little Big Match, Eastern Lakes Sectionals, Area 7 match, Firecracker,.......and so on. Get together with some friends and make it a road trip. You will have a blast!
 
Shooting in the US

Its just paperwork, Less than what we normally deal with in Canada

Make certain you have it all in order when you pull up to customs. 90% of the time they tell you to have a good match and send you on your way. The other time you get someone who doesn't know what to do and the send you inside. The longest I've been held up was 10 minutes unless you count the lonely US Customs guy who talked to me for 30 minutes about owing guns in Canada. I was trying to be a nice as possible but I still had 10 hours driving ahead of me. Or the time they thought I was with the RCMP (don’t ever correct a Customs guy) just smile and nod and they will shortly send you on your way.

99% of the Customs people (on both sides) are nice, helpful and easy to deal with. The 1% you have to keep your mouth shut and ride it out.
 
40cal said:
Check the USPSA website for the Area 7 matches in upstate NY. There are a ton of good matches if you don't mind travelling a few hours. I am over there for maybe 20 matches a year, and they have some awesome shooting stages at many of the larger matches.

Some of the better ones are Little Big Match, Eastern Lakes Sectionals, Area 7 match, Firecracker,.......and so on. Get together with some friends and make it a road trip. You will have a blast!
Doesn't the state of New York have some new law about shooting handgun matches there? I used to shoot there - been to Tonawanda and the S&W and a match in Syracuse but I could have sworn I heard recently that out of state residents need a special permit since 9/11 or so.
 
Nah, just a Form 6 like everywhere else in the U.S.

It helps to belong to a club in the U.S., and to be a member of USPSA is almost a must as it gives you a written invitation to USPSA matches. That, along with a club invitation (which they are very cordial to do) is your ticket to ride.

Tonawanda is real easy. I go every month, and virtually never have a problem at the border. They are used to us going for the monthly matches, so most of the guards are aware of the situation. If they send you to secondary, it is just a check of your Form 6 serial #'s aompared to your guns. Five minutes, and your gone!

One of the worst things in Ontario is the fact that they want a Form 6 copy sent before you get a border permit. Yeah, that's right, the Canadians want a copy of your AMERICAN paperwork before they will proceed! So, what do we do? Of course we send them a copy, and a few weeks later we get a border permit. What a hoot!

Like Black (fake GM by the way) says, just have all your paperwork in order, and they are usually very kind.
 
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