flying to the USA
- Thread starter gunlover03
- Start date
Hi there. Aside from the BATF Form 6, and your relevant provincial CFO transport permit to the airport, you will need to contact the specific airline to see what their policy is. Unless things have changed drastically, the airlines will not let you transport ammo on the plane (even in checked baggage). However, the BATF Form 6 allows you to buy ammo in the US legally for the firearm you are taking.
Bear in mind that the US and Canadian laws differ greatly. An example if you drive to the US : If you buy ammo in the US, using your Form 6, the Dept of State says it is illegal for you to take that ammo back to Canada; you must leave any ammo not used in the US. Canadian law says you can import up to 5000 rounds of ammo for personal use without a permit. So if you make it to Canada Customs, and declare it, it is all good. However, if the US side stops you before leaving the US, you will be charged with ITAR violations. Kinda stupid, but that is the way it is.
Oh, and remember, if you will be flying through, and transferring flights, in New York City, they will most likely arrest you for having said firearm in your checked luggage. If it violates their strict laws, they do not care if the luggage is just being shifted from 1 plane to another - you have it in their state, in violation of their laws.
Make sure you check into all of this very carefully.
PM me if you want more details.
Hope that helps.
Mike C
Bear in mind that the US and Canadian laws differ greatly. An example if you drive to the US : If you buy ammo in the US, using your Form 6, the Dept of State says it is illegal for you to take that ammo back to Canada; you must leave any ammo not used in the US. Canadian law says you can import up to 5000 rounds of ammo for personal use without a permit. So if you make it to Canada Customs, and declare it, it is all good. However, if the US side stops you before leaving the US, you will be charged with ITAR violations. Kinda stupid, but that is the way it is.
Oh, and remember, if you will be flying through, and transferring flights, in New York City, they will most likely arrest you for having said firearm in your checked luggage. If it violates their strict laws, they do not care if the luggage is just being shifted from 1 plane to another - you have it in their state, in violation of their laws.
Make sure you check into all of this very carefully.
PM me if you want more details.
Hope that helps.
Mike C
Still alive
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rainy mosquito infested part of BC
What Mike C said is all true. I would add that you transport in a locked hard case also.
As to transporting ammo, you are allowed if they are factory rounds in factory boxes but not reloads but there is a limit. This was flying out of the US to a US destination. No experience flying out of Canada in the same situation.
I would just buy ammo in the States when you're there. Less hassle that way.
Oh yeah, depending on where you cross, a Match Invite may be requested so have it handy, just in case. This is not an airline thing, but a Border thing.
As to transporting ammo, you are allowed if they are factory rounds in factory boxes but not reloads but there is a limit. This was flying out of the US to a US destination. No experience flying out of Canada in the same situation.
I would just buy ammo in the States when you're there. Less hassle that way.
Oh yeah, depending on where you cross, a Match Invite may be requested so have it handy, just in case. This is not an airline thing, but a Border thing.
Had lots of people fly in to Ottawa/Montreal recently with ammunition for the F-Class Worlds and you certainly CAN check ammunition in your luggage. There are rules around it, and you should check with your airline to see what those are. A 5kg limit is pretty standard, and I have never heard of anyone having an issue with hand-loaded ammunition, provided it is in a suitable container (such as MTM cases). As indicated, when traveling to the US a Form 6 is mandatory.
Couple of things to add - wrap an elastic around the MTM boxes to prevent accidental openings. The ammo and rifle cannot be in the same piece of luggage and you need to declare both when you check in. There's a form that needs to be filled out by the airline - a copy goes with the rifle, another with the ammo, a copy for you and the fourth for the airline.
I have done this several times.
Get a letter from the airline explaining the rules for ammo and rifle. TAKE THE LETTER WITH YOU. The counter clerk will have her own ideas of the rules.
Use factory packaging or good plastic ammo boxes for your handloads. It is the packaging they are concerned about and the weight of the ammo.
The big danger is a broken stock at the wrist. This can be eliminated by removing the action from the stock, and packing them side by side. A much stiffer combination with less leverage. This allows the use of a lighter rifle case. A Pelican is very heavy.
If I take 2 rifles, I put the two barreled actions in a small rifle case and pack the two stocks in 69 fashion in my hockey bag with all the other gear and clothes.
Get a letter from the airline explaining the rules for ammo and rifle. TAKE THE LETTER WITH YOU. The counter clerk will have her own ideas of the rules.
Use factory packaging or good plastic ammo boxes for your handloads. It is the packaging they are concerned about and the weight of the ammo.
The big danger is a broken stock at the wrist. This can be eliminated by removing the action from the stock, and packing them side by side. A much stiffer combination with less leverage. This allows the use of a lighter rifle case. A Pelican is very heavy.
If I take 2 rifles, I put the two barreled actions in a small rifle case and pack the two stocks in 69 fashion in my hockey bag with all the other gear and clothes.
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I flew into Texas from Vancouver in June with a bolt gun. Had the Form 6NIA ready along with an intinerary for the course. Used a pelican case and declared a firearm at the airline baggage check. Their rules required that I lock it and only I had the key after putting a copy of thier declaration inside the case. Good thing it was a quality case with fitted foam as it took a beating. When we got to Austin I had to go to a little office in the airport with ID to get it back-it didn't come down the regular luggage chute with our suitcases. It was xrayed separate going both there and back too.
I had ammo shipped to the range from an American vendor so I didn't have to pack the ammo, but I have flown domestically with ammo and it just had to be in a separate checked bag, and no more than a certain weight?
Coming back I was sent to secondary by CBSA, but only so they could confirm the serial number matched one of the guns listed on my 6NIA. That was quick and easy and I was sent on my way no hassles. I sold my leftover ammo to an American so I didn't bring any back (read export!)
All in all it was pretty simple and trouble free.
I had ammo shipped to the range from an American vendor so I didn't have to pack the ammo, but I have flown domestically with ammo and it just had to be in a separate checked bag, and no more than a certain weight?
Coming back I was sent to secondary by CBSA, but only so they could confirm the serial number matched one of the guns listed on my 6NIA. That was quick and easy and I was sent on my way no hassles. I sold my leftover ammo to an American so I didn't bring any back (read export!)
All in all it was pretty simple and trouble free.
Only issue I have ever had with flying ammo was that they (Westjet) tried to tell me that the ammo was not in Original Manufacturers Packaging. After explaining to them that they were indeed in the Original Manufacturers Packaging as I was the one that manufactured them and those are the boxes I packaged them in (MTM 100 Round boxes), I had no issues. It does have to be in checked luggage. I usually put them in the middle of my suitcase, surrounded by clothing, to avoid breakage in case of rough handling.
Other thing to do before you go is take all your gear to CBSA and have them give you a green card with your gear serial numbers on it (can't recall the form number) to prove that you had it before you left to avoid any taxation or importing issues on your return. (Spotting Scopes, Front Rest, Scopes, Rifles, any other expensive items).
Other thing to do before you go is take all your gear to CBSA and have them give you a green card with your gear serial numbers on it (can't recall the form number) to prove that you had it before you left to avoid any taxation or importing issues on your return. (Spotting Scopes, Front Rest, Scopes, Rifles, any other expensive items).
