Hello from Denver!! (moving to Calgary in 3wks)

B

bulump

New member
Hey guys!! First time on the site and I thought I would drop in and say hello and ask some questions...

My wife and I are moving to Calgary at the end of the month from Denver, CO. Aside of everything stressful that comes with moving into another country, I do know (and have researched) that the gun laws are WAY different.

I understand the difference between non-restricted/restricted/prohibited firearms, as well as, the PAL and temporary forms that I will need to fill out at the border, and have done my homework to understand that (Thank God) I'll be able to bring my elk into the country.

I think it's pretty clear cut that my rifles (Ruger M77 .30-06 bolt & Remington 742 semi) are considered non-restricted as the capacities are 3+1 and 4+1 respectively. My .40, unfortunately, is staying here, BUMMER.

My questions are surrounded around my shotguns. I have a Ruger Red Label O/U which is non-restricted and a Mossberg 500A. Both 12ga. The Mossberg has a capacity of 8 rounds and I have both a ~23" cyl and a ~27" rifled barrel. Is this considered non-restricted since I haven't 'modified' it and the OA length is over the required length? I haven't seen anything written wrt the capacity of non semi-automatic shotguns.

I'm also considering buying a 18.5" barrel before I move up there, is this legit too? Will anything surrounding my Mossberg raise questions at the border?

A 'lil about me - I'm an IT engineer and my wife is a NG reservoir engineer (she's the one being relocated). I hunt pretty actively (big/small game, turkey) and love shooting at the range. We're looking at the NW region of Calgary to live in and are pretty active skiers (that's how we met).

Talk to you soon!
Thanks is Advance,
Chris
 
Hi Chris welcome to Calgary and cgn, like stated above your shotgun is good to go. If you need someone to go shooting with or just to show you around send me a pm and Id be more than happy to meet up with you.
 
Welcome aboard. Your rifles and shotguns are non-restricted. An 18.5 inch barrel is ok too....I've the a 500 with 18.5 barrel myself. Nothing about your shotgun will raise eyebrows.

DSC00288.JPG
 
First off, Welcome! (from a fellow gun owner and IT engineer:)


There is no shell limit on a pump shotgun that would change the non-restricted status. It's the semi-auto guns that have all the trouble with cartridge capacity limits.


However, there can be hunting regulations that come into play if you want to hunt with your large capacity magazine, so you might have to plug your tube or change it if you want to use your Mossberg for hunting.


In Canada, 18.5" barrels are the typical minimum limit for non-restricted rifles/shotguns. However, there are some specific ways in which you can have a shotgun within Canada with a barrel shorter than 18.5" and still have it considered non-restricted. But, that is a long story and there are many, many threads on this website which cover all the details.

Anyway, I'm sure you're going to enjoy Calgary as it seems like it'll be a good fit for your lifestyle. Once again, welcome to Canada!
 
Welcome. You could even put a 12" barrel on the Mossberg and it'd still be non-restricted (as long as it's 26" over all in length, and note, you must replace the barrel with a newly manufactured one, you can't cut it down).

photo-details-870grizzly-lg.jpg

^^^ Dominion arms grizzly shotgun w/ 12.5" barrel
 
Why leave the .40? It should be ok if it meets the minimum handgun barrel length and you get an restricted licence.
 
ESQ said:
Why leave the .40? It should be ok if it meets the minimum handgun barrel length and you get an restricted licence.
Click to expand...

First off... Thanks for all the warm wishes!!

If I correctly understand, I need to take the PAL exam and then the restricted exam. Once I complete those, then I have to wait in queue, which I've read (nothing formal, of course) can take a loooong time. And I also understand in order to keep my firearms, I would need to take both exams before the temporary form's time limit runs out.

Is this correct? Don't I also need to show that I'm a part of a gun club, and that the .40 would have to be housed there on their premise? I've tried to read the legal-ese of all this, and I'm quite confused.

I also hear that the Firearms Act, though nationally, is in effect, however, the provinces can opt-out. What does that mean? If you're saying I can bring my .40, then I'm gonna do it!! I would just like to know, from an insider's POV, what really happens with all these forms, waiting period etc...

Can you shed some light?

Thanks!

EDIT: BTW, it's a Ruger P94 .40....as you can tell I love my Rugers :) Oh I forgot, what can I do to protect myself and my property when it comes to firearms inside my dwelling? I have read the C.C's and from what I gather, it's kind of like an eye of an eye, meaning if an intruder breaks in without a firearm then I don't have the authority to use my firearms, however, if he does and I recognize it, all bets are off.....IS this true?
 
Hello,

As far as I know you would need to take the courses. The application can take a bit of time. All I can say is make sure your references are easy to contact. When I did my application they tried to contact my references by phone. When they get a voice mail that doesn't identify the owner by name they won't leave messages. They then send the person a letter. In my case that took over a month. I ended up phoning the firearms centre and having both my references phone in to them, this was done about two weeks before they recived the letters from the CFC

A membership at a range or shooting club makes restricted ownership far easier. You do not have to store the .40 there. It can be stored in accordance with regulations at your residence. You will need an authorizeatio to transport to take it to a range though.

The firearms act is confusing and designed to discourage firearms ownership in general. The provinces can't really opt out, but they are free to additionaly regulate. Quebec is the only province I know of that has laws over and above the federal ones. Alberta has always opposed the firearms act as it is so that is all that really applies here.

If you have qustions you can all the firearms centre and ask them. I have found that they are fairly helpful. You can also contact the cheif firearms officer for Alberta and they may be able to help you out.
 
Each province has a CFO that has a small amount of leeway on how to implement the national gun laws. Alberta is generally recognized as having the best service and most gun-friendly CFO, so good choice in that regard :) As others have stated, nothing in your list should be a problem, potentially even your .40. You can get an 'associate membership' at TSE (local indoor range) for something like $40/yr that will suffice for permit needs.

This may be a good read for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Canada


I moved here from Ft. Collins many, many years ago. Welcome!
 
subdermal said:
Each province has a CFO that has a small amount of leeway on how to implement the national gun laws. Alberta is generally recognized as having the best service and most gun-friendly CFO, so good choice in that regard :) As others have stated, nothing in your list should be a problem, potentially even your .40. You can get an 'associate membership' at TSE (local indoor range) for something like $40/yr that will suffice for permit needs.

This may be a good read for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Canada


I moved here from Ft. Collins many, many years ago. Welcome!
Click to expand...

NICE! We're moving from Lafayette (just east of the People Republic of Boulder)
 
I have read the C.C's and from what I gather, it's kind of like an eye of an eye, meaning if an intruder breaks in without a firearm then I don't have the authority to use my firearms, however, if he does and I recognize it, all bets are off.....IS this true?
Click to expand...

Is this what you read?
 
hello and welcome to calgary :) i wonder if we could trade citizenship? lol

anyways, let's go shoosting when you get here, i'll teach you of all the ways you can get arrested here.

cheers
florin
 
Congratulations. Calgary is a good city. Good thing you are living in the NW, you might need that .40 if you were living in the NE.
 
Robmcleod82 said:
Hi Chris welcome to Calgary and cgn, like stated above your shotgun is good to go. If you need someone to go shooting with or just to show you around send me a pm and Id be more than happy to meet up with you.
Click to expand...

florin79 said:
hello and welcome to calgary :) i wonder if we could trade citizenship? lol

anyways, let's go shoosting when you get here, i'll teach you of all the ways you can get arrested here.

cheers
florin
Click to expand...

Thanks for the invite guys....I'll keep you mind once I get up there. After all of this migration stuff, and we're finally be up there, I'll be wanting to shoot stuff :) :cheers:
 
For your PAL/RPAL, you can get them at the same time. You don't have to get the PAL and then the RPAL. It's a full day course and tests offered at numerous places. Prices and availability can vary. After you pass the tests and send in your application, you can call to check on the progress. I took the course and tests at the Calgary Rifle and Pistol Club.

It can be a time consuming process, but it's not that bad really.

And by the way, if you want to blend in around here, the second "a" in Calgary, is silent.

Welcome to town.

Dan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom