Hello from the UK

S

stu-pot

New member
Hi folks,
my name is Stuart and i'm currently in the UK waiting for my visa so i can move to Nova Scotia with my family.
I enjoy shooting over here though its mainly vermin control for local farms using shotguns and air rifles(PCP).
I would like to bring my airguns with me when we move to Canada but i'm concerned that their muzzle velocity is in excess of the 500fps and would require a FAC whereas in the UK the don't (11.8/lb).
Could any of you point me in the right direction as to where i might find out how/or if i could go about import these with the right paperwork?
I have asked in a couple of police stations whilst in Canada and they seem unsure and the local gun shop said you have to be a resident before you can apply for a permit. Any info would be of help.

Stuart
 
The local police won't know and probably don't care. The best thing to do is to get your PAL (Canadian FAC equivalent) and pre register your pellet guns before you come. You should be able to do this from the UK. Contact the Canadian Firearms Centre (www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca) for more details.

Unless your pellet guns are of any value you might want to think about leaving them in the UK and buying something real when you get here. BTW eastern Canada is full of liberal types (I know there are lots of CGN members who will jump on this statement) who don't like shooting - if you like to shoot you're better off moving out west. Anywhere west of Ontario is good.
 
Welcome, Stuart -
As a non-native Nova Scotian (I am a Canadian citizen who moved here from the US about two-and-a-half years ago), let me welcome you. I'm retired and live on what's known as the South Shore, in the very small, rural community of Sable River. Do you have a location yet? I'm almost 200 kilometers west of Halifax. I don't do a lot of shooting, but have a collection that I work at fairly seriously. I'm one of the few who is actually registered as a collector.

You should contact the Canada Firearms Centre. I'm not sure how it works to phone here from there, but in Canada we call, toll-free, 1-800-731-4000. You can also find them on-line, of course, and that's probably the quickest way to get started. Before I moved here I got a good deal of information on-line, but eventually I had to call to clarify some things.

CFC is the government body that regulates firearms for the country and the only organization that can provide you with official information. In addition each province has a Chief Firearms Officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His phone number in Halifax is 1-800-731-4000, Extension 6505. But CFC is the first place to go. They're not always best informed about technical matters, and it's best to make sure they understand exactly what you have and what you need. They can also advise you about dealing with Border Services (Customs), but keep in mind that Border Services is quite a separate agency with their own rules. However, once you have your paperwork from CFC, BSA can easily accept your firearms into the country. The thing is, you need to have all your CFC paperwork done first. Part of that will have to be an Authorization to Transport, which will specify a date and time when you may cross the border into Canada with guns.

I think timing will be your biggest problem. You must be licensed and to do that you must pass a test, either by challenge or by taking a specific course. I don't think it's possible to do that outside of Canada. Until you're licensed you cannot possess or obtain guns. If you bring them with you, Border Services will hold them until you get your paperwork in order. In my case I left my guns with a friend in the US and then went to retrieve them after I had all the paperwork and licensing. I had no problems at the border. I don't know how you'll do that from the UK, but CFC will advise you.

There are many excellent people at this site who would be happy to help (me included). You can send me email at dp1959@ns.sympatico.ca at any time.
Best of luck,
David
 
Thank you all for the info, it looks like i might sell them before i move as i've found out that my divers airtank wouldn't be legal/ recognised over in Canada. And charging them up using a stirup pump would mean a long wait until my arms could hold the guns steady. I'll bring the scopes and night vision over (but leave the moderators - to be honest you fire once and everything runs anyway except that you've shot)
 
stu-pot said:
Hi EEJayde
I'm in Hindley just outside of Wigan at the moment
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Ahhh a Manc!! I drove through Wigan once :p I lived in Cumbria for a while...and Edinburgh...and London :rolleyes: I was in the UK for 3-4 years. Great place to be from - wouldn't want to live there permanently though :D

Good luck with the migration! Intercontinental moves and dealing with immigration is a royal pain in the a$$, but it'll be worth it in the end. And welcome again to CGN!
 
EEJayde said:
Ahhh a Manc!! I drove through Wigan once :p I lived in Cumbria for a while...and Edinburgh...and London :rolleyes: I was in the UK for 3-4 years. Great place to be from - wouldn't want to live there permanently though :D

Good luck with the migration! Intercontinental moves and dealing with immigration is a royal pain in the a$$, but it'll be worth it in the end. And welcome again to CGN!
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lol, actually i was born in the midlands so i'm not a Manc, although up here they think i'm a Brummie which is worse
 
Hello and welcome to the mighty CGN.
Have a look at the Newbie FAQ Section. The link is in my sigline below.

Technically you do not have to be a resident of Canada to obtain a PAL. It is possible for US citizens to get one, so no reason you cannot either. Other than the little detail of finding an instructor to give you the test! Do you plan to come here prior to the actual move?

Anyway, best of luck.
 
Jess said:
The local police won't know and probably don't care. The best thing to do is to get your PAL (Canadian FAC equivalent) and pre register your pellet guns before you come. You should be able to do this from the UK. Contact the Canadian Firearms Centre (www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca) for more details.

Unless your pellet guns are of any value you might want to think about leaving them in the UK and buying something real when you get here. BTW eastern Canada is full of liberal types (I know there are lots of CGN members who will jump on this statement) who don't like shooting - if you like to shoot you're better off moving out west. Anywhere west of Ontario is good.
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Well Jess all I can say is get your head out of your A_ss. Lots of pro gun people in N.S. and good clubs to join and shoot at and you would be hard pressed to find a nicer place to live than the South Shore of N.S.

Stuart, the Lunenburg Gun Club is on the South Shore of N.S. - Shotgun sports , handgun and rifle so feel free to look me up when you arrive,




.
 
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Welcome to CGN, I am an ex patriot from the midlands, came here in 1980 live in Alberta.

Good look in your move, Canadians are the best people in the world, I should know I am one.

There is some outlets for the PCP rifles and equipment, contact me if you want any help in that department.
 
Best of luck with you're move to Canada.
It's truly the best country to live in.
I wouldn't worry too much about the BB guns.
No one needs to know how fast they go.:)
 
Welcome, I was over in England in 1984 (day trip to London hardly counts does it? :D) Nova Scotia is a little restrictive especially with regards to bs hoops to jump through for ATT renewals for your pistols, you don't see this crap in a lot of western provinces for some reason; maybe the CFO here is power hungry or something. :rolleyes: but otherwise I'm happy to live here, it's nice enough, but I was born here so I might be a little biased. ;)
 
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