Questions for guys who compete south of the border

Craig0ry

Craig0ry

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I have a few questions for you guys who compete down south, a few friends I run 3 gun with were talking about going to a match in Minnesota, I really have no interest in the state of Minnesota even if its for a shoot.
My questions are:
Where do you start with paperwork for exporting/importing your firearms? Is it a major hassle or not that bad?

In the case of an ar15 would you have to have a 16" barrel in order to take it across?

Are you allowed to take your own ammo? Or do you have to source it stateside?

What do you do with magazines? Take and shoot your Canadian legal ones? Or source or borrow hi cap ones once your down there?

Any input is appreciated. Thanks guys!
 
Firearms is easy, form6nia. Easiest way is to get a hunting license. Doesn't have to be for Minnesota.

Ammo you include on form6nia. But you can always buy ammo to use down south. You cannot bring left overs back tho.

16" barrel required on all rifles and 18" and longer on shotguns. No Chinese or Russian made.

Magazines bring your Canadian legal plus a drill and riveter. Drill out rivets use full capacity then repin before going north.
 
Thanks guys, I passed on the info to my buddies, iam no where near set up for states shooting, Dont have an at long enough except my 180b and my comp shotgun is Chinese haha,
Does the no Chinese or Russian apply to ammo brought as well?
 
You don't need a hunting license for the form 6....you don't even need an invite.

But if/when you do cross the border, you will likely need documentation to support your reason for entering the us....an invite is good for this.

Sounds like you still have some of the proper gear to get....but the form 6 process is actually quite easy...

With respect to mags, some guys also his leave their US mags in a locker or with a friend.
 
you will need a current within 30 days invite, should be typed up and contain the gun range letterhead, should also contain the range officer name or who is putting on the shoot and the letter should be from that person, also a contact phone number and email in case customs want to confirm this person

the more info the better,

trust me I know

Jeff





Onagoth said:
You don't need a hunting license for the form 6....you don't even need an invite.

But if/when you do cross the border, you will likely need documentation to support your reason for entering the us....an invite is good for this.

Sounds like you still have some of the proper gear to get....but the form 6 process is actually quite easy...

With respect to mags, some guys also his leave their US mags in a locker or with a friend.
Click to expand...
 
Jefferson said:
you will need a current within 30 days invite, should be typed up and contain the gun range letterhead, should also contain the range officer name or who is putting on the shoot and the letter should be from that person, also a contact phone number and email in case customs want to confirm this person

the more info the better,

trust me I know

Jeff
Click to expand...

You don't need that for the form 6. For the past 3-4 years I have provided nothing with my app and it gets approved. In reality, you shouldn't even need this documents at all since Canadians are admitted to the US without a VISA, but the ATF and the DOJ decided that it makes sense to continue to ask for them, even though they technically are not legally required.

Having said that, at the border the guards will want to see these. The letterhead is a good point. In October we got grilled a bit because our USPSA invite wasn't printed on club letterhead.
 
bsand said:
Firearms is easy, form6nia. Easiest way is to get a hunting license. Doesn't have to be for Minnesota.

Ammo you include on form6nia. But you can always buy ammo to use down south. You cannot bring left overs back tho. .
Click to expand...



Incorrect X2


You don't need a hunting lic or invite to get a F6NIA and you are not allowed to leave left over ammo behind. Unused ammo must be taken back out of the US



Just download and read the F6NIA form yourself.
 
Here's what I learned going to Arizona a little under a year ago... We were attending training, drove into Washington, then flew from Bellingham.

As a Canadian you don't NEED an invite, hunting license etc. to obtain the Form 6NIA from BATF. The US CBP officers also enforce State law, and Washington State requires you have a hunting license, invite, etc. In the end they accepted our enrollment e-mails.

Getting the Form 6NIA was quick and easy, the actual crossing will depend on the knowledge and demeanor of the CBP officer processing you!!!! BATF can require one thing, but that won't help you when you're stuck at the border and some CBP officer has another interpretation. My advice is cross at LARGE crossings during regular Monday to Friday business hours so Supervisors are present to clarify.
 
667 said:
Incorrect X2


You don't need a hunting lic or invite to get a F6NIA and you are not allowed to leave left over ammo behind. Unused ammo must be taken back out of the US



Just download and read the F6NIA form yourself.
Click to expand...

I said if u buy ammo down south. You cannot bring it back.

Try crossing without an invite or hunting license you'll get turned back.
 
Onagoth said:
You don't need that for the form 6. For the past 3-4 years I have provided nothing with my app and it gets approved. In reality, you shouldn't even need this documents at all since Canadians are admitted to the US without a VISA, but the ATF and the DOJ decided that it makes sense to continue to ask for them, even though they technically are not legally required.

Having said that, at the border the guards will want to see these. The letterhead is a good point. In October we got grilled a bit because our USPSA invite wasn't printed on club letterhead.
Click to expand...

The 6NIA form seems to indicate a requirement for an invitation letter, but then I never bothered to chase down the details on the regulations cited. It was easier (I thought) to just get an invitation letter.
Form 6NIA Invitation Requirement.jpg

Maybe it depends on the officer reviewing your application. My first 6NIA was denied because I used a generic invitation from a Washington club, on my 2nd application I included a club invitation that was addressed to me. That application was approved within 24 hours.
 

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VanMan said:
The 6NIA form seems to indicate a requirement for an invitation letter, but then I never bothered to chase down the details on the regulations cited. It was easier (I thought) to just get an invitation letter.
View attachment 79425

Maybe it depends on the officer reviewing your application. My first 6NIA was denied because I used a generic invitation from a Washington club, on my 2nd application I included a club invitation that was addressed to me. That application was approved within 24 hours.
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It definitely does not depend on the processor. The thing about the ATF is that they are VERY slow updating their forms, but you've copied from a way older form anyways (question 15 is now the question asking about ammo). A clarification was released a few years ago indicating that Canadians did not have to provide these documents when applying for a Form 6. Next time you apply, check No to question 13/14 and send it in....it'll be approved just fine

BTW, the updated form (last revised August 2011) has a field for your email address, which makes the whole process even faster.

https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/atf-f-5330-3dpdf/download
 
Onagoth said:
It definitely does not depend on the processor. The thing about the ATF is that they are VERY slow updating their forms, but you've copied from a way older form anyways (question 15 is now the question asking about ammo). A clarification was released a few years ago indicating that Canadians did not have to provide these documents when applying for a Form 6. Next time you apply, check No to question 13/14 and send it in....it'll be approved just fine

BTW, the updated form (last revised August 2011) has a field for your email address, which makes the whole process even faster.

https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/atf-f-5330-3dpdf/download
Click to expand...

Interesting, the form I filled out shows revised December 2014. Can't remember where I downloaded it from though.
 
VanMan said:
Interesting, the form I filled out shows revised December 2014. Can't remember where I downloaded it from though.
Click to expand...

I think I may have originally got it off of the Custer web site, but it's available from the ATF website here h ttps://www.atf.gov/file/11386/download
Looks like they have not updated the links on some of their web pages to go to the updated form though.
 
Vanman I shoot down in Seattle at the Renton Gun Club (IDPA WA State Championship & occasional club matches). I get the NWPPA, the org that runs the State match and monthly IDPA matches to give me an open invite to their club matches and the State Match once a year. I cross at Abbotsford and never have an issue. Every couple of years a new Border type will send me to secondary so they can look at my guns. This summer the Cdn Border types decided they had to take a peak at them as well. I was on my way in about five minutes. Mostly times they just swipe my passport and send me on my way.

Take Care

Bob
 
bsand said:
Try crossing without an invite or hunting license you'll get turned back.
Click to expand...

bsand, I think you and 667 are both right... As I said, CBP also enforce State laws... Washington State will not allow us in without a valid license or invite, even though the BATF doesn't require it. Things may be different at crossings in other States.
 
Canuck44 said:
Vanman I shoot down in Seattle at the Renton Gun Club (IDPA WA State Championship & occasional club matches). I get the NWPPA, the org that runs the State match and monthly IDPA matches to give me an open invite to their club matches and the State Match once a year. I cross at Abbotsford and never have an issue. Every couple of years a new Border type will send me to secondary so they can look at my guns. This summer the Cdn Border types decided they had to take a peak at them as well. I was on my way in about five minutes. Mostly times they just swipe my passport and send me on my way.

Take Care

Bob
Click to expand...

Darn it, now I regret selling that Ken Soucie 625 even more lol.

My 6NIA is good for another couple of months. I should get my butt in gear and head down to a USPSA shoot in Washington as we won't be running any IPSC matches around here until April. Sure would be nice if I could use my Nexus pass at the border, but I've heard that going through the Sumas or Matsqui border crossings is not too time consuming.
 
VanMan said:
Darn it, now I regret selling that Ken Soucie 625 even more lol.

My 6NIA is good for another couple of months. I should get my butt in gear and head down to a USPSA shoot in Washington as we won't be running any IPSC matches around here until April. Sure would be nice if I could use my Nexus pass at the border, but I've heard that going through the Sumas or Matsqui border crossings is not too time consuming.
Click to expand...

Sumas-Huntingdon is usually pretty quick. Again, I suggest you cross there 8-4 Mon-Fri so you have supervisors to fall back upon if issues crop up...
 
Phat Eagle said:
Sumas-Huntingdon is usually pretty quick. Again, I suggest you cross there 8-4 Mon-Fri so you have supervisors to fall back upon if issues crop up...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips, I'll make sure I have a printed invitation and/or printed registration receipt for the match. Probably head down early morning of the match so will have to take my chances on a weekend day :)
 
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