Shipping Ammo by Courier to Ontario for Canadian Championship......

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Gunsmoke

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This post is intended to share my recent, very frustrating experience in dealing with an "un-named" courier company whose primary colours are yellow and red.

On August 3rd I delivered my ammo to the local courier depot in Abbotsford, BC. The intended delivery location being Richmond, Ontario which is located near Kanata or south of Ottawa. The person who received my package in Abbotsford inspected the contents with her supervisor and confirmed that all of the labels, packaging and waybill infomation was in ordered, I paid my $ and off I went.

Unknown to me, the employees with this particular courier company cannot read their own waybills (they tried using the "faulty scanner" excuse several times but that didn't fly with me). Over a period of 15 days, my parcel was processed three times in Burnaby, BC, twice in Richmond, BC, twice in Brampton, ON, Markham ON, Dieppe NB, St. Foy PQ and then finally in Nepean ON....at which time it was, needless to say, 5 days late!!

After a heating discussion with a supervisor, I convinced him to return my ammo to BC and they managed to do it in only 5 days!!!

I have spoken to numerous agents and supervisors with this company and in the end, I know I will get shafted. Nobody in this particular courier company has the decency to call me back when I have left messages and all promises to call me back have not been met. :mad::mad::mad:

The motto for this company should be "D'er H'always Late!"
 
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Richard;

Fortunately for me; I was staying with Don and in his usual calm manner proposed a contingency plan once we realized there was no hope to get my ammo in time. If not for Don, I was destined to be a spectator. He did have a bunch of ammo loaded with a recipe very close to my own pet load that we were able to seat the bullets in a bit more to make sure they fit (for length) in my chamber. They were loaded with new FL resized brass and for some reason (not sure why), I discovered at the firing point that several rounds would not chamber in my gun. I shot with Don on the first day and Paul R on the second day. They were both aware of my situation and very accommodating at the firing point when I was fiddling with several rounds that would not go.

The experience of shooting at longer ranges (in wind) and time spent with Don, Paul and all the great guys I met from Ontario was invaluable.....but as a competitor, you put alot into getting things ready including reloading (and testing) your own ammo and that is what you expect to have at the firing point.

Others from the BC rifle team also had challenges with the same courier company but I believe my situation was the extreme.

Will keep you posted as to my discussions with "yellow and red".

Brian
 
When we shipped ammunition to a central point for a repack and shipment to Bisley, it was with Purolator. Worked well for all of us (4 or 5 shipped, 1 or 2 drove it in I believe).

DHL - rare that I see an undamaged parcel.
 
What kind of hoops do you need to jump through to take it on a plane? (I assume you flew) That's a long way to go for something like that to happen, I would not have been impressed either. Good thing people were able to help out and you could still shoot, would have been a long week watching..
 
Budweiser360 said:
What kind of hoops do you need to jump through to take it on a plane? (I assume you flew) That's a long way to go for something like that to happen, I would not have been impressed either. Good thing people were able to help out and you could still shoot, would have been a long week watching..
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You are limited to 5KG or 5lbs (can't remember which) of loaded ammunition on the plane.
 
CyaN1de said:
You are limited to 5KG or 5lbs (can't remember which) of loaded ammunition on the plane.
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5 kg per person, about 11 pounds, which, depending on case & bullet weight, translates into about 200 rounds maximum in .308W. Packing is supposed to be part of the weight ... but ... I have not heard of anyone having their ammo weighed (yet).
 
My understanding in talking to the airlines is that you can take up to 5 kg of factory loaded ammo in original factory boxes. It is also stated on the form you sign. Not really an option IMHO.
 
two problems.... one, you can get in $hit from CGN for discussing and advocating illegal activities, and secondly, concealing the nature of a dangerous good shipment violates the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, which is a federal statute.
 
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Ian;

Amen!!....I checked my options thoroughly beforehand. At the time that I dropped off my package with the courier company I was told that if my shipping box had not been properly labelled with a "UN code" that I could be subject to a very stiff fine under the TDG regs. Fortunately, I had spoken to several local shooters beforehand.

Trying to stuff reloaded ammo into factory boxes and throwing it into my suitcase raises an entirely different set of issues. Let's not go there.
 
Drawblood;

Don't be so quick to underestimate Airport Security....one of the ladies who was in charge of x-raying and inspecting luggage revealed to me that she is an IPSC competitor when she examined my luggage....maybe not a "weapons expert" but I am sure she could make life miserable if one were to try to pull a fast one....
 
Gunsmoke said:
My understanding in talking to the airlines is that you can take up to 5 kg of factory loaded ammo in original factory boxes. It is also stated on the form you sign. Not really an option IMHO.
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That's where you've got to be prepared and do the research in advance. Know the UN0012 designation for Ammunition, Small Arms and the TDG 1.4S and Limited Quantities designations. This is from the scarecanada website:

http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/hunting_equip.html#firearms-ammunition


**** "Only shells and cartridges are accepted and must be carried in checked baggage. Gunpowder and gunpowder pellets are strictly prohibited.

Ammunition allowance is limited to 5 kg (11 lb) per passenger. Allowances for more than one passenger cannot be combined into one or more packages.

View related information in the ‘Firearms' section below.

Packing instructions

Ammunition must be packed separately from the firearm in a secure, strong container made of wood, metal or plastic. The original carton can also be used but it recommended that the carton be placed in a secondary package such as a resealable plastic container.

To avoid shock movement, the properly packaged ammunition must then be placed inside a suitcase and cushioned with clothing." ****
 
Gunsmoke said:
My understanding in talking to the airlines is that you can take up to 5 kg of factory loaded ammo in original factory boxes. It is also stated on the form you sign. Not really an option IMHO.
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Find out the exact wording, I don't think it is "factory ammo". The last time I checked (many years ago admittedly) the wording was along the lines of the ammunition having to be in the manufacturer's original packaging. My reading of this is that the manufacturer (i.e. me) used plastic MTM boxes for the ammo, hence the ammo was in its original packaging.

A few people had delays in getting their ammo shipped to Ottawa this year. DHL was apparently holding up several shipments in their Ottawa office. Purolator delayed a shipment from NL because it was mislabelled (though with the knowledge and approval of their NL staff).
 
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