To USA and back-with guns

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cheetah_frodo

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I'd like to attend one of the big US rendezvous, but don't know how much hassle it will be to take the weaponry down.Also, I've been hearing horror-stories about Homeland Security confiscating everything in sight, and if the US let me in with a pistol, would Canada let me back??
 
No hassles... In either direction.

BATFE Form6NIA for the trip south.

Coming home....
PAL, registration slips and in the case of restricted guns an ATT for the border exit/entry point.
 
cheetah_frodo said:
I'd like to attend one of the big US rendezvous, but don't know how much hassle it will be to take the weaponry down.Also, I've been hearing horror-stories about Homeland Security confiscating everything in sight, and if the US let me in with a pistol, would Canada let me back??
Click to expand...

It's easy.

how can we carry in the states?


Get your passport. Buy a U.S. state hunting license (any state, such as Alaska). Apply to ATF for an Form 6NIA. (You need the approved Form 6NIA to temporarily import firearms; you'll need a valid American hunting license or match invitation to posses firearms or ammunition in the U.S.) Check the laws in the state of your destination; you may need to meet extra laws of the respective state(s).

You will also want to have a copies of your match invitation (and/or information about the event) and your hotel reservation to help the CBP agent better understand your purpose and destination.

If you are taking restricted firearms and/or prohibited handguns, you will need a valid ATT. If you are taking (12.6 category grandfathered) prohibited handguns, you will also need an export permit and import permit from DFAIT.

Coming back you'll need your registration certificates (and ATT, if applicable, and import permit, if applicable).

ATF P 5300.18 — Nonimmigrant Aliens Purchasing Firearms and Ammunition in the United States
ATF F 5330.3D (Form 6 NIA) — Application and Permit fo Temporary Importation of Firearms and Ammunition by Nonimmigrant Aliens

Canada's Firearm Program - Importing and Exporting Firearms

Export Controls>Firearms>Frequently Asked Questions
Export Controls>Firearms>Applying for an Export Permit for Firearms, Firearms Related Goods and Ammunition>Common Scenarios
Export Controls>Firearms>Applying for an Export Permit for Firearms, Firearms Related Goods and Ammunition

CBSA Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada
 
Just a reminder if it's a precribed antique you don't need a form 6N1A. Take any documentation that proves antique status( book, rcmp letter, etc). As mentioned previously you should stop at the Canadian side first and get customs to fill out/sign the green Identification of Articles for Temporary Exportation card(to avoid return custom fees/taxes). Despite the fact they will want to see your gun, don't walk in with it right off the bat. They seem to get funny/edgy with people carrying even cased unloaded firearms into their house. Don't be surprised if one or more of their folks walks back with you to your car with their hand on their PX4s. Did I mention these guys/gals can get edgy even with an average well dressed middle aged kinda a guy.

Declare your firearm at the US side, be prepared for secondary inspection, intimidating looks,cavity search, seemingly stupid questions, etc.
Avoid states like New Jersey as you will be treated worse than a gang banger and be eligible for some serious time no matter what kind of firearm you are transporting.

Otherwise easy peasy
 
Here's a website listing the shoots South of us.
http://wamuzzleloaders.org/RENDEZVOUS%20SCHEDULE.htm

I usually go to 5 of them in Washington, my favourite is Evergreen, just SE of Olypmpia , campsites with water and power $10/night. Really good shoot also, they have a different trail for the Spring and Fall shoot, plus an 8 station trap shoot with dbles, so you need a SXS shotgun for that.

I carry a letter from the BATF, with the description of "prescribed antiques", a copy of Washington State firearm laws,my PAL,my ATT, and green card, in an accordion file. I only bring muzzleloaders, pistol included.
Ocasionaly I'm asked for my form 6, at this point I'll casually mention, that in Washington you don't need an FFL to buy a muzzleloader, it sinks in then, these are not firearms.
I personally know a few people who have been turned back, because they weren't prepared.
I would suggest you get your green card at your nearest Customs office. Lately they have refused to issue at the border, because of lack of serial #s and their ability to identify.
Cheers nessy.
 
apu said:
Despite the fact they will want to see your gun...with their hand on their PX4s...
Click to expand...
...Declare your firearm at the US side, be prepared for secondary inspection, intimidating looks,cavity search, seemingly stupid questions, etc...
Click to expand...

If your paperwork, manner, and story is both thorough and clear to them, and all in order, all they will then say is something like, "You're good.", or, "You're good, Sir."

(No secondary, no delay, no inspection.)

It is easy.
 
A lot of border guards don't recognise , muzzleloader, flintlock , but they ALL know what a musket is. I always declare how many "muskets" I'm carrying.
You will be asked whereabouts you have them. Their concern is , how avilable are they to you ? So store them properly, I usually have them in my travel trailer, locked and inaccessible.
One time at the truck crossing Vancouver to Wa. I ahd cleared the secondary inspection, and there was a border guard at the exit of the parking lot, he walked behind my vehicle and laughed when he saw my CGn bumpersticker, and said "You're Cdn you can't have guns " I laughed and said "that's why I've just been inspected, I've got guns " He never said another word, just waved me through.
Cheers nessy
 
I realize this is in the Blackpowder and Antiques forum, so the following may not apply, but with regard to modern firearms:
  • You should not plan to bring any Norinco firearms into the United States.
  • Also short (< 16") barreled rifles and some other things that require only a PAL or RPAL (or nothing) in Canada require additional paperwork in the U.S., best to leave these off your 6NIA application.
Snapshot
 
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Wendell said:
If your paperwork, manner, and story is both thorough and clear to them, and all in order, all they will then say is something like, "You're good.", or, "You're good, Sir."

(No secondary, no delay, no inspection.)

It is easy.
Click to expand...

I wish I had experienced your version of how it should happen the last time I crossed the US border with a antique firearm but alas I did not.
I was transporting an antique handgun in order to post to a US gunsmith . I had all the paperwork, manner and appropriate patter. The moment the word handgun entered the conversation I got nothing but grief on both sides.
 
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I just crossed into the US recently and was well prepared as I was last year with the help of Wendell and others. I crossed last year at the Peace Bridge into NY at Buffalo without any trouble whatever. Actually I did get refused when I asked to complete and receive a form I-94 but that's another story.

I prepared in the same way this year and again went to the Peace Bridge crossing. The first US "Customs" guy said all was OK but asked that I park my RV so that they could verify serial numbers. I did so and went into the office and waited. After ten minutes of so another officer came out and told me I would NOT be allowed to cross into NY because under state law, anyone in possession of handguns must have a NY permit. He then turned me around and escorted me back to the Canadian entry point before he surrendered my passports. I drove from there to London Ontario and then to the Sarnia crossing point the next day where I got into Michigan without trouble. According to the Peace Bridge customs officer I would be guilty of a felony if I entered NY with my handguns. I still haven't resolved all of this but did hear from others who had the same problem. As always, I could have argued but didn't knowing it's a no win situation. I will follow this thread to see what others have experienced and/or know.
 
The "attitude" of the agents may differ from State to State. For example Vermont agents are usually more easy going about the whole thing, I figure because their State's gun laws are so gun friendly.
 
I took my antique muzzleloader into the Canada Customs office before I went into the States to get an ID for it. The guard looked at it and said "That's an oldie". On his own he put the Customs ID sticky inside the patch box lid so it would not show on the outside and mess the antique look.
The guard in the US side wanted to see it when I declared it. It was in my trunk and she took it out, looked at it and put it back. No problem.
Coming back the Canadian guards looked at it and were more interested in the notes and gun catalogues I had.
 
One of my conclusions is that there is a great deal of inconsistency at the borders. We have to remember that we are dealing with people. I'm convinced that some of these people are great while equally convinced that many of them don't know the law in either country. Others have the egos of monsters as they know they have disproportional power of us. Last year, the Canadian BG's asked to verify the serial numbers of my guns after looking at my well organised documentation. Once in my RV and my safe was opened, both of the young men acted somewhat embarrassed at the inconvenience of the procedure and were more interested in my guns which are all above average pieces.

This year when I told the Canadian officers that I had been turned back and why, one of the older senior guys told me he didn't understand what had happened and had himself shot a match in NY recently so go figure.

One piece of advice I could offer is to be very well organised. All of my documentation is in a neatly arranged and labeled binder. When asked for it, I can turn the binder over with no hesitation or fumbling. All the officers need to do is flip the pages to get a record of my entire firearms life. The documents are all copies but I have the originals in a second equally organised binder. I don't like to see the originals of any of my stuff disappear into a back office.
 
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