I know it's come up before, and the consensus was "Legal" which made me wonder, why aren't they in every store in Canada then? Took a quick run through the firearms act and CC, all looked good. But...
From CBSA (who will be the thorn in my side if I try to bring some up from the states)
Ammunition
You may import authorized sporting and competitive ammunition and reloading components for your personal use.
Quantities that may be imported for personal use and not for sale without requiring an Explosives Importation Permit from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) include:
small-arms, sporting ammunition, up to a maximum of 5,000 rounds;
primers, up to a quantity of 5,000;
empty primed cartridge cases, up to a quantity of 5,000; and
propellants, smokeless powder in containers not exceeding 4 kilograms and black powder in containers not exceeding 500 grams, up to a maximum total combined quantity of 8 kilograms, (17.66 pounds).
Consult with the Explosives Regulatory Division at NRCan to determine if the ammunition you wish to import is authorized and approved for importation and use in Canada. Note that tracer, armour-piercing and similar military cartridges are prohibited under Canadian law.
And NRCAN (I really hate these guys, all gun owners should)
3.1 Products Not Authorized in Canada
Certain cartridges and accessories will not be authorized. For example, if a cartridge (or ammunition) is included in the Criminal Code regulations under SOR/98-462 “Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted,” the request will be addressed accordingly.
The following types of cartridges and accessories will not be authorized for commercial purposes:
cartridges and projectiles that are prohibited under the Criminal Code (R.S., c. C-34, s.1.); this includes any cartridge.........
ammunition that includes a tracer, an incendiary composition, a high explosive or other similar military-type ammunition;
So what does it all mean? CBSA has, in my opinion, never had good interpretations of the law, they just play god and do as they see fit. But NRCAN does have a legitimate stake in what does or does not go when it comes to ammunition as it is a form of explosive (again I REALLY don't like NRCAN, they never let us have any fun lol). Anyhow, so it seems like the absence of tracers in the CC and Firearms Act is our undoing, because this gave NRCAN the last word on the matter, and of course that word was flat out "NO!" Does anyone know of some overriding doctrine that says otherwise? Because from what I see tracers are NOT legal
From CBSA (who will be the thorn in my side if I try to bring some up from the states)
Ammunition
You may import authorized sporting and competitive ammunition and reloading components for your personal use.
Quantities that may be imported for personal use and not for sale without requiring an Explosives Importation Permit from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) include:
small-arms, sporting ammunition, up to a maximum of 5,000 rounds;
primers, up to a quantity of 5,000;
empty primed cartridge cases, up to a quantity of 5,000; and
propellants, smokeless powder in containers not exceeding 4 kilograms and black powder in containers not exceeding 500 grams, up to a maximum total combined quantity of 8 kilograms, (17.66 pounds).
Consult with the Explosives Regulatory Division at NRCan to determine if the ammunition you wish to import is authorized and approved for importation and use in Canada. Note that tracer, armour-piercing and similar military cartridges are prohibited under Canadian law.
And NRCAN (I really hate these guys, all gun owners should)
3.1 Products Not Authorized in Canada
Certain cartridges and accessories will not be authorized. For example, if a cartridge (or ammunition) is included in the Criminal Code regulations under SOR/98-462 “Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted,” the request will be addressed accordingly.
The following types of cartridges and accessories will not be authorized for commercial purposes:
cartridges and projectiles that are prohibited under the Criminal Code (R.S., c. C-34, s.1.); this includes any cartridge.........
ammunition that includes a tracer, an incendiary composition, a high explosive or other similar military-type ammunition;
So what does it all mean? CBSA has, in my opinion, never had good interpretations of the law, they just play god and do as they see fit. But NRCAN does have a legitimate stake in what does or does not go when it comes to ammunition as it is a form of explosive (again I REALLY don't like NRCAN, they never let us have any fun lol). Anyhow, so it seems like the absence of tracers in the CC and Firearms Act is our undoing, because this gave NRCAN the last word on the matter, and of course that word was flat out "NO!" Does anyone know of some overriding doctrine that says otherwise? Because from what I see tracers are NOT legal
