[Terry G]

If you don't mind, would you tell me exactly how restrictive the gun laws are in Canada? From the information I got from the Tourist bureau, I know that AR-15s, AK's, and all pistols are banned. Is it the same for Canadian citizens? I had no problem bringing in an SKS's and SMLE last year, and this year I didn't bring anything, much to my regret. One of the fishing guides I spoke to told me had fired a pistol exactly once, and would love to own one, but couldn't.

 

[Garand]

http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/en/owners_users/guide/default.asp

This is the official site of the government that lists all the regulations. It depends on your terms of restrictive. Those people who owned a full auto firearm before 1978 have them grandfathered. Those that had AK's and handguns with barrels shorter than 4.14" prior to 1995 have them grandfathered. If you own firearms in those classes you can buy and sell at will. Unfortunately no one else can get in those classes. The AR 15 is in the same class as a Colt Python or a Colt Gov't Model, you just take an approved safety course and have no criminal record then you can go out and buy 1, 2, 3, or 300 if you want to.

As for magazines, for bolt action rifles and .22 no limit, for semi auto rifles 5 rds (except for the Garand), semi auto handguns 10 rds. Importing firearms today is the same for you as it is for me trying to bring guns into the US. If you got lots of time and are willing to jump through enormous hoops it can be done, along with a ton of paperwork. We still get lots of American hunters coming up here though, so it is being done.

 

[John in AR]

Is it true that HP pistol ammo is illegal in Canada?

 

[Garand]

Nope, my standard .45 reload is 230 grain "Montana Gold" JHP. Excellent quality bullet by the way.

 

[84 C4]

HP ammo is illegal in NJ...unless it's in your place of residence.

 

[John in AR]

Strange. I read an article in a gun mag several years ago, where the author made a comment on not being able to test it with HP ammo where he was (in Canada) due to legalities.

Maybe it was a local restriction, not a Canada-wide thing.

 

[Garand]

It was on the books about 10 years ago, it was ignored by most dealers though. In the last round of gun laws it wasn't retained.

 

[mrostov]

I checked the Canadian regs.

It seems that I do not have to be either a citizen nor a resident to get a regular PAL ($60) or a PAL ($80) that includes restricted guns (handguns, AR's).

As a non-resident of Canada I can also simply get a NRFD (Non-Resident Firerms Declaration) good for a year for $50 and not have to register them, but instead just declare them at the border or port of entry.

The NRFD is good for unlimited crossings and entries. You just re-declare them to customs and a new number is issued. The NRFD acts as the temporary registation for your firearms while you are in Canada.

If you get a PAL you have to register them, but it doesn't expire in a year. You can also use it to buy guns while in Canada just like a Canadian.

Interestingly enough, in Canada percussion blackpowder weapons and airguns of a velocity of over 500fps are considered regular firearms, which they are not in the USA. In the USA, for instance, you can order percussion revolvers through the mail, no paperwork.

As a non-resident you can bring in 200 rounds of ammunition tax free, over that you pay duties on. Canadian residents can bring in 5000 rounds plus 5000 rounds in components including 8kg of powder.

 

[John in AR]

It was on the books about 10 years ago, it was ignored by most dealers though. In the last round of gun laws it wasn't retained.

That explains it. It was over ten years ago I read it. (After a certain age, "several years ago" can mean 5 or 15 years ago... )

 

[Garand]

Mike, we were discussing Magazine modification recently to comply with our current regulations. This is how I did it;
I took some flat steel ,works easier than aluminum
- bent the first 3/4-7/8 of the piece to a 90' angle
- drill 1/8 hole in plug about 3/8 away from cut end (see pic)
- then cut a guest-a-mated length needed to fit 5 rnds leaving a little extra to file/cut off later
- made 2 bends so that the stopping end would fit evenly between the spring guide
and rear mag guide on the follower so the only thing making contact is the stopping end
- load 5 EMPTY CASINGS in mag (with follower) and file/cut down till 5 rnds fit
and plug is flush with floorplate. Leave a little room so the fifth round isn't too tight.
- round off corners of stop end so they don't catch the spring
- install follower and spring
- feed plug through middle of spring making sure the stop end is fit evenly between the spring
guide and rear mag guide on the follower
- install floorplate and align hole with plughole and rivet with 1/8 rivet plus an additional rivet about 1/2" away
- make sure the plug base sits flush with floorplate (end of spring likes to sneak in between)
or it won't fit tight and will move around and the stop end will usually jam up in the spring as did my 30 rd AR mags;

Thats all there is to modifying the 30 rd AR mags.

 

[mrostov]

Very cool. Thanks I appreciate it.

Depending upon how you did that, you could just carry a spare floorplate or a spare follower for a fast change over.

Funny how it's now actually easier to own an AR-15 in Canada than California.

Unfortunately, an AR-15 is a restricted weapon, like a handgun. What are the limits on what you can do and where you can take a restricted weapon?

Probably about the best Canada semi-auto would be an M1A, a Garand, or a Mini-14.

 

[Garand]

I can hunt with my M1A and my Garand with no problems. I don't know many competitive shooters up here who use the Mini 14. By classifying the AR in the same class as a handgun limits its legal use mostly to ranges. That said this being Western Canada I know at least 2 people who use it on their ranches for preditor control.

 

[mrostov]

Is the FAL a restricted or prohibited weapon?

 

[Garand]

Its classed as a prohibited as it is a "converted full auto". So if you had one prior to Feb 1995 you are grandfathered and can buy or sell with others in that class.

 

[Magnum88C]

Now are any of these guns, particularly the restricted classes usable in self defense? Or is it as bad as England where you'll get punished more for defending yourself than someone will for murdering you?

 

[mrostov]

Well I would imagine that in the more remote areas of Western Canada they would do a lot like the rural folk in the US do - keep a pickup, a shovel, and a large bag of lime or lye handy.

 

[Garand]

 

[Garand]

Mike, if I get an opportunity I'll get a picture of the M1A mag followers that I had modified to give you an better explanation of how it was done.

 

[mrostov]

I'd appreciate that. The M1A is probably the best choice, aside from the Mini-14, due to the legalities. They are also very good weapons.

I'd rebarrel the Mini-14 before bringing one north. Heard many Eskimos like to used them.

The quickest way to make a Mini-14 accurate is to slice the barrel down to 16" and crown it, but in Canada the minimum legal barrel length is 18" for semi-autos. Since the Mini-14 is already 18", best to rebarrel it.

The Mini-14 is capable of the same level of accuracy as an M1A. The Mini-14 for the most part a scaled down M-14 with a modified M1 Carbine style gas system. Ruger does stuff like that. The 10/22's trigger group borrows heavily from the M1 Carbine's trigger group. The MkII in is a vastly improved cousin of the Japanese Nambu.

However, Ruger's Mini-14 barrels for whatever reason sometimes will open up a micro-tad out of spec in the last 1" or so of the barrel. So, the rifles often have mediocre accuracy.

 

[Garand]

Brought forward as information for Coyote.