Taking a rifle through Canada to Alaska

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Ancient Mariner

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What is the procedure to be able to drive through Canada to Alaska with a rifle in the truck? I know they passed a strict firearms law but think one should be able to go from one US state to another via Canada. If anyone can identify a place to gather info and identify any required paper work it would be appreciated.
 
its probably changed, but you may need to fill out an application to do so lawfully.

also i think theres limitations on how much ammo (if any) you may bring with you.
 
Good luck. If you're going to Alaska, think about shipping your rifle up there. If you are taking a bolt-action or lever-action hunting rifle (I think that's about all that's allowed to go into Canada now), you will still need to fill out a U.S. customs form (4457?) so you can get the rifle back into the U.S., AND a Canadian Firearms Declaration (which there is a fee for ... think it was around $50 Canadian as of about four years ago) and some other paperwork. I've only done this to go hunting in Canada; I don't know how they feel about transporting firearms across Canada to Alaska ... Being up here in WA, you should be able to easily find numbers for the border crossing station at Blaine, but the bottom line is, you need to have your ducks in a row long before you get to the border.
 
Do a search under Canada Customs.
You'll find the info you need in there.
About two years ago, when I checked, it cost $30 American (about $50 Canadian) for each rifle you bring across the border.
This required a permit. It's best to print out the permit online, well before you travel, and send in your money months before you cross the border. Otherwise, you could be held up at the border filling out forms that you should have filled out earlier.
Some rifles are banned in Canada: M1 carbine, AR15, SKS, Kalashnikov, Ruger Mini-14 and similar semi-autos.
High-capacity magazines are also a no-no. I believe the Ruger 10/22 is still legal, but don't bring a 30 or 50-round magazine for it.
I've even heard rumblings about high-capacity Winchesters and Marlins (and their clones) being banned because their tubular magazine would hold 13 or 14 .44-40 rounds. I think it's a shooting range legend but it might behoove you to check on it.
Some types of ammo are also banned, such as tracers and armor piercing, from what I understand.
Rifles chambered for traditional pistol rounds, such as the .38 Special, 9mm, .44 Magnum and .45 Auto, may also be in doubt. The .32-20, .38-40 and .44-40 are not included, I understand, because they were originally rifle rounds adapted to revolvers.
I haven't been to Canada in two years. Last time I brought a firearm up there was four years ago but I'll probably bring my Marlin .45-70 up this summer, when I vacation at my cabin in British Columbia.
There are limits on how many cartridges you can bring up. I believe it's around 100 rounds for hunting type rifles. Not sure what the limit is for .22 rimfire rifles.
Don't bring black powder across, either. I've heard of muzzleloading fans getting in Dutch because they naturally had some in their flasks or horns. If you need black powder, plan to buy it up there.

And above all, keep an even temperment and don't smart-off about Canada's gun laws. Canada is, after all, a foreign country --- not a "suburb" of the U.S.
Know the limitations and routine well before you go, and be patient with the customs officer even if he or she is abusive or petty.

Let me clue you in on a tactic used by BOTH sides at the Canada/U.S. border.
Customs people may appear unfriendly or sour when you first pull up. They may ask you a litany of questions, often more than once, and punctuate it with, "Are you sure?"
It's all a tactic. They're trying to determine if you get nervous or your answers change or get expounded upon.
Fall over one of these little verbal trip-wires and you could find yourself motioned off to the side, while they spend an hour or more going through your vehicle with a fine-toothed comb.
Maintain eye contact. Don't lie. Don't do favors for friends in Canada, or the U.S. by smuggling contraband (extra ammo for Canadian friends or Cuban cigars for American friends, come to mind).
Get caught, and you're in a world of hurt. You could end up spending weeks, months or years in a Canadian jail or prison --- or heavy fines or both.
The last time I went up to Canada a co-worker wanted me to bring back Cuban cigars. Nothing doing! After all, WHO is taking the risk and WHO will pay the price?
He thought I was being a worry-wart --- easy fro him to say, he's got nothing on the line.
Because of the emphasis on quelling terrorism, the days of slap-on-the-wrist or a verbal warning are GONE!

Better bring your birth certificate or a passport with you, too. My brother and I were held up at the U.S. border --- coming back to our native land --- because we had nothing to prove we were U.S. Citizens. A driver's license or Social Security card are NOT proof! Finally, U.S. customs relented and let us come back in.
This summer I'm bringing my U.S. passport to get back into the states and avoid delays.

Yes, you may bring rifles and shotguns into Canada but it's not nearly as easy as it once was. You have to be prepared.

And do NOT ever, EVER bring a handgun into Canada. Handguns have been strictly regulated in Canada for 100 years or more. You get caught with a handgun today, brother you're going to jail to await trial.

Canada is a foreign country. It has its own laws. Obey them. If you can't do that, stay the hell out! We don't need another Ugly American in Canada. I'm American --- born and raised --- but I've seen plenty of my countrymen up there that made me feel ashamed and embarassed.
 
Thanks

Thanks for the info. I get the forms and get that done ASAP. I understand about your attitude when at border crossings but your comments are a good reminder.
 
And above all, keep an even temperment and don't smart-off about Canada's gun laws. Canada is, after all, a foreign country --- not a "suburb" of the U.S.
Know the limitations and routine well before you go, and be patient with the customs officer even if he or she is abusive or petty.
Click to expand...

On my one and only trip to Canada, I didn't even get to open my mouth
before I was instructed to pull over to the inspection station. There, a
Wally Cox look-alike proceeded to give me and my traveling partner the third
degree about how many guns we owned, what type they were, and where
were they all located. After fifteen minutes of that, he proceeded to tear
our vehicle apart, looking for who knows what. Guns, I guess.

He dumped the contents of suitcases on the ground. He made us unload
almost all our tools from the back of the pick-up. We had been working in
Detroit and had decided to drive over to Windsor just to get some "Canada"
tee-shirts for our kids, etc. Bad decision.

After an hour, he decided, I guess, we posed no threat to his lovely
country, so he stamped a form, handed it to me, and walked away.
It took us half an hour to reload our stuff. The only reason we could come
up with for the treatment we got was that we were driving a truck with
Texas license plates. And we only came to that conclusion because every time the Wally uttered the word "Texas" he made an ugly face, as though
just the thought of it disgusted him.

I always believed Canada and the US were friends. That Wally Cox guy
ain't ever gonna be my friend. I can only imagine what might have happened
had I had my 1911 .45 with me, as I did on so many other business trips.

I think the US should just annex Canada. Make it the 51st state.
Does that make me arrogant? Not any more than The Wally was to me.

Walter
 
Most of the idiots in Canada and Europe still buy into the idea that everyone in Texas rides around on a horse with a six-shooter on their hip. I've heard other similar incidents where they immediately ask about guns upon seeing a Texas license plate. And they think we're ignorant of other cultures... :rolleyes:
 
Oh wahhh. I got stopped and searched three times in the same day between Mcallen and Austin ...but at least two of em told me, "ya''ll have a safe trip". The other one - I had to mail some money to pay for not braking from 60 to 25 in five seconds. Evidently his house was an incorporated area or sumpthin and he had his own speed limit sign in his yard. :)

Sorry Mariner....didn't mean to tread on your thread.
 
dolanp,

"Most of the idiots in Canada and Europe still buy into the idea that everyone in Texas rides around on a horse with a six-shooter on their hip."

I do, every chance I get. Which is fairly often on my own place.
 
I have a better idea

Don't take a gun. Just wait till you get there and Wildalaska will sell you one at a Great price and then you can have him ship to CUSA when your done with it. Or maybe sell it back to him! :uhoh: :D
 
Most of the idiots in Canada and Europe still buy into the idea that everyone in Texas rides around on a horse with a six-shooter on their hip. I've heard other similar incidents where they immediately ask about guns upon seeing a Texas license plate. And they think we're ignorant of other cultures...
Click to expand...
I know a couple of really annoying Canadians (and a couple of pretty cool Newfoundlanders). The annoying ones are absolutely fascinated with demonstrating as much contempt as possible for Texas. (Possible Bush thing there, too? dunno.)
I was speaking with one, and another fellow mentioned the concept of going armed to the terror of the public. The Canadian was amazed. He wanted to run down to Texas and find someone openly carrying so he could "sue" them for going armed to the terror of the public. His glee was disgusting.
I just didn't have the heart to explain the criminal/civil distinction, or the fact that Texas doesn't allow open carry anyways.
 
I think the US should just annex Canada. Make it the 51st state.
Click to expand...
Most of the idiots in Canada and Europe still buy into the idea that everyone in Texas rides around on a horse with a six-shooter on their hip.
Click to expand...

Somehow I just knew this had the potential of turning into a Canadian-bashing thread ...

I've been spending time in Canada for hunting, fishing, skiing and hockey all my life ... I suggest that most Canadians are not the gun-hating, Texan-hating liberals some of you want to portray. Canadians are just like Americans -- in the university towns and population centers you get the same types of folks we have in our comparable cities. Rural Canadians and small-town Canadians are wonderful folks with the same values most of us share (and sometimes, I think Canadians overall have a better sense of humor than we do ...).
 
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