After a lot of research, some dread and preparation I crossed the border into Canada today traveling with several firearms. The entire process was painless, the customs officials were extremely polite and it took less than 20 minutes from driving up to the border, processing paperwork and continuing the journey northward.

I cannot stress enough, don't believe the horror stories and hearsay about what is allowed and what is not. Do you own research on the Canadian firearms site, fill out your applications in advance, make the phone calls to their offices and ask questions, and fill out your declaration form in advance.

I was fully expecting this morning to be asked to pull off to secondary inspection and have the whole truck tossed. Didn't happen. Made initial contact in my car and told to park in front of the customs building, leave my firearms in the car, and proceed inside to have my paperwork reviewed. Had a quick review, paid my $25 transport fee and was then escorted to my vehicle by 2 customs agents. I was told due to the amount of firearms they would have to inspect and make sure I was in compliance with their transport laws.

I thought, "Oh boy, here we go." Went out to the truck, opened it up and they saw the locked gun cases, had pulled one out, saw that firearms were stored inside the case in individual sackups, looked in the bottom tier of the case at my handguns, picked one up, pulled it out of the storage sack, saw that it did have a trigger lock as required by their laws. The officer then looked over at the other and stated, "I'm satisfied, do you need to see anymore?" "Nope."

I was then complemented that I was the most organized gun owner they had encountered. I was amazed and thinking, I'm just in compliance with your laws, it's not that difficult. They then told me last week of an American they confiscated 25 firearms from since he failed to declare them. "That cost him a lot of money."

So my experience and advice if you find yourself traveling through Canada with guns; do your own research on their website, fill out paperwork in advance, be in compliance with cases and trigger locks if traveling with restricted firearms and just be polite.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-.../visit/index-eng.htm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 2000Z-71,

Oh you saved me some time. I have been dreading the preparation of passing through Canada to Alaska. Thanks!

Thanks.

A couple of quick questions.

1. did you pay the $25 fee in Canadian money?

2. Did you carry any semi-automatic pistols? I am under the impression that they are not allowed.

Semi pistols are allowed. Have to be 4.2" in barrel length, mags no more than 10 round.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Semi pistols are allowed. Have to be 4.2" in barrel length, mags no more than 10 round.

Is any type of carry permitted either concealed or open carry? Im planning a motorcycle trip to Alaska and one of my concerns is traveling through the wilderness with no way to defend against wild animals both four legged and two legged.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Semi pistols are allowed. Have to be 4.2" in barrel length, mags no more than 10 round.

Also no 25 or 32 caliber handguns allowed.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Semi pistols are allowed. Have to be 4.2" in barrel length, mags no more than 10 round.

Is any type of carry permitted either concealed or open carry? Im planning a motorcycle trip to Alaska and one of my concerns is traveling through the wilderness with no way to defend against wild animals both four legged and two legged.

No. Handguns must be trigger locked and locked in a case for transport.
The government here really, really wants you to be defenseless.

Thank you for the update 2000Z-71.

That trip is on my bucket list. Glad you didn't have any problems.

Look forward to the experience when you come back into the conUS

That’s where I’ve always had difficulties and harassment. Coming back to my OWN country

Did you wish them a happy Thanksgiving?

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Semi pistols are allowed. Have to be 4.2" in barrel length, mags no more than 10 round.

Guess I need to buy some G20 10 rounders.

The original post about driving the ALCAN has really peaked an interest for me.

I am hoping to make the trip once I finish building the Expedition.

That sounds way easier than traveling through New Jersey.

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:
Look forward to the experience when you come back into the conUS

That’s where I’ve always had difficulties and harassment. Coming back to my OWN country

Beat me to it. I've never had a problem going into Canada. Coming back, I've had my truck tossed twice.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Semi pistols are allowed. Have to be 4.2" in barrel length, mags no more than 10 round.

Is any type of carry permitted either concealed or open carry? Im planning a motorcycle trip to Alaska and one of my concerns is traveling through the wilderness with no way to defend against wild animals both four legged and two legged.

Nope. We were told repeatedly, "You are not hunting, leave them unloaded and locked in the cases."

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
Thanks.

A couple of quick questions.

1. did you pay the $25 fee in Canadian money?

I paid with plastic, I was given the choice of that or American paper.

quote:

2. Did you carry any semi-automatic pistols? I am under the impression that they are not allowed.

I did bring quite a few handguns some of which were semi-automatic with me. Handguns are considered, "Restricted" in Canada. They must have a minimum barrel length of 4.1", not be .25 or .32 caliber and not have the capability of holding more than 10 rounds. A permit to transport must be applied for in advance of the border crossing. Their website states a 5 day processing period. My initial before I had to change my border crossing dates was processed in 2 days.

One other thing for those thinking of bringing a high capacity semi automatic pistol with a 10 round magazine, I would strongly recommend calling the Canadian Firearms office in advance and ask for clarification. They're extremely nice and helpful, provided you can get through their automated phone system and actually talk with them.

What's a "high capacity semi auto pistol"? The mag determines capacity, no?
I'm glad you had no issue - the border agents seem to scrutinize their own people more aggressively, thinking we are all trying to save on taxes and expensive CDN prices

It's the wording of their law, "Has the capability to hold more than 10 rounds." A Glock 17 can hold a 17 round magazine. Some have mentioned bring a similar pistol but only bringing a 10 round magazine. I would worry about the wording of the law and call the Canadian Firearms offices for clarification before trying to bring one across.

The only semi autos I brought on this trip were single stack 1911's and a Browning Buckmark. Pistols such as my Browning Hi Power, my Sigs and my M&P autos I left in my gun safe in Phoenix and I will figure outlaw to transport them later.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
It's the wording of their law, "Has the capability to hold more than 10 rounds." A Glock 17 can hold a 17 round magazine. Some have mentioned bring a similar pistol but only bringing a 10 round magazine. I would worry about the wording of the law and call the Canadian Firearms offices for clarification before trying to bring one across.

The only semi autos I brought on this trip were single stack 1911's and a Browning Buckmark. Pistols such as my Browning Hi Power, my Sigs and my M&P autos I left in my gun safe in Phoenix and I will figure outlaw to transport them later.

Thank you for the clarification.

Crossing back into the US this morning was even less of a hassle; 3 minutes total and didn't even have to get out of the truck.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
It's the wording of their law, "Has the capability to hold more than 10 rounds." A Glock 17 can hold a 17 round magazine. Some have mentioned bring a similar pistol but only bringing a 10 round magazine. I would worry about the wording of the law and call the Canadian Firearms offices for clarification before trying to bring one across.

The only semi autos I brought on this trip were single stack 1911's and a Browning Buckmark. Pistols such as my Browning Hi Power, my Sigs and my M&P autos I left in my gun safe in Phoenix and I will figure outlaw to transport them later.