Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Moving to Alaska, best way to get guns there

Hello all, brand new to the forum but I've received orders to Alaska and will be moving there in January of next year. I have many guns which are illegal in Canada as well as more than 5,000 rounds (Canadian max allowable amount of ammunition allowed across their border). What experience does anyone have getting their guns legally across to Alaska? I've contemplated the ferry but have been told that the ferry doesn't operate in the winter. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Things are changing constantly and the Canadians are currently unhappy with a bunch of folks that failed to follow their rules...

If things are back to normal by then you can simply drive up. Fill out the proper paperwork ahead of time and you will be fine. Except...
Magazine limits for most long guns 5 and most handguns is 10. They will take them away from you.

Ammo is limited by weight per person.

To avoid hassles you may mail long guns ahead of you, from yourself, to yourself. You are required to open the package on the other end.

Handguns my be shipped the same way, but you cannot mail them, you have to use a "common carrier" such as UPS. They have their own rules about using overnight and such, but those are not law, just their rules.

Ferry boat won't help as you still need to drive thru Canada when you get off in Haines... maybe goes to Whittier, if so prohibitively expensive

Big (or several) crates shipped air freight? Or surface. Insured! Be spendy no doubt. Bring the Canada legal ones up with you, well documented, and handily listed/available for the border folks perusal..... just off the top my head.

You will find the Canadian border folk easy to deal with, almost always - the Americans can be surly. I say "almost" as there is surely one out there by the odds, but I haven't ever met one.

Welcome (I hope! ) to Alaska, and let me be the first to give you our official greeting to the Fire - GFY.

For many years I used Lynden to ship very heavy tool sets from Seattle to various locations in AK, and back in the fall. I thought the pricing was fair and I was never questioned much as to the contents. I used forklift friendly steel containers (think Jobbox, Knaack etc). Besides locking it, I did tack weld the lid. I probably forgot and left a disassembled 870, or a Blackhawk in the toolbox a few times.

You said you got orders so I assume you're military. The only time I let the government ship or store my guns was when I moved to Alaska. When you schedule your HHG shipment they will ask about guns. When the movers come they will inventory all of the guns by SN and box them all in crate #1 so it is easy to find if customs wants to inspect them. I shipped several guns that were illegal in Canada without problem since they were passing through and I wouldn't have access to them. I did drive across the country with my 1911 but mailed it to myself care of my friend just before I crossed in to Canada. Hope this helps.

I moved from Alaska about a year ago. Most of my long guns, along with a few other household goods, were shipped with American Relocation Services from Fairbanks. I was present at the warehouse when everything was inventoried (all guns by make, model, caliber and serial number) and then sealed in the shipping crate. Four weeks later everything was delivered to my door in NM, unsealed and inventoried again. Everything made it undamaged. I was pretty impressed with the whole process. All of my handguns I loaded into two rifle cases and took with me as baggage on Alaska Airlines. I could only have two gun cases, but they didn't care how many guns were in those cases.

On second thought, maybe not an option. Lots of stuff happened since then, middle east inspired terrorism, increased laws on hazardous placarding..the world has changed since the oil boom of the '70's...if you are govt or military, you could get in deep schidt by playing loose with the rules.

Yes, some quick quotes from online for a ferry were right around $4,500. Expensive no doubt. However, for the convenience of not having to go through Canada, being able to keep all of my guns, ammo, reloading components, etc with me, and the fact it'll reduce the driving portion of the trip by about 20 hours (in January) it feels worth it to me. To provide more context, I'll have my girlfriend with me in a FWD Jeep Renegade. Yeah, not the most winter-ready vehicle out there. She's from El Paso, TX as well so has zero experience driving on ice, snow, etc. Looking at the complicated process I may have to suck it up and ship the guns with HHG and leave the bulk of my ammo and components with my parents. If anyone has experience with the ferry though, specifically in the winter I'd be much appreciated. Thanks for all the responses so far!

Ship firearms in household goods.. Also if you want to take the ferry go to transportation office on your installation and they can book it for you. I have heard of folks getting all the paperwork done from the Canadians to bring firearms through that aren’t even legal in Canada. But man those Canadians at the border get awfully nervous. So if you want to bring them through as Sitka said get all paperwork before you show up to the border. I know several who showed up with pistols thinking they could bring them through. One they turned around sent back to U.S found a ffl in sweet grass Montana the other fella they confiscated his pistol.

Ferry from Bellingham to ?

I think it was to Whittier or Haines. But now I know Whittier is a no-go in the winter and apparently even going to Haines will require driving through Canada. Not an ideal situation for gun owners that's for sure.

During my military career and then my wives civilian career we only transferred our guns via a household move. They inventory the guns and package each one. Then unpack them at the new destination.
To do anything else just doesnt make any sense. But if you are convinced you will need the guns as soon as you arrive in Alaska find someone in your unit and mail the long guns to them in care of yourself. No FFL required.

As others have mentioned, move your firearms with household goods. I have never had an issue on May of my PCS moves. I left a couple of guns in Arkansas at my mother’s house. When we go and visit shortly, I’ll bring them back with me as checked baggage on the plane.

Where did you come to this conclusion?

I have found two drastically different limits for ammo being transported, and neither had anything to do with weight. I think for a permanent dwelling in Canada there's a 225 Kilo weight limit of ammo that can be stored but not for transport through Canada by a non-resident. This is what I have found on Canadian government websites:








To the OP:
When I had my transfer paperwork (US government, but not military) I arrived at customs with 4 rifles and a shotgun, a pre-filled out Form 909 and a Continuation Sheet (RCMP GRC 5590). I paid my $25 Canadian and was on my way. They didn't even look at the guns. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe my government paperwork made them feel easy about me. I don't know but I wish I had brought a lot more rifles and shotguns up now. Since I didn't do that, every time I fly back I plan to bring a few more and some handguns with me in an airline approved rifle case.

I purposefully crossed at a small, rural POE and called them beforehand to get their thoughts on the matter, but didn't ask about ammo. I should have but it's a non-issue now.

You can literally ship them to yourself via UPS (i wouldn’t trust USPS)...

Fly up there and pick them up yourself ... without using a FFL... however you have to be in person, and they have to be shipped to you / yourself.

Meaning - pack them up and get the ready to ship. The day before you fly take them to UPS and ship them... then land and pick them up when they arrive at the other end.

After many decades with a FFL in AK I can tell you UPS SUCKS to AK. They charge more, lose more, break more, and are impossible to get in touch with when you have a problem. USPS trumps them all here. UPS in AK is run on contract by others for the most part. I have had scads of issues with UPS and off the top of my head can remember only one with USPS and that was not really their fault.

Not sure where the conflicting other issues are but I have been across the border many times and the Canadians had a weight limit on powder, primers, and loaded ammo combined.

Bought a rifle fella used UPS I get a note from him saying next time need to help with shipping. No problem I asked how much was it? He said $160 bucks holy chit. I said USPS would of been $65 tops. I tracked that rifle leave Seattle go all the way to Sacramento to be flown to Alaska absolutely mind boggling lol. Just shipped a rifle to an ffl in Arizona $62 bucks with $500 in insurance.

I've only crossed the border 11 times, but 5,000 rounds of ammo, or the components for 5,000 rounds of ammo has been the standard I was held to:

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/explosives/...d-transportation-transit-ammunition/9909


On a side note, pure opinion here... I have had bad luck being a military member and dealing with Canadian Border Patrol... Seems like some of them have a hard on for US Mil. I crossed 5 times as a civ with no problems, and 6 times as a mil with full anal cavity search. YMMV

Something no one else has mentioned yet, if you take some of them, check them in at the U.S. side of the border. They have a form they will fill out. If you don't, there is a chance they will say you may have bought them in Canada and U.S. Border Patrol will charge you taxes on them. With the form, you have proof that you brought them in and out of Canada.

I did the ferry thing in the winter of 2008 going back to the lower 48. I'd recommend you fill up in WA or at least in Haines. The stretch from Haines to Haines Junction took a lot more gas than I expected. The wind up there is brutal and killed my gas milage. Make sure your spare is full, I'll let you guess why I know that one. I had a lot of 12ga target loads and 222 Mag rounds along with other ammo and it wasn't an issue either side.

As a side note, people think jeeps are great in the snow and they are pretty good in the powder type stuff, but they usually suck on icy roads that you are sure to come across in the trip. Studded tires are recommended, but not all states allow you to use them and other limit the time of year that you can. Are you going to Fort Wainright(sp) or Fort Richardson? Ft Wainright is in a colder part of the state and you will need a core heater for your engine or you may have starting issues. Make sure your antifreeze is fresh.

Hahaha good to know. This has been a wealth of information everyone I really appreciate it. Part of me is contemplating what all an import license requires for ammo so I'll look that option just for [bleep] and giggles to see if it's feasible. I've also seen the 5,000 round limit and components to make 5,000 rounds.

I agree UPS here sucks and I used it for the last time last week. I had to mail a replacement motor back to IL for the HRV in our house. $69 to ship through UPS uninsured at that.

Sitka, Fed-Ex is contracted up here as well. One of neighbors claims to have the Fed-Ex ground contract from Kenai to Fairbanks. I’ve never had a problem receiving packages from UPS, it’s mailing them out that’s the issue usually.

When we moved up in 2002 we used a container company. They dropped off a trailer with a connex and we loaded all our household, guns, reloading, verything except what we needed to get by a couple of weeks while the container was on the way. Drove up through Canada with just the two vehicles, the dog, a Uhaul trailer with our bed, freezer and a few clothes and dishes, and the boat behind my wife's Blazer. The container arrived on schedule, delivered to our door and left for 12 hours so we could off load. Worked great and no hassle with powder, primers, ammo, handguns etc since it all went by container barge. They run year round.

We were set up to do the same thing last year when we were planning to move outside but decided to stay in Alaska. The quote last year from Alaska Marine Lines, a part of Lynden Transport, was $6400 for a 20 foot container dropped off at our house in Wasilla for loading, then delivered to Orofino, Idaho. The weight limit was 7000 pounds with a charge of $23.10 per hundred for anything over that.

I don't know if that helps but Alaska Marine Line can be reached at 1-800-326-8346. Good luck on your move.

Back in the 80’s while transferring from Kodiak to Clearwater I dropped three handguns in a wardrobe pack while the packers were working in another room of the house. I noted the number on the box and when the shipment was delivered I found that box first and was pleased to find my guns untouched. Back then we were always worried about pilferage and handguns are might tempting, the reason I didn’t want them listed on the manifest. It worked out for me but I guess I’d do it differently today.
I just realized I’m now officially an old guy, telling old sea stories....
Mike

How long will you be in AK for and how often will you be using your guns? Dividing the amount of money it will cost you to bring everything up by the EHT (expected handling times) will give a benchmark number of $ per outing,
I bet, just buying a stainless steel Ruger .30-06, set of ring and scope and handgun of choice with ammo for both up there will be much cheaper?

Odd man out here, maybe, but for a two or three year stint maybe worth consideration?

I got quite a bit of ammo shipped here that way. The movers told me to put it in a drawer and they would seal it off. They did, and nothing was touched when I saw it a month later delivered to the house. That was almost 9 years ago now, probably wouldn’t do it for people now.

Mail them up to someone you know, and have them not open the boxes. Good to go. Ammo sell where you are to pay for postage on the firearms. Sidearms take on the plane or have to send FFL to FFL.

Sorry, but no need to send handguns FFL to FFL when shipping to yourself. You cannot send by USPS. You must use a "common carrier" like UPS, FedEx, etc. While they have their own internal rules about shipping, they are not laws.

Reading the quote on importing 5,000 rounds of ammo, it says "per individual"....

You're an individual, and your girlfriend is an individual.... split ownership, and you can import 10,000 rounds.

Just a thought.

Assuming you are military, ship them with your household goods. That's the easiest and most risk-free method.

Some guys do a DITY move, find out they can't aren't supposed to put guns in a POD, and then try to sneak guns across the Canada border and get caught. Or they travel back down south, pick up the ARs and pistols they had stashed at Dad's and try to sneak them across the border. And get caught. Don't risk it.

The idea to buy a rifle and pistol when you arrive isn't a bad one. Guns in AK aren't more expensive than down south; at least that was my experience.

Print the regs for ammo travel through Canada. I decided to go with 200 rounds and leave the rest at a friend's.

When I crossed the border, the guard asked if I had guns or ammunition...I replied that I had ammunition. No problem, but he was curious why I didn't have guns also. I showed him the shipping manifest for my guns and I sailed on through, right past a guy whose van was being completely tossed.

If you take accessories or handgun ammo prepare to be questioned best to have a way to verify that they were shipped. Had holsters and ammo quite a process to insure I did not have them with me. Have a inventory sheet of all your goods that you have with you speeds the process.

Thanks for all the continued input everyone. I've decided I will ship my guns with HHG via the military. I might take a lever action and/or O/U shotgun on the way up so I have something to use and keep me busy while also being legal to take into Canada. The laws state I'm allowed to bring 3 guns into the country. DITO on the 10,000 round count for the two of us. However, when I called the border agency up there the man stated I could take 50,000 rounds. Essentially, there's three different sources on Canadian official government websites that stipulate we are authorized either 3,000, 5,000, or 50,000 rounds per individual. I gotta do a complete tally of all my ammunition but suffice to say it'll be close to 20,000 rounds. I'm gonna send some to my parents but I'm leaning towards re-calling that border agency, recording the conversation of them saying I can take 50,000 rounds, and show that to the border guard if they try to say something different. Risky but is it a terrible idea? Also please advise if that may be illegal lol.

Regarding the "buy guns once you get there thing", shooting really is my biggest hobby by a mile and I have too many guns I would miss shooting once I get up there for my 3 year tour. I go shooting every single week if not multiple times a week on a consistent basis. I understand your logic but it'd be too hard for me to go without lol.

What is your pcs destination?

is that a new law that you can only bring 3 long guns through Canada? i just moved from AK to Montana last fall and took my whole rifle collection which was many to say the least. i shipped everything else to my new address here in MT. as far as ammo i have been told 5000 was the limit when i went through, i know i took 5k and my wife took 5k in her rig. i also shoot black powder rifles a lot and we took 34lbs through which was the limit. i have made the trip 7 times and i always have brought several guns and ammo with me except once and that is when they searched my trailer LOL.

A little over a year ago I took 8 long guns through no problem....with the requisite paperwork and fee of course.

Don't know anything about this company, but might be worth looking into.

https://alaskagunshipping.com/

ETA: Just hit the cost page, and doesn't seem all that practical...