Buying rifles from stores in Canada

I found a very nice pre-mil eg in .308 in a pawn shop in BC for 249C last week. Of course I couldn't buy it since I don't have a Canadian firearms acquisition card so it is still there. Anyone have any pointers on importing rifles into the states from Canada? Steve <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I don't know squat about the particulars but it seems to me that if it's setting in a pawn shop they might be able to do the transfer across the border to an FFL. Did you ask the pawn shop about sending it South?

I have some comedic responses but since we have some Canucks on the board I will pass on those...

Steve95

The main Canadian firearms office ph# 1-800-731-4000. They should be able to answer all your questions.

They are open til 8:00 pm weekdays ,til 6:00 Saturday and 4:00 Sunday.

Or go here: http://www.canadianfirearms.com/
Website of the evil Liberal empire!

Mike, They were willing to send it south to an FFL but said they have to 'de-register' it through the feds and couldn't get thru to them due to a 'computer problem'. Canon and John--thanks for the # and site--I'm going after this eg and another one there. I'll keep you all posted as to the travails. steve

Steve,

Most interesting subject. Please do keep us posted. Might be next year before you get it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Rick....

It can be done. I know a few people out here who have done it. It seems there are two ways. You can have it shipped to an FFL like Steve said or you can go to Canada and get an FAC or whatever they call it now, buy the gun, get import approval from ATF and bring it in yourself. That's the gist of it but from what I've been told its not nearly as simple as it sounds and you need a lot of patience. I think I'd really have to want the rifle to go through what its going to take to get it home.

This new auction site was built from a Canadian and an American. They have ways of impoting and exporting rifles over the border. Maybe you could get some tips from them.

http://www.globeguns.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl

I couldn't find any info on the site about how they ship across the border or what it costs. It seems they need to be very clear about that if they expect to get any U.S. buyers. It's a great idea if they can make it work.

I sent an email asking for details but haven't gotten anything back yet. Main concerns would be cost (naturally) and time line. Interesting concept though. Hope it pans out. While I'm not sure it would benifit the Canadians due to the exchange rate it seems like there's a lot of stuff up there that would be in demand down here if there was a easier way to get it here.

Skid, PM sent, please post any info you get back from Owen!

Steve,
I once bought a rifle from a dealer in Canada. This is all from memory but here's how we did it. The dealer advertises over on Guns America I think. He took my C-card number and half the price of the piece, then made contact with a firearm importer somewhere in northern Montanta. The rifle had to be shipped from dealer there to dealer in the States. The Montana dealer then shipped the rifle to me. I can't remember that dealer's name. This information was all worked thru ATF with approval letters being sent. It took nearly 4 months. The importer had to place an import stamp on the rifle somewhere. I don't know where the stamp is. Must be under the stocks somewhere.
I was a little worried at first till I talked to the dealer in Montana. It was really pretty easy. It all depends on how fast our two government agencies push the paperwork thru.

Was there an export/import tax?

Rick....

A licensed importer can do it for you, or any licensed dealer can do a few "occasional" importations. Many won't because it is a paperwork hassle but if you can find one who will, he doesn't have to put an import stamp on the rifle. Expect at least 2 months for import permit approval these days.

Last week I had a call from an ATF agent answering a letter about helping a customer bring one rifle into the states. I only have an ffl. He said that I could but I would have to go to the POE to accept the rifle from ATF agents there and pay tax. The rub was that while an ffl could do this, he could not accept any pay for it. Only an importer could be paid for the service. So unless the ffl lives near a POE it would really be a hassel.

That is what I was told. I suspect that any two agents will interpret the rules somewhat differently. To me it wasn't worth the trouble.

Rick,
There was no additional charge on my end. I asked the dealer about tax and he explained he was responsible to pay anything over the advertised price. That may be just the way the guy does business but I paid nothing extra for the import service. The dealer surely added the tax to the offered price. Unless things have changed as a result of stiffening firearms rules, the transaction on my part was simple. Just "show em the money".

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Last week I had a call from an ATF agent answering a letter about helping a customer bring one rifle into the states. I only have an ffl. He said that I could but I would have to go to the POE to accept the rifle from ATF agents there and pay tax. The rub was that while an ffl could do this, he could not accept any pay for it. Only an importer could be paid for the service. So unless the ffl lives near a POE it would really be a hassel.

I don't know which office answered your letter but would recommend you get it in writing. I've heard too much advice from local BATFE offices that was just plain wrong.

In this case I would disagree -- this is my personal opinion and not legal advice. I assume he is saying you can't charge because you aren't a licensed importer.

If you are "engaged in the business" of importing firearms, you would need an importer's license. But "engaged in the business" of importing means that you are "a person who devotes time, attention and labor to importing firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit" (18 USC Sec. 921(a)(21)(E) -- page 6 in their "green book"). It's awfully hard to see how one importation is "a regular course" of anything.

Please send me a PM or e-mail if you have any questions.

John

Well, it took a while but I finally got this from the FFL at the U.S. end of this new international auction site.

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Hi George,

Please excuse the delay in responding, I have been out of town. The procedure for importing from Canada is fairly simple. If you purchase a firearm in Canada I will need the full description, including Make, Model, Caliber, Barrel Length, Overall Length, Serial Number and the Cost (what you paid). I will then submit the importation request to ATF. If the Seller in Canada is not willing to store the gun pending the importation request, I have a partner in Canada who is a licensed Canadian firearms dealer who will store the gun pending importation. When the request is approved by ATF (usually NLT 6 weeks), I have the gun shipped to me. I then transfer the gun to you either through your FFL dealer, or directly to you if you have an FFL. Antiques and blackpowder guns do not need ATF approval, and can be shipped directly to you after importation. My fee is $45.00, plus any Customs duty (none due on U.S. produced firearms, only foreign), plus Federal Excise Tax of 11% on long guns and 10% on handguns. That's the procedure. If I can help you, let me know.

Thanks,

Terry Frey

Looks like if you use their service you'll end up paying about the same to buy a 99 in Canada as you would in the U.S. by the time you get done paying the fees and taxes. I think most of us forget about the higher initial cost of firearms down here due to the 10/11% excise tax being added on to the first sale. Don't know for sure how the 13% (?) VAT works up there on firearms imported from the U.S.

Thanks, Skidrow--I'm finding the same--hardly worth it. I am looking at other avenues. Steve

It's nice to know that they can come across the boarder. There seem to be a lot of 1899/99's up north. Never know what might turn up that you can't live without.

Rick....