Any experience importing from Canada as a C&R?

[micmacman]

yea , that was a pipe dream i wish i never traveled , it was so deflating , now with their crazy gun madness up there i wonder if they will ll be destroyed

[browningautorifle]

now with their crazy gun madness up there i wonder if they will ll be destroyed

That IS their intention for the long run.

[Brian Dick]

I don't think common carriers like UPS or FedEx will ship directly, (they certainly won't send firearms cross border from the USA and never did). Sending firearms via Canada Post cross border is no longer allowed either as far as I know but I could be wrong. My importing from Canada pretty much came to an end in 2007 after a lucrative ten-year run. Money exchange and pricing made importing nice firearms for resale no longer cost effective. I met Joel from Borderview in 2010 at an Import/Export conference in Washington, DC when he was just starting his business. Since he specializes only in Canada-USA shipments and has all of the proper contacts in place, his company is where I've sent all of my clients from the past since I gave up brokering in 2019. I've heard nothing but good things and well, $400 is cheap at half the price in my humble opinion. Looking for cheap deals cross border just isn't realistic anymore. I was lucky and drove for my Canada shipments when the getting was good, clearing them face to face with CBP in Port Huron, Michigan. I made four trips one year but normally at least two or three a year for ten years and had a great working relationship with dealers and regulators alike on both sides of the border. I still have a valid PAL and will continue to renew it. When the USD was $1.65 CDN, it helped cover a good chunk of the overhead cost of importing. The past few years importing directly from the UK has become increasingly painful and there are only a couple of airlines that will carry firearms from there now. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have become nearly impossible, mostly because of red tape and a lack of air freight carriers. Too be honest, it got to a point where I dreaded those jobs. Anyhow, it's 2023 now and the real world strikes. I've heard some recent stories of problems with approvals on ATF F6 permits regarding firearms that I imported legally before so I'm guessing politics has something to do with it and not common sense or existing law. It's best to leave this work to those in the know in the fast changing atmosphere and pay the price. I'm glad to be out of it. Now I'm scaling back the repair shop and will concentrate on my website and retail shop. I have tons of items to sell. Best of luck.

[Agambard1990]

I don't think common carriers like UPS or FedEx will ship directly, (they certainly won't send firearms cross border from the USA and never did). Sending firearms via Canada Post cross border is no longer allowed either as far as I know but I could be wrong. My importing from Canada pretty much came to an end in 2007 after a lucrative ten-year run. Money exchange and pricing made importing nice firearms for resale no longer cost effective. I met Joel from Borderview in 2010 at an Import/Export conference in Washington, DC when he was just starting his business. Since he specializes only in Canada-USA shipments and has all of the proper contacts in place, his company is where I've sent all of my clients from the past since I gave up brokering in 2019. I've heard nothing but good things and well, $400 is cheap at half the price in my humble opinion. Looking for cheap deals cross border just isn't realistic anymore. I was lucky and drove for my Canada shipments when the getting was good, clearing them face to face with CBP in Port Huron, Michigan. I made four trips one year but normally at least two or three a year for ten years and had a great working relationship with dealers and regulators alike on both sides of the border. I still have a valid PAL and will continue to renew it. When the USD was $1.65 CDN, it helped cover a good chunk of the overhead cost of importing. The past few years importing directly from the UK has become increasingly painful and there are only a couple of airlines that will carry firearms from there now. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have become nearly impossible, mostly because of red tape and a lack of air freight carriers. Too be honest, it got to a point where I dreaded those jobs. Anyhow, it's 2023 now and the real world strikes. I've heard some recent stories of problems with approvals on ATF F6 permits regarding firearms that I imported legally before so I'm guessing politics has something to do with it and not common sense or existing law. It's best to leave this work to those in the know in the fast changing atmosphere and pay the price. I'm glad to be out of it. Now I'm scaling back the repair shop and will concentrate on my website and retail shop. I have tons of items to sell. Best of luck.

Thanks for the thorough response. I meant no disrespect in regards to Borderviews export price, I was just trying to save a few bucks since it seems that I could import with my C&R. I've spoken to some BATF agents a few times in the past week and they have been helpful. Without explicitly saying "yes" they were encouraging that my Form 6 could be approved for this particular rifle. I recognize now the logistical nightmare is really finding someone to ship the rifle and help clear CBP. I live close enough to Canada (maybe 7 hours from Ontario) that it could maybe be worth getting my PAL some day - but until then I'll have to likely rely on established exporters.

The rifle in question is not a beauty queen - just something a little uncommon down here (1895 Winchester in 303 Brit) that is priced affordably. At this point, I may just pass on it since this has been such a hassle. Good luck on those sales, Brian - I hope you can take a well-earned break from the repairs.

[Singer B]

You would think Canada, with its current anti-gun government, would love to make it easy to remove guns from their country.....I've been in Utah the past week and what a refreshing change from my home-state of California. If I wasn't going home this weekend to help someone prepare a milsurp dealer's personal collection for sale, I probably would have looked for a couple of additions for my collection.

[Brian Dick]

I have to warn you from experience that asking BATF&E compliance and enforcement folks about imports may get you a different answer from everyone you ask. If you have serious questions about imports, contact Imports Branch in Martinsburg, WV and you will get accurate answers. I've stood compliance inspections here every five years since 1995 and the inspectors aren't very knowledgeable on the ins and outs of importing. I've been fortunate to work with many of the examiners at Imports Branch including the top Industry Liaison there. She is very good people but may be retired now. When I imported all of Steve Houghton's AI sniper rifles a few years ago, I actually got a call from the VP of AI USA asking how did I manage to pull it off! Apparently, they were getting disapprovals because they didn't know the fine points or who to go to for advice at the agency. I got a kick out of that call but it makes me feel either blessed or old. Not sure which!

I'll still be accepting repairs here at my discretion. It would be a shame to let my barrel vice from the RSAF rust up! When I acquired it and the plasma cut body wrench many years ago, I wasn't sure how great they'd be after struggling with Brownells tools for years. I haven't had one defeat me yet. I just wish I could find a supply of bolt heads as it's a struggle to keep a supply of longer ones anymore. The sad part is that so many folks upgrade headspace in their rifles because of using the wrong gauges and it's dried up the supply of longer ones so that the guys that really need one can't find them.

---------- Post added at 04:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:52 PM ----------

You make the mistake of thinking there's common sense anymore!

[browningautorifle]

You would think Canada, with its current anti-gun government, would love to make it easy to remove guns from their country

The only way they want them gone is if they go smelted. They really aren't interested in allowing you to get your money out of them.

[capt14k]

I don't think common carriers like UPS or FedEx will ship directly, (they certainly won't send firearms cross border from the USA and never did). Sending firearms via Canada Post cross border is no longer allowed either as far as I know but I could be wrong. My importing from Canada pretty much came to an end in 2007 after a lucrative ten-year run. Money exchange and pricing made importing nice firearms for resale no longer cost effective. I met Joel from Borderview in 2010 at an Import/Export conference in Washington, DC when he was just starting his business. Since he specializes only in Canada-USA shipments and has all of the proper contacts in place, his company is where I've sent all of my clients from the past since I gave up brokering in 2019. I've heard nothing but good things and well, $400 is cheap at half the price in my humble opinion. Looking for cheap deals cross border just isn't realistic anymore. I was lucky and drove for my Canada shipments when the getting was good, clearing them face to face with CBP in Port Huron, Michigan. I made four trips one year but normally at least two or three a year for ten years and had a great working relationship with dealers and regulators alike on both sides of the border. I still have a valid PAL and will continue to renew it. When the USD was $1.65 CDN, it helped cover a good chunk of the overhead cost of importing. The past few years importing directly from the UK has become increasingly painful and there are only a couple of airlines that will carry firearms from there now. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have become nearly impossible, mostly because of red tape and a lack of air freight carriers. Too be honest, it got to a point where I dreaded those jobs. Anyhow, it's 2023 now and the real world strikes. I've heard some recent stories of problems with approvals on ATF F6 permits regarding firearms that I imported legally before so I'm guessing politics has something to do with it and not common sense or existing law. It's best to leave this work to those in the know in the fast changing atmosphere and pay the price. I'm glad to be out of it. Now I'm scaling back the repair shop and will concentrate on my website and retail shop. I have tons of items to sell. Best of luck.

There are no airlines that will transport firearms from Canada. However trucking is just as easy. My last permits from Finland were approved in 3 days. There are less flights coming from Europe and prices are up. However I just imported 8 Rifles from Germany and 16 handguns and 16 rifles from Finland that went relatively smooth. Took 4 months all total for both imports.


For the record $400 for a single firearm is a great price. I need to import 8 or more to get the costs to around $300 each.

[Singer B]

The only way they want them gone is if they go smelted. They really aren't interested in allowing you to get your money out of them.

Well said!

[Agambard1990]

Thanks for all the replies. It's a shame that importing is becoming so prohibitively expensive. I'd honestly be interested in getting my 08 FFL and learning the trade in some way if there was someone to show me the ropes. I would imagine the easiest way import from Canada would be to get a PAL and just drive up there after getting Form 6 approval. With all the overhead associated, I'm not sure how long it would take to even break even - though how many of us are really into collecting to "break even". Fortunately, the rifle I'm interested in up there isn't the most alluring in the world and I can tune out her charm by dreaming about PSAs STG44 l... if they ever get made.


I should clarify that the price starts at $400, not including shipping and tariffs. An additional $50 is added for military arms. So maybe $550 for a sporting rifle and $600 for a military arm, depending on total value in USD for a $1000 rifle Maybe worth it for some rare Canadian sniper or something, but hardly seems worth it for a Winchester 1895 with a pretty worn bore. I'd honestly prefer one in the SRC configuration anyway- and that WOULD be a military arm for the ATF, even if it was never used as such in 303 British.

Brian, I'll take your word on it that it probably isn't worth it... Unless the ATF started letting SVTs in, of course. If you'd like to share any wisdom on becoming an importer, I would be interested. Feel free to send me a PM.