Buying Ammo in the US

[Bluebulldog]

OP.

Retailers in the US are quite happy to sell to Canadians true. The intent is that you will use the ammunition purchased within the borders of the usa.

CBSA has zero issue on their end with importing up to 5000 rounds per day this is correct as well.

It is the BATF and US Federal export law where the problem lies. The law is very clear in the us. You may not export ammunition ( take outside of the US) without a valid export permit. Truthfully if it was as easy as running across the border into Buffalo or other places in New York or Michigan do you not think it would be done by everyone?

Getting away with something doesn't make it legal it just means that you haven't been caught at it.

I have attempted several times to paste the link to the BATF site that addresses this. However the forums are still quite glitchy.

[Sam Menard]

As a few posters have stated, exporting ammo and most firearms without an export licence from the US is a BIG no-no. The prohibition includes firearm parts and scopes.
I wouldn’t rely on info from retailers or the state police call US customs. I got pulled over by US customs on my way back across the border as they thought that I was transporting raw bullets.

[hunter06]

Anyone now the rules for powder, have been trying to get some so I can start reloading 30/06. Haven’t been able to find any in Ontario.

[gbk]

hunter06- PM sent ,but unsure if You can read it....i can not read Your reply (Forum issue again)

[acolic]

Hi

Hopefully this is the last post on this topic.

Today on the way to work I stopped off at the Fort Erie US customs office.

I asked them about the legality of purchasing ammo in the US and bring it into Canada.

They asked if it was for personal reasons, I said, yes, they said we don’t care.

According to them the export laws only apply to exporting large amounts of ammo in order to resell it.

Not for individuals buying a few boxes to go goose hunting.

Then we talking about goose hunting.

So at this point:

I have talked to Canada customs over the phone and in person.

I’ve spoken to New York State police.

I have spoken to Cabela’s.

I have spoken to US customs personally.

No one cares.

Everyone tells me it is completely legal.

I’m not a lawyer, so I’ll leave it up to everybody to make their own determination.

As for me I’m going goose hunting this Saturday.

I’m going to buy a few boxes of ammo.

Cheers

Alex.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Badenoch]

You can either depend on what someone tells you over the phone or you can read what the CBP says officially. You will probably not get stopped by an exit check but if you are your "Gosh, someone I talked to said it was okay" might not get the job done.

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US

Export regulations require that prior to traveling outside the United States with firearms and/or ammunition all departing persons must obtain a valid and appropriate Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) or Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) export license or qualify for a valid DDTC license exemption under 22 C.F.R. 123.17 - 123.18 or a valid BIS license exception under 15 C.F.R. 740.14(e).

[FishHog]

years ago I called into US customs as I was coming into US waters by boat to notify them I'd be trolling in Lake Huron salmon fishing. I was bluntly told I don't have to report in.
4 hrs later when I was boarded and searched by the US coast Guard (one who held his hand on his holstered gun the entire time), they strongly disagreed with that and called by radio to the CG cutter that they would be detaining me and towing in my boat. An hour later they agreed to let me off with a warning.

That was one of the most stressful hours of my life, and not one I want to repeat.

Point is, just because one guy tells you something, the next guy may not agree, especially with different enforcement agencies. If its worth the risk to you to save a few bucks, have at it. I'll play it safe and follow what the rules in writing say. As when it comes down to standing in front of a judge, they will be reading the black and white rules as written, not as interpreted by whoever you had verbal confirmation from.

I'd bet if you asked any of them to put what they said in writing, they would quickly decline.

[Sam Menard]

Laws do change including enforcement policies. It wouldn’t hurt to check in at the border and ask (as the OP did). I would make a point of getting the officer’s name and badge number just in case,

[thunderbolt]

As it's been pointed out earlier, CBSA and US Border Services aren't the issue with bringing ammunition etc....across the border. The problem is US ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives) you need a permit to bring it across the border(export). You can't just go buy it and drive back across...

[Fisherman]

There's so many different agencies in the US, it's like a major crap shoot, never mind that the left hand doesn't know what the right hands doing, they can't even get two fingers on one hand to agree.