r/canadaguns • u/nomadic4491 • Jun 05 '26
Application / Regulation advice Gun Laws
Question for all the milsurp guys. Wife and I have been kicking around the idea of moving to Canada from the States, most likely the Winnipeg area since she has family there. I have 2 bolt guns and a lever action that I want to take with us if it becomes a reality. Where would I start this process, and is Canadian law goofy when it comes to flash hiders and bayonets? Any help or advice is appreciated!
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u/goodfleance Jun 05 '26
You'll need a license to own them here, and there's some hoops for importing the guns but as long as they aren't banned here it should be fine.
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u/Relevant_Diver_3228 Jun 05 '26
Both flash hiders and bayonets are legal here but I don't know what the process of crossing the border is so you might want to look us the regulations
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u/SpectreBallistics Spectre Ballistics International (Verified) Jun 05 '26
Step 1 is look up what classification your gun is. https://gunlink.ca/ Bayonets and flash hiders are fine. To bring the rifles in it will be simplest if they are non-restricted, a bit more complicated if restricted, and essentially impossible if prohibited.
Step 2 is get your PAL. This would need to be done before coming to Canada. You can get a non-restricted and restricted license.
Step 3 is export the guns from the US. This will need an export permit.
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u/black_covfefe_please Jun 05 '26
The biggest issue will be your vehicle's suspension when driving on Winnipeg roads. They are a literal horror show. Also, Winnipeg isn't a quiet safe city like most Americans picture Canadian cities to be. It has high crime, massive poverty, and a huge homeless problem. And a unbelievable cold winter.
But it has beautiful lakes, and Canada's largest Princess Auto (think Harbour Freight).
As for the firearms, as far as importing into Canada, I believe you will just need to declare them at the boarder. The bigger issue is legally exporting out of US.
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u/nomadic4491 Jun 05 '26
This! The first time I went up to visit her family was also the first time I’d been out of the states and yeah it was definitely an eye opener. I wouldn’t live in Winnipeg itself for sure.
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u/frosty_canuck Jun 06 '26
Eh Winnipeg isn't that bad. It's worse than other Canadian cities sure but I don't fear getting mugged or shot here like ever and I am downtown often.
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u/Sweetchildofmine88 Jun 05 '26
"Safe" is a relative term. I always joked about how the safest city in the U.S was as safe as the most dangerous one in Canada.
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u/black_covfefe_please Jun 05 '26
Winnipeg may not compare to Baltimore, but much less save than many American cities.
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u/Sweetchildofmine88 Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
Not the way you think it is. Houston would be considered a warzone in comparison to Winnipeg. It's always the red states that are crappy.
Edit: for your reference; https://www.numbeo.com/crime/region_rankings_current.jsp?region=021&displayColumn=1
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u/black_covfefe_please Jun 05 '26
Have you been to Baltimore? And FYI, Houston is a Blue city. 🤷
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u/Sweetchildofmine88 Jun 05 '26
In a red state. Take a look at the trends. They try voting blue for a reason.
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u/Barbarian_818 Jun 05 '26
Reach out to the guys at irunguns.ca
Everything you've described should be legal to import. But it's easy to get hung up at the border if your paperwork isn't perfect or you get a Customs officer unfamiliar with the process.
The biggest hitch I can see is that you don't have a PAL (gun license). There is a process you can go through to have temporary permission. It's what recreational hunters do when visiting Canada. But AFAIK it's only for 60 days and you're supposed to take the firearms home when your hunting trip is over. And it can take longer than two months to get a PAL.
So what you'd probably be best off doing is having irunguns.ca import and store your firearms for you. Then you enter Canada, get your permanent residency status, acquire a PAL and then retrieve your firearms.
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u/nomadic4491 Jun 05 '26
Thanks for all the responses, I sleep all day so I can pave interstates at night lol sounds like what I have should be relatively easy to get in. Thanks again!
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u/Zealousideal-Hat5814 Jun 06 '26
Get a PAL first. Levers and Bolts are mostly fine here, though watch for overall length of the rifle. Only thing that’s stupidly illegal here is silencers, flash hiders and bayonets are fine.
But also, check the RCMP website rather than Reddit about imports. We know nothing here buddy.
Lastly, out of all provinces you to go Winnipeg Manitoba? It’s like the coldest and highest crime capita city. I got robbed there twice in one year, and my friend had their face beat in and car stolen…. All while your car can’t start cuz you forgot to install an electric heater for the engine.
Least go to a small town on Manitoba, those are generally nicer and friendlier. And definitely avoid downtown Winnipeg.
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u/nomadic4491 Jun 06 '26
We were kicking around the idea of Manitoba, but most of her family stays up by Selkirk so we were thinking something of that nature, maybe not that far out lol. Close enough for work but removed enough we don’t have to worry about getting robbed. Especially since I can’t carry my 1911 around like here 😂
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u/Cager_CA Jun 05 '26
Canada is the last place I'd move if you value owning guns and a good economy.
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Jun 05 '26
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u/Dantheislander Jun 05 '26
Maybe ask why he’s planning to move to canada then dispute those reasons ya numpty. Going on the internet moaning about this great country is so unpatriotic you should be ashamed. We are a great nation here and anyone would be proud to call home. Little mom’s basement troll energy off this chode.
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u/Tribune-Of-The-Plebs Jun 05 '26
If restrictions on semi-automatic firearms are the sole reason for where you choose to live, you may need to reassess your priorities in life.
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u/Murray3-Dvideos Jun 05 '26
If there was a ban on dog ownership, how many people would leave ? Some people's lives revolve around a single passion or characteristic.
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u/mdl686 Jun 05 '26
You think restrictions on semi autos is the only reason to avoid moving to a lefty province in a lefty country?
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u/Tribune-Of-The-Plebs Jun 05 '26
You say “lefty” like it’s an inherently bad thing. If someone is considering leaving the US for Manitoba, they probably don’t have the same aversion to the concept.
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u/Dantheislander Jun 05 '26
For sure I remember talking to a Winnipeg history and civics teacher about this: we mix up big L liberal with liberal. By and large even our conservatives are left in the USA and our liberals are right wing nutters in Scandinavia terms.
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u/gnu_gai Jun 05 '26
In addition to mixing up the big and small Ls, I feel like people simply aren't taught what liberalism as a socio-economic philosophy is, and the context around its development. Liberalism is left wing when compared to the absolute theocratic monarchies and royal monopolies that it was developed to replace; but secularism, democracy, and the free market are now decidedly the norm
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u/Possible_Jellyfish69 Jun 05 '26
Goddamn, all the crazy gun bans here suck, but I'm surprised so many commenters would apparently rather live in the US. Sad
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u/Imaginary-Leading-49 Jun 05 '26
It’s not just guns, look at cost of living/weather and you start to realize it’s way more expensive here for everything!
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u/Unfair-Company7135 Jun 05 '26
Until you get hurt, need medical care and end up spending thousands out of pocket, even with a good insurance plan. Selling toys to pay off incurred debt if you're lucky, that's given your claim doesn't get denied in the first place. It's very much the wild West down there, but for absolutely no good reason. It's not the land of promise so many people seem to think it is.
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u/Imaginary-Leading-49 Jun 05 '26
My grandparents waited 8hrs in emergency and had to go home as no one checked on them and they needed water/food/sleep. They went back the next day and spend 13hrs in the hospital…
It’s a very broken system we have here!
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u/LordRevan1996 Jun 05 '26
Feel free to correct this, but I’ve heard it quoted that the richer you are in the U.S. the cheaper your life is?
In and out of the gun community here, people have a a romanticized view of America especially in Alberta, thanks to both some true facts and some misinformation.
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u/BrightOrdinary4348 Jun 06 '26
I don’t know why you’re downvoted when you spoke the truth most Canadians don’t know or don’t want to hear.
I lived in the US for about five years. I’m an electrical engineer who works in tech. Higher pay than Canada, lower taxes when joint filing with a spouse who does not have work authorization and supporting a family. Premium healthcare plans are used to attract talent where in many cases the engineer doesn’t pay premiums, and has low out of pocket expenses. The catch is that’s my experience. Average jobs that don’t pay as high as tech, doctor, lawyer, etc in Canada may make more in the US, but will likely have healthcare premiums eat up any tax savings. Also, at least in California, the cost of many groceries are the same as here, but in USD. So if you’re not getting a significant pay bump, you may not notice an improvement in quality of life. My rule of thumb is USD>=1.3CAD (no exchange) is what you need to make the move worthwhile.
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u/Sweetchildofmine88 Jun 05 '26
However high you think your taxes are, in comparison to the US, the difference is actually negligible or in your favour. Add an extra $500(U.S) for every family member in your household for insurance payments to your calculations. If you have kids, add in the cost of education. From someone who lived in Virginia, life is significantly cheaper/stress free here. Real estate prices are lower in the US, but generally only marginally and generally in rural or less desirable places.
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u/Marvin-The-Marvtian Jun 05 '26
You’d need to get your (r)PAL and then go through the legal importation process. Companies such as irunguns are your best bet. They charge $200-300 per rifle
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Jun 06 '26
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Jun 05 '26
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u/boozefiend3000 Jun 05 '26
What a dumb comment. Lived in a big city my whole life, I tell people not to move here all the time. Nothing to do with race/class shit
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u/Unfair-Company7135 Jun 05 '26
The irony. Lol
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u/boozefiend3000 Jun 05 '26
What’s ironic about it? The other guy is claiming people don’t want people to move here because they fear the great other. I’m telling people not to move here because it’s all a smoke and mirrors shit show and they’re better off saving their money
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u/Unfair-Company7135 Jun 05 '26
Because you talk like the same uneducated backwater people he referenced. For someone from a "big city" it's funny to see you revel in the same idiocy. All those resources, opportunities and exposure to life and still you fail to see the valuable difference. Things aren't great here, but that's a story the world around as we live in a hyper volatile and interconnected space. On a ranking scale though, this country is still leaps and bounds greater than the other 2 options in the continent. Go outside, touch grass, say hi to a neighbor. Your anger is palpable through text.
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u/Saskatoon_Maskatoon Jun 05 '26
If by a "prairie small town" you mean, "Toronto", sure.
I couldn't imagine hating myself enough to move from the USA to Winnipeg.
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u/TheBulletBuddy Jun 12 '26
If you're within 30 minuets of the perimeter, dont buy nice things. Property damage, theft, robberies etc are all on a massive rise here. I live in a relatively nicer area outside the city and regularly we have people from in the city coming out stealing anything they can find off patios etc. RCMP refuse to do anything about it and have told us to just get used to it.
Anywhere in Canada is better than Manitoba, even Brandon isnt as bad as it is here haha. Hope the move goes easily for you! Get ready for 40 degree summers and -40 winters!
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u/swift_gilford Jun 05 '26
Generally speaking; if its still legal to own here you are fine, so i'd make an educated guess that the bolt and lever guns will be fine.
Surprisingly, no. Suppressors are definitely a no-no here though.
I'd check what your export restrictions are. Generally speaking there is more issues getting stuff out of the US than it is bringing it into Canada. For short term travel its usually pretty simple but not sure how it works if you are permanently leaving.