r/canadaguns • u/ricochangMMO • Jul 05 '26
Application / Regulation advice Alberta Olympic Exemption for handguns
Hey guys I'm interested in getting the Olympic Exemption in Alberta. I'm still trying to understand the process a bit as I've heard some people have gotten it without a letter from the SFC. I'd like to get a fn502 from IRG probably so I can convert it to 9mm but just curious if someone could explain their experience as It seems to vary a little by province. Thanks!
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u/22GageEnthusiast Jul 05 '26
I'm in Onterrible but here's the summarized breakdown:
- Have an RPAL
- Be a member of a gun club that takes part in an ISSF/Olympic handgun discipline
- Be a member of the Shooting Federation of Canada (SFC) this is about $55 a year.
- Take part in the appropriate discipline for about 4-6 months by going to practices and SFC sanctioned matches
- Send a request to the SFC for an exemption letter
- SFC sends the exemption letter
- Find the 22LR handgun that you want. Purchase it and provide the exemption letter.
- Wait for the RCMP transfer to go through.
- Get handgun.
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u/looloopklopm Jul 05 '26
Couple of questions - how do I take part in the appropriate discipline for 4-6 months without a handgun?
And why 22? Are there calibre restrictions?
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u/Savings-Garbage-628 Jul 05 '26
Yes, the exemption is for .22lr only. From what I've seen though, is people will get a handgun that you can get a 9mm slide for.
1
u/22GageEnthusiast Jul 06 '26
You'd have to borrow a handgun from someone or borrow it from the range that you would be a member of. I basically borrow a handgun from my range whenever I go there to shoot the ISSF pistol practices and matches.
The exemption is only for 22LR handguns because in the ISSF/Olympic handgun sports the caliber is always 22LR or airgun calibers.
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u/Whispersfine Jul 19 '26
Must be 4 to 6 months long? It’s a huge favor to ask for someone to borrow their pistol to you for that long.
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u/22GageEnthusiast Jul 19 '26
A lot of gun clubs in Canada rent out handguns to their members for this reason.
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u/Whispersfine Jul 19 '26
Just shot an email to the club president. I hope he’s interested. I understand the club has a good SFC membership and is listed on their website so that’s a good start
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u/Edmonton_outdoorsman Jul 05 '26
How do you get it without an SFC exemption letter in alberta? I have .22lr handguns but would always love more.
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Jul 05 '26
Although I’m in BC, I got my exemption without the SFC, just the provincial sports body.
Second, I thought the fn502 couldn’t be converted to other calibers?
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u/igopoopoopeepee Jul 05 '26
Little off topic, but how do you go about getting it in BC lol
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Jul 05 '26
I signed up for BCTSA for 50$, filled out the PDF on their website for the exemption, if it’s .22LR the coach part isn’t necessary, 2 weeks to the day later I got the exemption, imported from irunguns, govt contacted me about transferring after the ban, sent them the signed exemption, and 3 days later govt cleared the transfer
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Jul 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Jul 05 '26
The federal office in Mirimichi contacted me. In fact the CFO didn’t contact me at all. The federal office requested my exemption and I had 30 days to hand it in. After I sent it in, they contacted me back to let me know they accepted the transfer and it was a success, the firearm is registered to me and I may pick it up whenever
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u/Elbro_16 Jul 05 '26
What did you import? I have a fn502 that will be imported soon through irunguns. They said it shouldn’t be a problem and neither did BCTSA
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Jul 05 '26
I started simple and set in motion an import for a ruger mk4 22/45, in case I bought a super high end pistol and the exemption didn’t clear. Now that it’s clear I’ll definitely be getting more exemptions haha. Now to try and find a coach for higher calibers
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Jul 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Jul 05 '26
CFO wasn’t actually involved in my exemption transaction, it was the federal mirimichi office that contacted me the whole time and asked for my exemption and informed me that my transfer was complete. I didn’t get one call from the BC CFO or one email
3
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u/Elbro_16 Jul 05 '26
I’ve heard only good things from the bc cfo. I contacted them and asked for a pre approval… but the other guy says it was mirimichi… anyway hope my transfer goes through haha
7
u/_Connor Jul 05 '26
Can you even buy "normal" handguns with the exemption? No one is competing in the olympics with the FN502.
I thought it was limited to Hammerli type .22 pistols. You might have a tough time justifying the "olympic exemption" if you're trying to buy a Glock.
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u/Elbro_16 Jul 05 '26
Nobody is competing with revolvers and ruger mklv either, but they are getting them
6
u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Jul 05 '26
It’s not limited to Olympic style only pistols . The BCTSA seems to approve anything 22LR (they approved my request for a ruger mk4 22/45, and there was another Redditor with a .22 revolver that was approved recently)
The only “Olympic pistol only” exemption I know of is the Walther Pardini that circumvents the 32SWL prohibition since it’s deemed an Olympic pistol. At least that was the case
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u/69___Nice Jul 07 '26
Im just optimizing my recoil control by using 45ACP. How dare they judge my training practices 😎
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u/K0bra_Ka1 Jul 05 '26
FN502 doesn't convert.
Sig 226 is pretty much your best conversion option.