Curious about how Canadians regulate airguns

[NickB79]

I'm in Minnesota, so my interest is sheerly academic, but I can't quite figure out Canadian air rifle laws.  I know there are quite a few Canadian airgunners here, and I'm familiar with the basics (nothing over 500 fps or it's considered a firearm with the requisite licensing needed).  However, how is this enforced?  If your AG can fling a 14.3 gr lead pellet at 495 fps, a PBA alloy pellet at 9.5 gr might be clocking around 600 fps.  Isn't this technically illegal?  Or, if you set up an AG to shoot 500 fps with a very heavyweight pellet (say, a Eu Jin) to stay legal but have lighter pellets in the house for other, less powerful airguns, is that technically illegal?  In a pinch you could swap them out and far exceed 500 fps.

A velocity limit seems so unenforceable.  While I hate the idea of limits at all on airguns, a ft-lb/joules limit like in Europe seems to make far more sense.  Thanks!

[rsterne]

The basic answer to your question is that there is no "airgun police" to come knocking on your door and check the velocity of your gun.... However, if you are doing something you shouldn't be, there is always the possibility of having your gun siezed and tested.... and there is no guarantee they will test it with your pellets.... While it might be possible to argue in court that the lightest pellets you had for your .25 cal pistol was 25 grains, if they tested it at 600 fps with a 20 gr. pellet you might be in for a world of trouble.... or at least a big lawyer bill....

There is a 4.2 FPE minimum as well as the 500 fps maximum for an airgun to be considered a firearm, but that really only applies in practice to pellets in .177 less than 7.8 gr.... In all other calibers, to be REALLY safe you should test any modified gun with the lightest pellets you can get.... Having said that, a "manufacturer" gets to use whatever weight they want when the test the gun and the government believes their velocity claim.... So yes, it's a mess....

Bob

[jolobolo]

And if you go on the Canadian forums you sometimes get references to tapping certain vent holes in valves and putting screws in. Who knows what that does

[gamo2hammerli]

Can't help you with this one as I haven't heard of anyone's airgun being tested by the authorities.  But it's possible if the authorities used the newest lightest pellets, then lot's of airgunners might get into trouble because I would think most of their (Under 500fps airguns) were tested with lead pellets...usually in the 7.4gr range.

[QVTom]

Are you guys talking pistols or all AGs?

[rsterne]

All AGs have to be under 500 fps to not require the owner to have a firearms license (PAL - Possession and Acquisition License).... However, PALs come in two flavours, the one for handguns is an "R-PAL", since handguns are Restricted in Canada.... That means they can only be shot at an approved Pistol Range, and you need a permit just to take them from your home to the range.... This  would apply to any air pistol over 500 fps, so basically nobody in Canada wants one, they are simply too much hassle, and you can't even legally shoot them in your yard, or hunt with them....

Airguns sold by the manufacturer as "non-PAL" are listed as being under 500 fps with whatever pellet the manufacturer used to test it, and I know of at least one (a Diana in .177) that was tested by Diana using an 8.4 gr. pellet, but it's still OK without a PAL.... However, if you modify a non-PAL airgun, then all bets are off, and it could be tested with any pellet.... and if over 500 fps, it might take a skilled lawyer to convince the courts it shot under 500 fps the way YOU used it.... Good luck with that!....

Bob

[jus Tom]

As a US citizen, I'm gonna make a wild guess here and surmise that if entering into Canada at customs and the agent asks about "having any firearms with you?"......and I reply "no firearms, but I have a .22 air rifle"......that's gonna be an issue ? eh

[rsterne]

If it's over 500 fps, then yes.... if you have all the documentation that says otherwise, less hassle I would hope.....

Bob

[haertig]

So you can't even have the very common (in the USA) Crosman 1377 pistol there?  That's unfortunate.

[rsterne]

There are detuned versions of many airguns available in Canada, and the 1377 is one of them....

Bob

[jolobolo]

I have a crosman 130 and a v-350 both stamped made in Canada at the Crosman factory there I've never taken them apart to see if they have Canadian valves in. But in uk the Canadian stamp makes them that much rarer.

[rsterne]

The 130 may predate the under 500 fps law.... I'm not sure when it came in....

Bob