Canadian Airgun Forum
https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/

Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic85896.html		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Adam Roby [ Thu May 28, 2020 10:46 am ]
Post subject:  Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Hi Everyone,

I live in Kirkland (island of Montreal) and own a small cabin in NY state close to the border (less than 90 minute drive from home) that I am currently rebuilding. It sits on approximately 20 acres of land so is ideal for target practice and possibly small game hunting. I wanted to purchase an air rifle in the states to take advantage of the more relaxed laws with regards to muzzle velocities and get a 22 caliber rifle with 1000-1200 fps. That said, with the current pandemic, the borders are closed for an indefinite period and since the cabin is not secure I can't buy anything nor can I store anything there in the unfinished cabin.

I am now looking at finding a rifle here in Canada but have a few questions.

1) I applied for the PAL back in March so am hoping it comes in relatively soon. With the PAL I can purchase a >500 fps rifle here however do all non restricted laws apply to these rifles in that I would not be allowed to fire this in the forest or in my house should I want to? Does the PAL requirement simple apply to the purchase or do all non restricted firearm laws apply (needs to be kept under lock and key, can only be fired at shooting range, needs to be registered, etc.)? If I cross into Canada with one of these >500 fps rifles, is it legal to do so providing I have the PAL or is this a big no-no?

2) To avoid the headaches of the above, if I stick to a <500 fps rifle, can these still be used for small game hunting (rabbit/turkey) or less? I want to stick with a break action (no CO2). I am not finding much in the .22 cal <500fps. If I opt for a .177 cal, would this be powerful enough to hunt with later on?

3) Whenever I find a rifle here in Canada that is labelled as 495 fps, but then Google it the review always says 750-1000 fps for the same make/model I am looking at. Does that mean all rifles sold in Canada are originally higher powered and simply de-tuned for the Canadian market? If that is the case, can they then be tuned back to their original specs when I bring it to the states?

4) If the previous is true, then how would law enforcement know if my rife was greater or less than 500 fps? If I want to bring it back and forth across the border, I can only legally do that with a <500 fps rifle, so how could I prove it is <500 fps if all the reviews and specs show >500?

Anyways, sorry for all the questions. I will probably just purchase a smaller rifle for now and wait for a higher powered one to add to the collection when I am in the states. I am debating between the Crosmas Optimus from Canadian Tire, currently selling for $151.99, or the Ruger Air Hawk for $182.59. Both come with basic scopes, 495 fps, .177 caliber... not sure if they would be considered identical or not. Reviews show them as either the best thing since sliced bread or not worth the trouble, so hard to gauge the truth.

Adam
Author:  Dukemeister [ Thu May 28, 2020 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Welcome to the madness. You have some Costco sized questions there I'll leave to the experts. In any event frequently crossing the border with a firearm (pal or non Pal) is a hassle, and you'd need to declare it every time or risk a lengthy probe and possible ban.
If you could, find a hidey hole at your cottage and leave your US bought springer there.

Bot the Crosman and Ruger are good entry level rifles. The Crosman is more easily modded than the Ruger because there are loads of parts available. Out of the box, in non-PAL format they are more or less crap and both require tuning and modding to turn into decent shooters.
The Ruger is a copy of a Diana 34 and many parts (not all) are interchangeable. Both are good choices for a starter, unless you want to go "whole hog" and get a HW or TX springer - I wouldn't put a good rifle in a hidey hole though, just sayin.
Author:  Daryl [ Thu May 28, 2020 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Welcome to the forum, Adam.
The Duke has answered most of your queries.

A P.A.L. class air rifle is no different than a rim fire or centre fire rifle in the eyes of the law in Canada
in terms of use, storage, transportation, etc.

In my honest opinion, only the FWB, HW's or Air Arms springers are worth while for hunting use and only
in the P.A.L. level rifles.

I would not hunt bunnies nor most certainly turkeys with a low powered air rifle. I would be hesitant on
turkeys with the .22 cal. HW or TX-type rifles. For me, those are PCP air rifle territory. I do not consider
.177 P.A.L. rifles as usable on anything over the size of bunnies.

Seems to me, most rifles sold at Cdn. Tire are sub 500fps and are thus stamped on the "action" sub 500fps
or Canadian model or something like that.
Author:  sillymike [ Thu May 28, 2020 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Welcome

- As far as bringing a airgun to the US... they couldn't care less, to them it's the same as a shovel. Just let the border agent knows when you cross.
- Coming back, you'll be ask to show some sort of proof of purchase in Canada otherwise they'll try to hit you with paying tax and duty on it.

Not sure about NY hunting laws, but in Qc. 1) It has to be a rifle and 2) over 500fps
https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/english/publica ... s/arms.asp
Author:  Adam Roby [ Thu May 28, 2020 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Thanks for all the feedback. That pretty much confirms my suspicions. I will purchase a less powerful sub 500 for plinking here, and when its time see what they have over the border. I'll read some of the posts before making any decisions.

Cheers,
Adam
Author:  sillymike [ Fri May 29, 2020 5:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
If buying in the US, double-check the make/model/option against the RCMP FRT #
- Many US specs airguns now have built in moderator... a big no-no :butthead: on this side of the border...
Author:  Adam Roby [ Fri May 29, 2020 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
sillymike wrote:
If buying in the US, double-check the make/model/option against the RCMP FRT #
- Many US specs airguns now have built in moderator... a big no-no :butthead: on this side of the border...


I meant I would keep the Canadian bought rifle on the Canada side for target practice, and the American bought rife in the states at my cabin for target and/or hunting once I am able to do so. That could also give me some time to determine what I like and don't like about the first rifle to help choose a better suited one later.

Anxious to pick one up now, keep going back and forth between models, wood stock versus synthetic, 177 versus 22, spring versus nitro piston, scope or no scope... gets a bit overwhelming.
Author:  sillymike [ Fri May 29, 2020 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
If the US rifle gets to stay in the US... I'd sure be tempted to go all out!
- Over 500fps
- LDC

Image
Author:  sacad [ Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Welcome from NDG Montreal.
Author:  Daryl [ Fri Jun 05, 2020 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
sillymike wrote:
If the US rifle gets to stay in the US... I'd sure be tempted to go all out!
- Over 500fps
- LDC

Image


Absolutely, IF the cabin can be made secure. Trouble with that is, if it has windows - securing it against
entry is about impossible, without SECURE bars on the windows as well.
Author:  Adam Roby [ Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
I was more thinking to have a hidden panel, a wall that opens that isn't obvious to store it in.

Just to update everyone, I finally "pulled the trigger" on a Ruger Air Hawk .177. Got it this afternoon and took a couple dozen shots with it just to test things out. At first the trigger seemed really good but suddenly it stopped working. The rifle was cocked and loaded and just wouldn't fire. I was playing with the trigger trying to figure it out when it went off. Luckily I was still pointing it at my pellet trap but it caught to corner of it. Close call. Its so wonky... there is an adjuster on it, full in and there's no trigger release. Pull out a bit, it works sometimes and not other times.

Any risk pulling the trigger screw out completely? I need to figure out what's going on here. I hope its not already broken after only a couple dozen pellets.

I also had some issues with the sights. I had to screw it down completely to adjust for height but its still shooting high. I am "compensating" by not lining up the optics completely horizontally. Scope was doing fairly well until the trigger stopped working. Kind of dangerous to test when you're not sure when the darn trigger is going to work.
Author:  Adam Roby [ Thu Jun 18, 2020 8:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
I contacted the store where I bought it online. They said they would have to exchange it, sounds like its defective.
Only catch is I might have to pay the shipping back to the store. Damn... that's not fun. Might be cheaper to try to fix it but then I void the warranty.
Not off to a very good start.
Author:  Dukemeister [ Thu Jun 18, 2020 8:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Truth is, all the way in or all the way out can both lead to trigger problems.
Try adjusting the trigger before you send it back as defective - shipping costs are significant. I was in the same boat with the first airgun I ever bought online and I had to pay shipping to have it replaced. I sent back a beautiful Benji Classic, nice furniture and shiny chrome (the original ones were chromed), got back a icky finished version with a cracked trigger guard. Gravel sent me a replacement trigger guard later, but all in all not a very happy experience. In later years I just pull them apart and fix them myself, damned the warranty - unless it's an expensive gun. The T-05 trigger is easy to work on, but at least fiddle with adjustments before you send it back for exchange.
Author:  Adam Roby [ Thu Jun 18, 2020 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie from Kirkland, Quebec
Will anything come apart if I unscrew the adjuster completely?
I want to try going full in, then unscrew 1/2 turn at a time until all the way out just to see what the difference is... but I am not sure if something will come apart if I do that.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/