The proposed regulations also seriously restrict the use of big-game rifles, since the regulations define “small-arms ammunition” as bullets no larger than .50 calibre. But in Canada, calibres larger than .50 – such as the .577 Snider and the .505 Gibbs rounds – are frequently used to hunt bears and other large or dangerous game.

Since these large bullets are not defined as small-arms ammunition in the proposed regulations, [Natural Resources official Jean-Luc] Arpin said, they will fall into a more general category of blasting explosives. As a result, shooters who use large calibres will have to acquire explosives licences – such as those needed for dynamite – to continue hunting with large-bore rifles.

That sounds a disaster for hunters from abroad who want to hunt with +.500 calibre rifles in Canada!
So would it be possible to acquire a Canadian explosive licence, if living abroad, for hunting in Canada?
And do you have a link to this particular part of the new regulations?

I guess my 510 does blow them up. I heard this explosive bill was dropped.

Feds back off proposed ammo rules
By Jessica Murphy, Parliamentary Bureau

Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety spoke to members of the media about the finalization of the Long Gun Registry on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, April 5, 2012. Chris Roussakis/QMI Agency
OTTAWA - The federal government is backing down from proposed strict new ammunition regulations after receiving complaints from gun owners.

"Those regulations were brought to my attention a day or two ago," said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on Thursday. "That was a discussion I think was mainly inside the bureaucracy, and I just reiterate that is not regulations that will proceed as proposed."

The draft regulations, made public in March, included proposals that had ammunition being locked up and added severe new restrictions on the quantity of ammunition someone could own and store.

Solomon Friedman, an Ottawa-based firearms lawyer, said it smacked of "restrictions for restrictions' sake."

Natural Resources Canada, the federal department in charge explosives regulations, argued Canada's rules need updating. The previous laws were written in 1920.

But some gun owners balked at the proposals, saying they could interfere with law-abiding practices like hunting and target shooting.


The proposed regulations are currently under a review period while the government seeks public feedback.

Other proposed changes to the regulations include tighter controls on the packaging of consumer fireworks and a safety information campaign for consumers.

OH dear

I will have to limit myself to 50 calibre for rabbits then

As .50 cal ammo actually uses .510 bullets, will all .50 cal (eg 500NE or 500 Jeffery) ammo, or firearms, now be 'restricted'? I couldn't find, on the official websites, where it states that the federal government is backing down.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/index-eng.htm
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mineral...tals/explosives/3539

Ok. Let met try this again since some people cannot read

The federal government is backing down from proposed strict new ammunition regulations after receiving complaints from gun owners.

Amazing Canuck32.....I'm not sure anyone reads more than the first few words before posting.