Hell of a time at Peace Arch

A couple hours ago, I came back into Canada and declared some car parts as well as a propane adapter and a inner barrel. The officer told me to go to inside because he said he did not know the protocol for airsoft related stuff. Fair enough, I understand. While inside, the officer at the desk asked me about the functions of the parts and I described them. He also asks if the inner barrel would affect the performance of my gun, I said yes it would raise my fps to around 400. Later on he basically says that the inner barrel is not allowed in Canada because it would cause my gun to shoot above 366fps which would make it into a firearm. Now I'm confused, how can an inner barrel be called a firearm? Also, wasn't there a new law passed last year that states that anything firing over 366fps to 500fps is considered a "uncontrolled firearm" and we are allowed to import uncontrolled firearms without papers? The man asks me to show him where it says in the CBSA rule book does it state the importation of uncontrolled firearms so i use my phone to show him. After he sees it, he tries to argue that the barrel is a firearm and that I need papers to import firearms. After a good 45 minutes of arguing, he tells me to have a seat and that someone else will be with me. 30 minutes later, a different officer comes and basically says since the barrel is made for a gun that shoots under 300 fps, it is fine, if it was for a gun that shoots over 366fps, I would have to register my gun as a firearm. Has anyone else had this experience or am I just unlucky? If this happens again, what should I say to avoid a hour and a half confrontation?

[lupo]

Im assuming that because of the parts and trip you were maxed out on your tax exemption dollar amount?
If so I see a few things you could have handled differently.
Airsoft info.
#1 I would not have said anything about an increase to velocity , as it is negligble , it increases accuracy.
#2 They are required to fire over 366 to be legal.

Into the fireams realm

#1 a barrel is NOT a firearm period , you can bring a firearm barrel across the border no problems you just have to declare it , you dont need a liscence to bring a barrel back as it is NOT a firearm.
The CBSA agents you dealt with were unsure of the new rulings and were trying to cover thier asses.

Im assuming that because of the parts and trip you were maxed out on your tax exemption dollar amount?
If so I see a few things you could have handled differently.
Airsoft info.
#1 I would not have said anything about an increase to velocity , as it is negligble , it increases accuracy.
#2 They are required to fire over 366 to be legal.

Into the fireams realm

#1 a barrel is NOT a firearm period , you can bring a firearm barrel across the border no problems you just have to declare it , you dont need a liscence to bring a barrel back as it is NOT a firearm.
The CBSA agents you dealt with were unsure of the new rulings and were trying to cover thier asses.

luckily i wasn't charged a single penny for taxes .Its incredibly annoying that not every CBSA agent is not knowledgeable in the new rules!

[lupo]

Its such a small percentage of what comes across the border , I know its a pain but I dont expect them to know all the codes and classifications. It is a helluva lot of info and should need to be known. I would bookmark or save the memoradum codes from the ASC if you are going to buy things from the states on a regular basis.

Wow thats a lot of hassle for a steel tube. I do 90% of my airsoft shopping in the US and then declare it when I drive through the Peace Arch crossing and I have never been pulled in except for when I imported an AEG. I've declared plate carriers, a kevlar helmet, barrels, tons of gas and AEG magazines, scopes, red dots, but stocks, RAS kits and all kinds of internals.
Heres some advice from someone who lives minutes from Peace Arch and is picking up packages a few times a month.
1- Of course no sunglasses, hats and look the officer in the eye.
2- When they ask the reason for your trip tell them you where picking up an Ebay package. Sometimes that is enough for them to just ask you the value and if your bringing back any alcohol or tobacco and send you on your way without enquiring any further.
3- Have your package open and sitting on the front passenger seat so that when they inquire you can easily show it to the guard. This allows them to see for themselves and may deter them from sending you in for a trunk search.
4- Always have a copy of the receipt. (if buying a gun print out the CBSA document regarding airsoft and highlight the important bits).
5- Whenever possible put the word paintball in front of the item you bought. They know and understand paintball and usually have a positive attitude toward it or at least positive curiosity.
6. I almost always buy some Biovel Bio BB's with my orders to keep my supply full and when they ask me what I am bringing back I can say '' bags of Biodegradable bb's and some other parts''. Anything ''GREEN'' sounding goes a long way.

Hope this helps.

And for those that do buy "up-gradable" parts such as barrels, pistons, springs etc etc.. you can not accurately say with any part how much FPS it will give you! as lupo mentioned a barrel is more for accuracy, in "theory" a tighter barrel "can" give you a slight velocity increase! but you dont want to confuse anyone anymore than they may be, just claim your parts as replacement " repair parts" because that is what you are doing, replacing parts.