DAOD 3002-5, Use of Firearms, Ammunitions and Explosives

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Definitions
  3. Use of Firearms
  4. Use of Ammunition and Explosives
  5. Hand Loading of Small Arms Ammunition
  6. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2007-12-12

Application: This is a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence (DND employees) and an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).

Supersession:

Approval Authority: Director Ammunition and Explosives Regulation (DAER)

Enquiries: Director Ammunition and Explosives Regulation (DAER)


2. Definitions

adult and youth members of Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) (adultes et jeunes membres de l'Organisation des cadets du Canada (OCC))

Adult and youth members of CCO includes members of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, civilian instructors, cadets and junior Canadian Rangers.

allied service firearm (arme à feu d'une force alliée)

Allied service firearm means a foreign service firearm of a nation that is in a defence alliance with Canada.

ammunition (munitions)

Ammunition means a device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, initiating composition, or nuclear, biological or chemical material, for use in military operations, and includes a non-charged or inert replica of such a device.

black powder (poudre noire)

Black powder means a heterogeneous explosive substance composed of potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

bursting charge (charge d'éclatement)

A bursting charge means an explosive charge designed to burst a casing to produce blast and fragmentation.

CF service ammunition (munitions réglementaires des FC)

CF service ammunition means ammunition that has been reviewed by the Ammunition Safety and Suitability Board (ASSB) and accepted by an environmental chief of staff for regular CF use.

CF service firearm (arme à feu réglementaire des FC)

CF service firearm means a small arm firearm that is purchased and managed by Director Land Requirements (DLR) with the normal Integrated Logistic Support structure and is issued as a personal or crew-served firearm or for training purposes to CAF members.

explosive (explosif)

Explosive has the same meaning as in the Explosives Act.

foreign service firearm (arme à feu d'une force étrangère)

Foreign service firearm means a service firearm of a state other than Canada.

non-CF service ammunition (munition non réglementaire)

Non-CF service ammunition means all ammunition, regardless of its origin, that has neither been formally reviewed by the ASSB nor accepted by an environmental chief of staff for regular CAF use.

non-service firearms (arme à feu non réglementaire)

Non-service firearms means all small arms firearms, regardless of their origin, that are not service firearms.

propelling charge (charge propulsive)

A propelling charge means an explosive charge that is burned in a firearm to produce gases used to propel a projectile.

saluting charge (charge de salve)

Saluting charge means an explosive charge used to produce sound.

service firearm (arme à feu réglementaire)

Service firearm means a small arm firearm that is recognized as a firearm in official use by the military or police forces of a state.

small arms ammunition (munitions de petit calibre)

Small arms ammunition means any type of ammunition, not larger than 20 millimetre in calibre, used in rifles, pistols, revolvers, carbines, submachine-guns, machine-guns or shotguns.

small arms firearms (arme à feu de petit calibre)

Small arms firearms are man-portable or vehicle-mounted light firearms, designed primarily for anti-personnel use, and includes rifles, pistols, revolvers, carbines, submachine-guns, machine-guns and shotguns.


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3. Use of Firearms

Purpose

3.1 This DAOD outlines the DND and the CAF policy governing:

  1. the use of CF service, allied service, foreign service, non-service, obsolete and ceremonial firearms by CAF members, the adult and youth members of the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) and DND employees;
  2. the use of firearms on DND facilities by DND-sponsored or recognized rifle associations;
  3. the conditions under which ammunition and explosives may and may not be modified or changed by CAF members or DND employees; and
  4. the conditions for the hand loading of small arms ammunition in DND facilities allocated to military rifle clubs, military small arms associations and similar organizations within the DND.

Approval for Firing Non-Service, Obsolete or Ceremonial Firearms

3.2 The firing of non-service, obsolete or ceremonial firearms by DND employees, CAF members or adult and youth members of the CCO for any purpose is not permitted unless approved by the authority set out in the following table:

For firing non-service, obsolete or ceremonial firearms ... approval must be given by the ...

by land environment units,

Director Land Requirements (DLR).

by maritime environment units,

Director Maritime Policy, Operations and Readiness (DMPOR).

by air environment units,

1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD ).

by adult and youth members of the CCO,

Director Cadets (D Cdts).

used in Royal Military College academic activities,

Director of Applied Military Science.

used in all other CAF academic activities,

Commandant Canadian Defence Academy.

Note - Approval to use any firearm does not constitute approval to use ammunition with that firearm unless specifically stated by Director Ammunition and Explosive Management and Engineering (DAEME) . For approval to use ammunition, see Approval of CF Service Ammunition block.

Private Use of Firearms

3.3 The approval table above does not apply to DND employees, CAF members or adult and youth members of the CCO who, in their private capacity, may lawfully fire privately-owned firearms:

  1. recreationally, as a member of a shooting club or association;
  2. in connection with a private firearms business;
  3. for hunting; or
  4. otherwise, as permitted by law.

Prohibited Use of Firearms

3.4 Firing or attempting to fire locally-manufactured firearms, firearms manufactured for display or for trophy purposes, or any other such firearm is prohibited, except as follows:

  1. authorized experiments or modifications carried out by experimental or research establishments or by any organization directed to do so by the appropriate firearm's Life Cycle Materiel Manager;
  2. properly controlled DND-sponsored or recognized rifle associations utilizing DND facilities provided that the association certifies, in writing, that:
    1. the firearm has been inspected and deemed serviceable by an accredited gunsmith within the preceding twelve months;
    2. that the danger areas of the firearms fall within the danger area boundaries of the DND facility; and
    3. that the Crown is indemnified from all liabilities arising from the use of the facility by the association.

Use of Foreign Service Firearms and Non-Service Firearms in CAF Possession

3.5 Foreign service firearms and non-service firearms held in the CAF inventory may be fired with the approval of the responsible area commander or commanders of operational commands provided that the ammunition to be fired in the weapons has been approved for service by DAEME.

Use of Allied Service Firearms

3.6 The firing of allied service firearms of authorized countries, with their associated ammunition, by CAF members, and adult and youth members of the CCO, may be authorized without the conduct of an ASSB review and weapons assessment by the responsible Area Commander or Commander of an Operational Command, in accordance with B-GL-381/001/TS-000, Training Safety. Authorized countries are as follows:

  1. Australia;
  2. Belgium;
  3. Denmark;
  4. France;
  5. Germany;
  6. Netherlands;
  7. New Zealand;
  8. United States; and
  9. United Kingdom.

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4. Use of Ammunition and Explosives

Approval of CF Service Ammunition and Explosives

4.1 In accordance with the provisions of DAOD 3002-0 and DAOD 3002-1, all CF service ammunition and explosives must be qualified by the ASSB process and approved by the appropriate environment chiefs of staff prior to introduction into service with the CAF.

Ammunition Inter-changeability

4.2 Many CF service firearms have the same calibre as allied service firearms. This similarity in calibre does not guarantee compatibility of ammunition intended for use in allied service firearms or any other firearm with CF service firearms.

4.3 Approval to use non-CF service ammunition in CF service firearms must be obtained from DAEME.

Prohibited Use of CF Service Ammunition, Commercial Ammunition and Explosives

4.4 The use of, including tampering with, CF service ammunition, commercial ammunition or explosives, for other than their designed purpose, is prohibited.

4.5 The modification, break down or sectioning of live ammunition for experimental, instructional or any other purpose, or the manufacture of ammunition or explosives, is prohibited, except as may be authorized in the Authorized Exceptions to Prohibitions block of this DAOD.

4.6 For greater certainty, the following are prohibited:

  1. unauthorized interchange of fuses or primers or both;
  2. experiments involving the use of altered propelling charges or bursting charges with ammunition of any type;
  3. the use of obsolete ammunition;
  4. the use of non-service ammunition other than that received through normal supply channels or supplied pursuant to the NATO Standardization Agreements;
  5. the manufacture and use of locally fabricated explosives, explosive training devices, battle simulators, saluting charges, etc.;
  6. any alteration to the design of ammunition or explosive devices;
  7. deviation from authorized drills for use of ammunition or explosive devices; and
  8. rendering live ammunition inert for use as museum or instructional items.

Authorized Exceptions to Prohibitions

4.7 Exceptions to prohibitions listed in the Prohibited Use of CF-Service Ammunition, Commercial Ammunition and Explosives block are:

  1. authorized experiments or modifications, carried out by experimental, research, proof or inspection establishments;
  2. authorized breakdown, modification, repairs, or proof-testing carried out as a normal function of a CAF ammunition depot or base ammunition facility;
  3. ammunition processing or improvised explosive device work carried out, as part of a course training standard prescribed in an approved course training plan, by DND employees or CAF members employed at the CAF School of Administration and Logistics or Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) as instructors or trainees under supervision;
  4. the use of commercial pattern ammunition, for use in its designed role, that has been authorized by DAEME for local purchase in accordance with the CAF Supply Manual Volume 3 and DAOD 3004-1, Procedural Overview - Contracting;
  5. ammunition for use by properly controlled DND-sponsored or recognized rifle associations in the firearms described in Prohibited Use of Firearms block, provided that the ammunition has been certified safe for this purpose by Natural Resources Canada - Explosives Branch; or
  6. other cases, when specifically authorized by DAEME.

5. Hand Loading of Small Arms Ammunition

Conditions for Hand Loading Small Arms Ammunition

5.1 Subject to the approval of the base/wing commander or commanding officer, small arms ammunition may be hand loaded in DND facilities under the following conditions:

  1. all work involved shall be done by CAF members or DND employees;
  2. loading, including loading for private use, is prohibited in DND living accommodation;
  3. the use of black powder in reloading is prohibited. However, reloading of historic metallic cartridges may be conducted using modern black powder substitutes having a hazard classification code of 1.3, such as 'Pyrodex';
  4. an explosives limit of one kilogram of powder, including assembled cartridges, in the loading room shall be enforced;
  5. the loading room shall be scrupulously cleaned before commencement and on completion of hand loading;
  6. only essential, non-sparking hand tools shall be used when working on exposed explosives;
  7. no work other than the making of cartridges shall be conducted in the loading room during hand loading;
  8. no fire or artificial light, except a light that is constructed and positioned so that it will not cause any danger of fire or explosion, shall be used in the loading room during hand loading;
  9. no person shall smoke or have in their possession matches or other fire/heat/spark producing devices in the loading room or adjoining rooms while hand loading is being conducted;
  10. the loading room shall be equipped with first aid and fire fighting equipment as detailed by local fire orders;
  11. the building and loading room shall have fire division symbols displayed in accordance with the provisions of C-09-153-001/TS-000, Ammunition and Explosives Safety Manual, Chapter 7; and
  12. emergency response personnel shall be made aware of the presence of ammunition or explosives in the facility and the hazards that may result.

Inspections

5.2 Facilities used for the hand loading of ammunition shall be inspected on a quarterly basis by the supporting ammunition technical staff.

6. References

Source References

Related References

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