I really love shooting and collecting guns, but I kinda miss the days before news articles spiked my blood pressure, bummed me out, or made me mad at my country almost daily..

[u/Response-Cheap]

It's a shame that I jumped into this hobby so late. Almost got into it back in like 2010, but my first wife kept me broke and busy. Didn't get around to it til 2024. I missed many years of relatively chill times for gun owners in Canada. My license came in literally 2 months after the last ban. My whole shopping list got banned. I basically dove in at the worst time to be a gun owner in the history of Canada. And now it constantly feels like the walls are closing in on our community. Almost every day I can count on reading some more damning news regarding our hobby. It's frustrating.

I've shot air rifles and stuff all my life, and shot .22LR with some friends growing up, so I always loved marksmanship, and the history of guns was always something I enjoyed learning about. I am allowed to shoot where I live, so I shoot 12g and .22 off the back porch all the time. I really enjoy it. Getting my license and shouldering a brand new Benelli for the first time was like; life goal accomplished. Better late than never.

And now I'm sweating my SKS and TM22 getting prohibed. I've sunk quite a bit of dough (by my standards) into getting the TM22 where I like it. Alex's Homebrew AR style top charging handle kit, magpul AFG, decent prism scope and bipod, etc.. And I'm always wondering if I'm just pissing money down the drain on something that'll ultimately be made illegal overnight by wack jobs and greasy politicians..

Since they've been hinting that the SKS is next, I haven't even bothered doing anything to mine. I had planned on decking it out how I like it, but now I just might keep it as is, until I inevitably get the news that it's a paperweight.

I feel bad for anyone that's already dealing with pieces of their collection becoming prohib last December, or their ARs and handguns a few years before that..

I regret not getting into it sooner. But some days I regret getting into it at all.. I'll never stop, until the very last firearm is confiscated. But it's a stressful life. I adopted a new obsession right before the LPC took a huge shit on it. And now almost every time I look at Canadian news I almost blow a gasket. And it's not just the bans and laws themselves (although that's the main source of all the stress), it's also the constant rollercoaster of bad news mixed with brief glints of hope.. I feel bad for all of us. Its not right what they're doing. We're vetted, law abiding citizens, and this confiscation scheme will have absolutely 0 effect on violent crime rates. Fml.

Wellp. I've written a novel.. Rant over I guess. Just had to vent. I know you likely all feel the same way. Guess that's why I felt I could rant about it here. None of my other peers would want to sit through all that. And I'm pretty sure they've all heard me ranting and raving about it before lol.. ✌🏻

[u/FunkyFrunkle]

Yeah, I know how you feel.

I remember the days before 2020, oh man, what a time. I’d stay up late, brew a cup of coffee, throw on my favourite firearms channel on YouTube or music and stay up into the early hours of Saturday morning just chatting with friends over discord while cleaning and restoring old rifles. Life seemed good.

And then came the bans and the incalculable amount of stress.

I haven’t been able to get into the headspace since. The funny thing is most of my guns aren’t even currently affected, most of my stuff is ancient shit but they might as well have been affected sometimes because I can’t relax anymore. I prevent myself from indulging again because I’m afraid of getting attached to something they might come after. After each ban, I got more and more dejected.

Though, if I could offer some optimism, the bans & buyback are not going well at all. Almost all of the provinces and a torrent of police forces have no interest in participating. This is becoming a huge headache for the government and probably the most expensive one to date, as there is no more political capital to be squeezed from this. It’s needlessly divisive and expensive during a time when Canada isn’t doing so hot.

They can talk all they want about banning SKS rifles, but the fact remains that they’ve been trading hands in Canada for over 60+ years, millions of guns that have just been floating around. The amount of resources it would take to effectively collect each and every SKS is beyond the hope of what can be reasonably achieved in Canada. Banning and collecting every SKS will bankrupt the government.

There’s a reason why they’ve been so reluctant to do it. PolySeSouvient are the people that want the SKS banned, and while they have their point woman in Parliament, the government doesn’t really want anything to do with it because of how prolific they are and how much of a nightmare it would represent. If the government really wanted to ban it, it would have ended up in one of the three OIC’s by now. They’ve been intentionally side-stepping it for years.

They tried with G4 & G46, and the amount of backlash they received caused them to rescind it.

I’ve never seen a government program met with such outright objection and contempt in my life, that alone is encouraging.

Don’t give up. Hold on and help where you can. We’re moving in the right direction in a shitty situation.

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/FunkyFrunkle]

I feel you, so much stress about the bans, but honestly none of my collection was affected, just the guns that  I WANTED to add to my collection.

So now I'm taking my shooting a bit differently.  Learning to shoot my bolt action fast was already something I did, but now I have a lever action to go even faster. I've gotten into clay shooting so now even my pump action shotgun can get some action, and I'm learning how to work a double barrel break action as quick as I can.

Asides from that, fun guns and short manual action guns are my current list of guns I want to buy. Maybe someday I'll get into some modern sporting 223 rifles if the bans are ever reversed, but for now I'm going to go into more classic guns and actions and try to enjoy them as much as I can.

[u/HappyCan7250 → u/Iokua_CDN]

Honestly, I get a ton of enjoyment still out of my bolt guns and levers. I still own most of the semi auto centerfires left on the market today, and honestly they get shot significantly less than my bolts and lever nowadays. I have just really grown to enjoy working a bolt or lever, there is something quite satisfying to me about manual actions. 

I remember the day I bought something, it got banned. Same fucking day. Bought it in the afternoon, and was banned by that evening. Ridiculous. But I refuse to let the LPC take the enjoyment out of shooting. It's my favourite hobby. I still go out basically every single weekend, sometimes even twice in a weekend, and I still enjoy it every time I go out.

[u/DougMacRay617 → u/[deleted]]

What line of work are you in if you dont mind me asking?

[u/taloncaf → u/[deleted]]

Could also be a previously lucrative sector that has taken massive hits in recent years, the oil sands come to mind.

[u/dannysmackdown → u/[deleted]]

Yeah my buddy Bill has had a tough time lately. Should meet him sometime though. Big computer guy, loves kids.

[u/Tallguystrongman → u/taloncaf]

You talking construction in the oilsands? Because yeah, once it’s built there’ll be a decline in construction jobs. Maintenance however is still chugging along.

[u/Massive_Expression_2]

Painful situation, but you need therapy. Go shoot. Air or powderburners. Just shoot. I was ready to order a S&W fpc. Ban hit and it was on the list. I still grieve that loss. I bought a .223 bolty and a .357 lever action. I'm healing. Follow my lead. 9mm straight pull looks like the next one to add to my collection.

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/Massive_Expression_2]

I feel you on the FPC... if the bans were ever reversed, that would be the 1st on my list.

Folding, quite compact,  9mm, 10 round mags, 1000 dollars.  I wanted one so bad, and still do.

[u/Mr-Figglesworth → u/Iokua_CDN]

I thought about getting one but already had other 9mm stuff so I didn’t bother but I’m sure I saw something at shot show about a 10mm and .45 version that has me kinda jealous.

[u/ultragigasimp]

It just doesn’t feel fun anymore. Lately all I’ve been buying are basically all the same thing. Bolt action .22s, sxs shotguns, that sort of stuff. Sure, there’s lots of new Turkish stuff trying to fill the gap, but I just genuinely can’t force myself to have any interest in that junk.

Milsurps are either banned or now just too expensive for a bolt action garbage rod, no pistols anymore, barely any decent semi autos, etc. I’m wasting money on stuff I don’t even really want just because I think it will be safe from another ban. I’m just miserable and tired, hobbies are supposed to be fun and relaxing, not aggravating and stressful.

[u/HappyCan7250 → u/ultragigasimp]

Man, you're giving in to exactly what the LPC wants, this is exactly their goal, they want sports shooting and firearms owners to be discouraged and give it up voluntarily. 

Despite the bans, I still get a ton of enjoyment out of my manual action guns, I own most of the semi auto centerfires that are left available on the market (maybe not most, but several of them), and I honestly shoot my levers and bolts more nowadays anyway.

But if you don't have one, you seriously should get a Henry Homesteader. 10rd Glock mag compatible, and can be kitted out pretty tactical with furniture from Tommy Enterprises or Midwest Industries. It's a great little rifle, and I'm not just saying that because it's the only option left, 9mm is nice and cheap too.

A nice lever gun is also a ton of fun to shoot.

My favourite rifle right now overall though is probably my 223 bolt gun. That thing comes out with me every single time.

The point is, don't let the Liberals take the enjoyment out of it. That is exactly what they want. While the bans absolutely suck and are bullshit, I'm still sure as hell going to keep enjoying my bolts, levers, SKS, Homesteader, Chimera, short barreled shotguns, and everything else I own. Fuck the Liberals, but I will always enjoy getting out into the bush and shooting my rifles. I hope you can find the same mentality too.

If you wanna buy gun stuff and don't already own one, grab a 10/22 and build it out to exactly how you want it. Short barrel, pistol grip stock or chassis. 

[u/ultragigasimp → u/HappyCan7250]

I wanted a homesteader, I just can’t justify dropping 1500 on something that is likely going to become a paperweight within a year. Most of the stuff I can afford is just .22 plinkers and old single/double shotguns. 

[u/LongjumpingChipmunk → u/[deleted]]

They probably will, when they started the registry we were openly called paranoid gun nuts when we said registration leads to confiscation, yet here we are. Nuts indeed.

[u/cheesy183 → u/LongjumpingChipmunk]

Registration leads to data leaks

[u/Flat-Dark-Earth]

I got into guns about 20 years ago, and the spark is gone. I feel bad for new owners starting out today, it's not the same environment and is overshadowed by constant doom and gloom.

Not much to get excited about these days.

Who knows, maybe something Canada-complaint will be announced at IWA this weekend.

[u/Hell-Let-Loose00 → u/Flat-Dark-Earth]

As someone that grew up shooting but sat on the sidelines re: ownership until 2024, I disagree a bit. Sure there is a cloud of uncertainty over the future, but at the same time there are still lots of shooting options out there. Maybe I’m not completely jaded by the bans yet, but there are still great guns out there and I’ve adopted the mindset that while I love semi-autos, my love for shooting wouldn’t die in their complete absence.

That being said, over the past few weeks I’m starting to believe the tides are turning and the likelihood of more bans is far-fetched based on provincial and municipal pushback.

[u/ProtoJazz → u/Hell-Let-Loose00]

Yeah, I'd love to own handguns, and really like PCCs, I got into it after pretty much all the bans. I think since I've had my license there's just been a small number of frt related ones.

So I get it's different if you owned things impacted.

But there's still a lot of options. Last summer I was doing precision 22 stuff. Then in the winter moved inside with the pistol caliber lever actions.

When it thaws out again I'm gonna join the trap and skeet club.

You definitely see a lot of people saying stuff like "there's nothing they want to buy anymore". And on the one hand I get it, and it sucks. But on the other you see that with so many hobbies too. You don't need to be constantly buying new things. Seems like as social media got bigger, hobbies somehow turned into just things you buy. People buy a ton of guitars and never play them, or a mountain of art supplies, or whatever. I saw a video of a kid being given a few packs of pokemon cards as a gift and the kid immediately opened them and started checking prices on their phone.

And I'm not looking down on anyone. Hell I've got the guitars and art supplies, mountain climbing gear. But I want to change it myself. I've got a goal to spend more time out of the house, doing stuff with things I already own, or free things. Like I said before, trap and skeet club, I've started going to a writing group, working on projects for myself with things I already have.

[u/Hell-Let-Loose00 → u/ProtoJazz]

Very well said! When I started I never thought I’d be looking at space cowboy lever actions, or picking up milsurps, but here I am. The opportunities to shoot are endless if you are willing to look around…

[u/HappyCan7250 → u/Hell-Let-Loose00]

This is exactly how I feel too man. I got my license just in time to get caught in the bans on some of my first purchases, but I will absolutely continue to love and shoot my bolts, levers, and the few non prohib semis I still have. 

The Henry Homesteader is honestly a pretty awesome little rifle if you don't own one. 10rd 9mm can be fun, and super cheap to shoot, but even with that and a few other semi center fires, I still actually choose to shoot my bolts and levers more because there is something very fun about working a manual action to me. I still really want an AR and some handguns, but I find manual actions more satisfying to shoot in some ways. I like having to work the action. Maybe that's just me coping, but I still look forward to, and thoroughly enjoy, going out shooting every weekend.

[u/TryInitial2042 → u/Flat-Dark-Earth]

It depends on what you like about firearms. Is it collecting? Not a lot of great options anymore. 

There are tons of great options for shooting though. Lots of skeet and trap clubs. LR shooting is taking off (PRS). If you like major matches, the travel matches are better then ever.

There are lots of things to look forward too if you are interested in the right areas.

[u/rastamasta45]

My brother this rant is everything about Canada pre Trudeau. Every time I think about what this country was like before that psychopath took over it’s almost unreal. If you told me in high school what I would be making now I would’ve thought I’d be driving a Porsche and going to Europe every summer for vacation, I make more than my mother and father combined at their age that I am now and they bought a house a three story house four bedroom four washroom with less than what I make combined truly remarkable of this country is come true

[u/cheesy183 → u/rastamasta45]

All he did was give us dope to numb us to all the bullshit 🥲

[u/NewWatchTime]

It makes me so sad all the time too. I used to love going to the ranges and fixating on what to buy or modified and it’s completely lost its lustre. I think that’s what they want. I was just looking at how cheap ammo is right now and I don’t even care.

After the election I’ve tried to really avoid the news and work myself up too much. It’s helped a lot but it’s still so hard to avoid. I get so mad when people support the LPC or Carney. I just don’t understand how anyone can be so brainwashed to support the way Canada is heading. People are too worried and fixated on Trump to really dig deep into our own problems. I’ve really just given up hope for this country I once loved.

[u/soviet_toster]

I knew someone who was using a rifle at range that became prohib during his time shooting and he had to basically stop midday case it and put it out out of sight, he was pretty bummed out, he literally just bought it the week prior

[u/gamercast1337 → u/soviet_toster]

Hopefully the police arrested him and slammed him into the jails, cant believe we would let a criminal like that out and about! The nerve to become a criminal mid day by just using a legally purchased property in the intended way, that became a criminal offence in the stroke of a pen, in MY Canada!?? For shame!

[u/holdencaulfield1983]

In the early days of Trudeau and the bans I would get so upset to the point of loosing sleep. I couldn’t keep up that level of stress so I just don’t think about it anymore. For my sanity I focus on what I can still shoot and the sports that are still available. The seemingly relentless bad news in regards gun ownership in Canada doesn’t affect me as much the days, I think I’m resigned to it and have become emotionally numb 😞

[u/Just-rz]

I got in late too and I wish I could go back in time. I had a nice size collection (still do) before the Dec 2024 OIC list and if the libs plan was to reduce the amount of guns people have they fucked up cuz all it did was made me buy more. I’m 7 new ones deep and I just shoot them as much as I can while I can 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[u/KalashnikovParty]

Same. I’ve always been hesitant to get my PAL because despite my love for firearms i was always afraid of how people would see me given how controversial firearm ownership is in this country from a certain sect. I only got my PAL right after the big semi auto ban of 2024, which was  disappointing because i really wanted a VZ 58

[u/jollygreengiant1655 → u/KalashnikovParty]

Given how unreasonable that certain sect is becoming, I've gotten to the point where I don't really care what they think. I'll talk with normal people, they are at least willing to have a conversation.

[u/LordRevan1996]

I get it. I got in late too. Couldn’t afford much past a surplus bolt action rifle here and there. Decided to get into the modern stuff. I was saving up for an AR and then boom. Ban. So I bought a pc. Decided to save up for a cz bren once I got a decent job. Boom another ban. Another pc build. I decided to stop saving for guns. I’m bad luck apparently. Guess I’ll just chill with my milsurp bolt actions. I won’t dare save up for an m1 garand or modern semi-auto. I won’t do that to you guys again 😂.

And I don’t have much hope a conservative government would change things. Hell, aside from guns I’m not certain the conservatives would be a good party right now to govern anyways. But that’s getting into another topic.

[u/HappyCan7250]

I totally get your sentiment. It does make me feel better to regularly visit this page though and see there is a lot of us who feel this way. You're not alone in this buddy. Public sentiment has mostly changed against the bans, and I honestly have no idea why the government still pushes ahead. It serves them almost no political gains to continue with it, the government is totally out of touch with the people (unless you're in Toronto, Ottawa, or urban Quebec).

I think we have basically scared the LPC off of any bans, for now. I hope I am right. I think we are still a bit at risk of RCMP finding convoluted ways to quietly ban guns via FRT. We have seen quite a few banned by the RCMP and not by the Liberals in the last year or two (R9, N4S, Crypto), but I think the Liberals want nothing more to do with gun bans at this point. It's become a hot potato for them, and after years of chucking it further along, they've finally reached the end are stuck trying to figure out how to deal with this absolute fucking mess they've created. If we were going to see more bans by the LPC, the Tumbler Ridge shooting would've been the perfect time for them to do it, but surprisingly that whole tragedy seemingly has been swept under the rug fairly fast. I don't see many politicians out screaming we need more gun control, which is surprising. The conversation stayed more about mental health and judicial failure, than it did about legal firearms. 

Either way, the bans suck, the Liberal party sucks, Gary especially sucks, but I still absolutely love going out shooting and I still get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

I have also really grown to love lever actions and bolt actions. I still own a few semi autos (centerfires and rimfires), but I honestly find myself shooting my bolt and lever guns way more nowadays. A good 223 and 308 bolt gun can be super enjoyable, and a nice lever gun too is a blast to shoot. I recommend picking up a nice lever gun at some point too. They're very satisfying to shoot.

I'm going out tomorrow, and hopefully Sunday as well, and I'm really looking forward to it. The best way to stick it to Gary and the LPC is to get out and shoot your (legal - not encouraging anyone to shoot their NR prohibs) guns as much as possible, buy lots of ammo to help support the Canadian firearms industry.

[u/Kaffarov]

The stress and anxiety of this interest can be brutal. There isn't much variety anymore and what is left could technically be banned the next day.

The thing killing me is waiting for a better government for change. So much time has passed and the current outlook isn't looking too good for us.

[u/unreadable_letters]

It certainly sucks, but taking an optimistic view there are options. If you like shotguns, try trap and skeet or sporting clays. I got an automatic trap thrower, tons of fun and a great way to introduce people to a more action oriented style of shooting. Try precision shooting, rimfire or centre fire. Get into lever actions. A semi auto 22 mag is not that far off a 9mm in power. Get a semi auto shotgun and have some fun with that. I feel like just focusing on the negative will just leave everyone feeling worse. 

[u/Tacoman-Tony]

a wise man once told me “embrace the suck”

[u/Chastidy]

Then stay off your phone