r/canadaguns • u/Canadian-Footy-Fan • Mar 06 '26

Misc Quick questions

A couple of random questions:

- if you buy a used gun that you can’t physically inspect how likely is it that the barrel has been “shot out” and is less accurate? Does the calibre affect this (is it more likely to happen with a .308 than a .223 because of the higher pressure - or does the added cost of .308 ammo mean it is less likely that a high shot count was run through the gun)?

- In terms of sheer numbers, what do you think are the most common types of centrefire ammo in circulation within Canada. I am thinking .223, then 7.62x39, then maybe.308…? Ultimately I’d like to get a reliable bolt in each of the most common calibres.

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u/MLI691H Mar 06 '26

Ask for pictures of the rifling.

Unless the person was doing competition or you buying used old surplus firearms (excluding most Chinese SKS/French Tickler), chances of barrel being shot out is not high. Watch out for rust/pitting in the barrel.

Ammo is expensive to shoot. You won’t be sending thousands of 308s down the range, or even 223 (excluding 3-gun back when stuff weren’t banned)

Any modular platform like AR, you can swap out the barrel. Too bad ARs are banned.

Most common centre fire ammo: 9mm

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u/Canadian-Footy-Fan Mar 06 '26

Thanks. I know there are lever 9mm guns but with the handgun ban is it still a common centrefire ammo for rifles?

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u/MLI691H Mar 06 '26

Ah, you mean centre fire rifle ammo. Probably 7.62x39, due to the amount of SKSs around and cheap surplus ammo that was available before the ban. Norinco Redbox goes on sale and makes it relatively cheap to shoot. 223 would be contender but the ban probably made people not buy them anymore.

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u/Iokua_CDN Mar 06 '26

Ive noticed that 7.62 x39 seems to be taking a hit.  Big Surplus crates sold out, no more Barnauls or just small amount available.  You are kinda stuck with Norinco, or step up and pay  twice as much for other brands.  Makes sense though due the the amount of wars going on with countries using 7.62x39.

The counter point to this is lots of people still have a big stash of 7.62 x39, as well as since it's being used in wars right now, it's also a still  being produced in large numbers.

In the States for example,  I read constantly that their supply of 7.62x39 is way lower than it used to be. Less Surplus and such, though some American made stuff for sure.

I think the round is used enough that it's not going anywhere,  and still will  for a long time, but it's not the sheer amount of ammo lying around that it used to be