r/canadaguns • u/-lman2186 • Mar 18 '26
Buy recommendations Suggestions For First Purchase
Hey yall, Long time lurker first time poster. After waiting my 6mths (thanks to the CFO here in ONT) I finally got my card in the mail. Looking for recommendations for a good starter purchase that won't break the bank. I kind of have my mind set on .22LR just given the cost of ammunition. Personally am not the biggest fan of leaver actions but am open to any input.
Thanks all!
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u/Spydude84 Mar 18 '26
10/22 is a great gun.
TM-22 if you want something a bit more tactical and don't want to pay to upgrade a base 10/22 to that.
Both are semi-auto. You can also go for bolt-action precision, but I'm not familiar with that market.
After that, get a 12ga shotgun. Shotguns are pretty much the most fun we can have these days aside from .22lr rifles without feeling too restricted.
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Mar 18 '26
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u/Spydude84 Mar 18 '26
SKS is fine, but really expensive for what they are. If you plan to stick around in Canada long term, get an SKS, but having to buy an SKS is a compromised decision forced by the government, whereas shotguns are mostly unmolested and .22lr is mostly fine too.
I'm very jaded and plan on leaving.
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Mar 18 '26
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u/Spydude84 Mar 19 '26
My calling is elsewhere, for better or worse. It's not just the guns. I can still vote from abroad though.
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Mar 19 '26
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u/Spydude84 Mar 19 '26
Significant Other is American with an established career. Also job money is way better down there.
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u/Jaysus1288 Mar 18 '26
I love these posts. First timer? What to buy?
-Ruger 10/22. If you shop around you can get one with a scope, and also a case for about $400cdn
-get an sks if you can. They are fun to shoot.
-shotgun, any 12ga. I'd suggest something with versatility that you can shoot slugs and shot through with a decent sized barrel or a couple barrels.
Super cool man congratulations.
If you cant get an sks for a decent price don't worry. A .22 and a shotgun is a really solid start
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u/Flat-Dark-Earth Big Bore Specialist Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
Ruger 10/22, avoid the Turkish temptations.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 18 '26
This, i just got my first shipment of the new NS Derya's and im not sure what theyre doing different from when O'dell was over seeing things but theyre "jiggly" which i dont like.
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u/AHangryBeaver Mar 18 '26
Are you hunting or simply using it to blast off rounds? Either way a .22LR or a shotgun are great starter guns/essentials but the type of gun you get will determine if it’s more practical or fun.
For hunting, I’d suggest going .22, .12 gauge then a rifle of some sorts. 30.06 or .308 to start.
Targets and blasting? A semi auto .22 like the Derya TM22 or the Ruger 10/22 or a semi auto/pump action shotgun that’s more “tactical”
When in doubt, Sks it out as well. You can hunt with them but they’re also a very fun target gun.
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u/-lman2186 Mar 18 '26
Starting out just for blasting off some rounds at the range to work on marksmanship, Hunting will come with time but I gotta make sure I can actually hit it
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u/AHangryBeaver Mar 18 '26
I mean if you’ve never shot a gun before at all I’d suggest something like a .22 then just because it’s low recoil and you can get an idea on zeroing a scope, ballistics, gun care etc without blowing your shoulder off etc.
Similarly, if you want to practice for birds you can get a shotgun and to skeet shooting/clay targets. Bird shot on something like a 20 gauge wouldn’t kick too much either
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u/-lman2186 Mar 18 '26
I've done some shooting before, grandfathers 30-06 but the accuracy was crappy
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Mar 18 '26
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 18 '26
SKS aint what she used to be both ammo and gun price wise, a 223 is probably a better choice for a plinker with recoil these days
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Mar 18 '26
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 18 '26
So dealer cost on an SKS is pushing them to the point of being like 1k or more new just looking at north sylvas pricing here. Added with the lack of surplus ammo left theres little cheap about them anymore. Even the C stock that have been put into tapco stocks id need to charge over 700 for it to be worth while.
The alcor and celik have been on the market for awhile now. If the sks are the same price or close enough to it that the cost per round price gap makes up the difference after a range trip or two, may as well go with one of them.
This of course is purely from an economic pov, the SKS is still cool af
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Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 18 '26
769 for tapco c grade sks maybe. (Im a dealer).where are you finding 11 dollar x39?
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Mar 18 '26
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 19 '26
Yes they havent restocked because dealer cost has gone up to a stupid level. Thats why.
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Mar 19 '26 edited Mar 19 '26
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 19 '26
They havent restock them because cost went up over 700. Same reason I havent restocked them.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 19 '26
Also after checking right now cheapest x29 at bass pro is 17.99. I usually handily beat their pricing.
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u/Iokua_CDN Mar 19 '26
To be fair the Celik has been down to like 1000 on sale (at least this black friday it was) and will likely get more sales. Where as the Sks seems to only go up in price.... and adding a removable magazine and a rail for an optic will drive the price even higher. To get an Sks to have the same features as the Celik... the price is easily over 1k
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Mar 19 '26
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u/Iokua_CDN Mar 19 '26
Forget about decades, I'm sure in a year or two they will be the same price, or the sks will be more expensive by then.
And you are right, if you dont want to modify your Sks, then it becomes a better deal. My sks has the same old iron sights and internal magazine that it had 70 years ago
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u/Lumindan Mar 18 '26
Get a 10/22. Specifically the newer make of the Ruger ones come with a bx trigger (usually aftermarket, it's a nice quality of life thing) and a rear cleaning port which makes maintenance waaaaaaay easier.
Grab some CCI minimag and get plinking.
I also highly suggest getting electronic hearing protection (walker razors are a cheap but functional entry point) and double up with foamies if you're indoors. Safety glasses too.
The only other recommendation I can list that hasn't been covered, get a MagLula loader. You're gonna rip through a lot of 22lr and loading faster means more shooting at the range (plus your thumbs will thank me later).
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Mar 18 '26
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u/Unknownuser010203 Mar 18 '26
10/22, mossberg 12 gauge and a sks should be whats on your mind currently
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u/swift_gilford Mar 18 '26
10/22 (or some variant) if you want a plinker
Bolt action rimfire if you want to dip your toes into riflework.
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u/RelativeFox1 Mar 18 '26
Do you want to focus on accuracy, hunting or mag dumps?
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u/-lman2186 Mar 18 '26
Ideally accuracy, but mag dumps would be fun for a bit,
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u/RelativeFox1 Mar 18 '26
I think you can buy almost any used .22, for under $300. Or you could get something like a savage bolt new for a bit more. Ty don’t need to spend a lot of money on a scope.
As you develop your skills, you can look for another rifle that really fits your likes.
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u/514Kappa Mar 18 '26
If going for a .22 I would buy something good to start with, you’ll keep it.
Bergara B14R (R700 footprint) CZ457 Tikka T1X
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u/-lman2186 Mar 18 '26
Yeah that was my thoughts, I don't wanna break the bank with a huge purchase, but I don't want some cheap crap that I'm going to hate in 6 months
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u/Omega_Shaman Mar 18 '26
I own a semi-auto, lever action and bolt action 22lr.
I would suggest a bolt action 22lr like a Savage MkII FV because its more accurate than a 10/22 and it can help you focus on the fundamentals of shooting. Plus it doesnt break the bank.
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u/Iokua_CDN Mar 19 '26
3 types of guns that give you access to a lot if fun.
A 22lr rifle. Highly recommended as first rifle. Tons of options. Grab a semi auto or a bolt action for cheap and lots of ammo and you can blast away for a long long time. Easily a great 1st gun.
A shotgun, probably a pump action for the best price. A cheap shotgun let's you dip your toes into shooting clays which is an absolutely brilliant time. As well, between birdshot, buckshot and slugs, you have so much options. Less good for an indoor range but shooting clays is a whole different sport and really fun.
Centerfire rifle is the last of the 3. Really you got a few options. A cheap Sks rifle is a classic, and still the best deal for a semi auto center fire rifle. But you may want a bit more modern features and accuracy, so a modern bolt action is a valid option over an Sks. Whether you go a smaller Caliber like 223 or 7.62x39, or going bigger like a 308, both are good. Lever actions also can fit this group, but you mentioned not liking them so I'll skip them for now. This option can get you into hunting as well, and if you do a bolt action, possibly some long range shooting too.
With those 3 types of guns, you can so pretty much everything. Start with the 22 and then decide if you want the Centerfire or the shotgun next. Pricewise the centerfire will cost the most, while the 22lr and the shotgun can be had for very cheap! So I'd go the 2 cheap ones first
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u/Slow-Register-3836 Mar 20 '26
10/22 hands down best gun to start your collection with. No matter how many guns you end up with in the future I promise you its one youll always come back to.
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u/FireteamOrcale Mar 18 '26
10/22 super fun semi or if you are looking for something super cheap Tenda tends to have deals with Norinco bolt action .22’s that’ll come with ammo but it’s luck of the draw sometimes with them. The JW-15A that I got has been fantastic so far but I’ve seen others with issues
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u/Asleep_Log1377 Mar 18 '26
Either a 10/22 or cz457/tikka t1x for .22lr and or maybe .223 for bolt action. Others said .308 but .223 is easier on the wallet. Also definitely get a 12gauge shotgun and sks. Not in any order but. 22lr is cheap and you will also get better shooting it.