r/canadaguns • u/kirkpusspang19 • Apr 01 '26
Application / Regulation advice What guns can I purchase&own with an RPAL?
My fiancée and I were going to get our RPAL here soon, and I was struggling to find official documents or a Canadian government website outlining the actual benefits of owning a RPAL. I wanted to get handguns/semi-auto rifles, but I’ve been told that they are prohibited?
If anyone can let me know the benefits of holding a RPAL or point me towards a site that outlines everything, I would appreciate it a lot.
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u/h3IIfir3pho3nix N E R F G U N S Apr 01 '26
I'll preface this by saying I still believe it is worth it to get your RPAL. The additional safety training and knowledge alone is invaluable. Also, if any laws change in the future you will already have your license so it will be easier for you to buy something that gets reclassified to a legal-to-buy status.
That being said, there isn't much you can buy with an RPAL anymore. Handgun transfers are no longer allowed except in very few circumstances (Olympic shooters and individuals with authorizations to carry). There are a small number of restricted rifles/shotguns you can buy, and you can convert some non-restricted firearms into a restricted status if you want. But by and large, there isn't much available that you can acquire exclusively with an RPAL anymore.
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u/GinnAdvent Apr 01 '26
I believe other people can still lend out handguns with RPAL.
But I would just do it for the knowledge as well.
I remember when I did my PAL and RPAL back in 2020, and about 25 percent of class were there just to do their RPaL and wish they had done it together prior.
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u/Longjumping_Rain_483 Apr 01 '26
Another incentive is some ranges only accept you if you have an RPAL
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u/Acceptable_Visit_115 Apr 01 '26
Short semi-automatic centerfire shotguns like the Benelli M4 Entry and Remington Tac13.
Certain oddball folding stock firearms that can be fired when folded under 660mm (very rare and pointless).
That's it.
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u/med_mik Apr 01 '26
Some ranges ( at least in Ontario ) will purchase hand guns under their own license and “rent” them to you. So the gun stays on site , in a locker it’s “yours” you shoot it, you clean it etc… but it just can’t leave the range. When the law changes, they sign it over to you. The second reason to get your R , is what if 2-3 yrs from now they deem a gun you do own restricted… then you don’t have to scramble to write you R.
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u/RiskClassic889 Apr 01 '26
I read about this but do you know what protection we have if for example the law doesn't change... Do they "buy back" your (their) gun for the current value or it's a gamble you take ? What protection we can get avec the $$ spent ?
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u/med_mik Apr 02 '26
Likely the same protection every other restricted owner is getting with the “voluntary program” you just won’t get a knock on your door.
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u/thehuntinggearguy 3gun, Mapleseed, YouTuber, SlamFire Radio, Revolver-hater Apr 01 '26
There are still some restricted firearms you can buy. Tenda has a few short barreled semi auto shotguns.
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u/fkj001 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
With an RPAL, you can still borrow and transport a restricted firearm from someone who has one. You still need need to phone your CFO to issue an Authorization-to-Transport, but after that your good to transport to your home or the range. Basically you will have to make some friends who are willing to lend you one.
I'll also point out you don't need an RPAL to shoot a handgun, if the owner brings it to range and supervises you.
With certain caveats, its possible to convert an existing non-restricted firearm and register it as restricted. Mostly this is going to be certain configurations of shotgun. You'll only ever be able to use it at the range. The utility of said firearms is questionable, but it would let you get an Authorization-to-Transport in advance of finding someone willing to lend you a handgun.
https://rcmp.ca/en/firearms/classes-firearms/classes-firearms-canada
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u/Brandon_awarea Apr 01 '26
I’ve had mine for years and never used it once. Handguns were like 90% of why people got an RPAL and the other 10% has been banned.
Let’s be real no one is getting an RPAL for the sole reason of getting a somewhat shorter shotgun.
It might be useful if they reclassify the SKS to restricted or if some of this eventually gets reversed but as it stands it’s utterly useless.
I’m honestly surprised they didn’t do the same thing they did with converted autos and get people to register them as restricted THEN ban them.
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u/CoolGuy1980 Apr 01 '26
That would mean actually thinking things through instead of it all being a quick knee jerk reaction to distract from other issues.
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u/Plasma_48 Apr 01 '26
I got my rpal for the sole reason of getting a restricted rifle.
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u/Redbulldildo Apr 01 '26
Is it one that's still legal?
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u/Plasma_48 Apr 01 '26
Somehow, yes. I have no clue how it escaped the ban. I’m importing it in a month with irunguns
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u/chillyrabbit Apr 01 '26
Same, I also got my RPAL for getting a restricted rifle. Eventually caved and bought some handguns later, but my original goal with the RPAL was just restricted rifles.
(M1 carbine and AR15)
Though I recognize I am an outlier in RPAL reasons.
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u/2feetandathrowaway Apr 01 '26
Check armalytics. There was a previous post on here where someone outlined more or less what's still available
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 01 '26
Only a few guns I can think of. The short barrel semi auto shotguns are one. Mossberg 990 for example. Maybe you could find a place to get one of those Jungle Sks rifles with a 16 inch barrel.
So not a lot right now. But there is a court case now being seen by the Supreme course to challenge all the rifle bans, and if that succeeds, then suddenly lots of Ar15 and short rifles would be available again, and you wouldn't have to rush to get an Rpal to get them.
Pistols sadly are going to be much longer to get their laws reversed as it wasn't an OIC used to ban them.
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u/Spydude84 Apr 01 '26
You can get into ISSF (olympic shooting) at your local club and apply for an exemption to buy a pistol (.22lr only). You don't need to be good at it, you just need to show up and compete.
Besides that, borrowing handguns and not needing direct supervision if you borrow one at the range.
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u/RoseCityReject Apr 01 '26
I'm not aware of anything you can currently purchase with RPAL. Should things change through the course of court challenges and law updates there are some who just find it best to have and not need instead of need and not have.
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u/HappyCan7250 Apr 01 '26
There is a handful of short barreled shotguns from Turkey, and I think Benelli made an M4 SBS as well, but the only ones actively for sale at retailers are Turkish ones. Tenda has 4 or 5 models for sale right now, all 14" semi auto shotguns.
Kinda pointless though, they're good deals ($400 shotgun with 250rd free a bit ago) but I wouldn't want to have a registered shotgun that I can only use at the range, when if I want a short barreled shotgun I can buy a 12" pump action and not have to register it and can shoot it on crown land or carry it in the woods.
Sad that this is what the Liberals did to the most law abiding people in the country.
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u/outline8668 Apr 01 '26
There are a few guns left but nothing I would really go out of my way to buy
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Apr 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Apr 01 '26
No since the firearm takes on the most restrictive version of itself. You used to be able to do tricks like take a prohibited pistol from 1896 that was chambered for .32 SW, and have it rechambered for .32H&R, and then it becomes antique (no longer a prohibited caliber), but Trudeau stopped that
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u/mischling2543 Apr 01 '26
FYI there are semi-automatic rifles you can get with just a regular PAL. SKS is the big one but there's also a bunch of Turkish-made modern rifles and the Henry Homesteader
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u/Foreign_Risk_2031 Apr 01 '26
Rpal as it is, is a dead category and people should be refunded
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u/kirkpusspang19 Apr 06 '26
Honestly, I’m still going to get my RPAL in hopes that laws will change, or if my province successfully votes to separate and laws go back to how they were pre-Trudeau era. And I know it might not mean much, but I want to get it as a statement, another RPAL carrier that the liberals see. If 5 people have their RPAL, banning guns means nothing, but if 15 million did, it would be a lot different
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u/a-drunk-canadian al Apr 01 '26
There’s a few things such as some restricted turkish shotguns, but otherwise there really ain’t much as far as I know
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u/Motor_Historian2634 Apr 03 '26
Nothing, id renounce it if I hadn't bought a tokarev. All the rpal is now is an excuse to spy on you
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u/CheesecakeEasy8952 Apr 01 '26
IPSC Ontario is going to bring in a MiniRifle Badge. These courses will start soon. (Safety First) Many matches now include MiniRifle so you will be able to compete alongside the handgun competitors. The Derya TM22 is an excellent choice and relatively cheep to purchase and operate.
Derya TM22
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u/theservman on Apr 01 '26
If you're training for, competing it, or coaching the Olympic pistol events (you just have to be trying, you don't have to be good) you can apply through the Shooting Federation for an exemption letter allowing you to purchase an appropriate pistol for competition (basically a 22LR semi-auto).