r/canadaguns • u/ExtremeCommercial821 • Apr 24 '26
Buy recommendations First Time Card Holder
I'm sure this is a tale as old as time, but I recently got my non-restricted and I've noticed 2 things;
1) Buying guns seem simple yet Googling local stores shows mostly the same stock and not a lot of "charm"
2) Prices are insane
I'm in Toronto; what are the best methods people use to buy from the community? Are there legendary go-to forums for private sales? Or are there hidden gem shops? Or gun shows where I can find cool stuff and meet enthusiastic people?
And, what are this groups opinions on the best first firearms for a newbie? I'm a big fan of brake-barrel shotguns, bolt-action, anything vintage and a good semi-auto.
Thanks everyone!
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u/Uncle_Ted_1942 Apr 24 '26
I’m on the other side of the country, but in my experience a lot of gun stores don’t always have their used section on their website. Also browsing gunpost to find stuff is fun. If it’s not too far out of the way I’d take a trip down to some gun stores in person and take a look around, and make a gunpost account to browse private sales as well.
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u/Hopeful_Relation_441 Apr 24 '26
a bit of a hike but Tillsonburg gun shop is great.. the amount of used guns on their shelf is almost worth the drive
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u/BritBuc-1 Apr 24 '26
Echo for Tillsonburg. They have a great selection in store that never makes it on to their website. And the drive is a beautiful one at times.
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u/mr_skipster Apr 27 '26
I will also add that Tillsonburg is a great store with a super large variety and knowledgeable employees that are kind and willing to help you out, plus if you like a little detour the backwoods to get there are beauty
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u/Wise-Capital9455 12d ago
Also shooters choice in Kitchener, and if you feel like the drive Epps is always a good stop
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u/lock11111 Apr 24 '26
Gunpost in person only for low risk bullseyenorth.com. sfrc .Dantes. tactical imports. Wolverine supplies. And rangeviewsports.ca those are the ones I used and had good results I live in the rez and order the cool stuff actually won a sticker draw at sfrc got a ksg always thought I was just donating.
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u/Dependent_Account603 Apr 25 '26
Gun post is actually quite safe if a single precaution is taken- make sure they verify your PAL before you send them money, that way the RCMP has a direct link to them.
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u/lock11111 Apr 25 '26
Yeah I said for low risk. He is new so it all seems risky I remember ordering my first rifle from Dantes 1600 still felt like a risk.
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u/Penguinbotxv Apr 24 '26
Gunpost don't get scammed, G4C and gotenda. One of Jackie's friends I presume
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u/WonkyTusky Apr 24 '26
You can certainly find good deals at smaller gun shops. Picked up a old smle for $100 a few months ago. Although, it was beaten up it still fires.
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u/BlandRusk06 Apr 24 '26
Wow, that is a good deal. May I ask where that gun shop is?
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u/WonkyTusky Apr 24 '26
You can certainly find good deals at smaller gun shops. Picked up a old smle for $100 a few months ago. Although, it was beaten up it still fires.
Not in toronto, but its a shop in surrey bc called international shooting supply
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u/BlandRusk06 Apr 26 '26
Dude, I live less than 10 minutes away from there! I need to check their second hand stock more often!
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u/WonkyTusky Apr 26 '26
Keep an eye out. They had a french tickler for $600 a few months ago but its definitely sold now
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u/CringelordCameron Apr 24 '26
Gunpost will be your best bet for private sales. You just have to be careful because there are a ton of scammers and rip off items on there. You can get amazing deals if you look all the time and are patient. I got a SMLE for $450 on gunpost last week.
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u/KneeNo2151 Apr 24 '26
if buying ammo/gun from Gunpost, then try to do it in-person. Better to pick parking lot of the police station (ask them about it)
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u/DecentComposer545 Apr 24 '26
To be fair I will find a gun i like. Look up reviews and then spend 2-3 weeks looking at prices all over and usually order or buy from who ever has the best deal or put on layaway and pay it down in chunks. Its an expensive hobby and it just gets more and more expensive as you go.
I have had my PAL for just about a year and have one of every type I want, in the caliber I want.
.22lr Winchester Wildcat 6.5 Creedmoor American Ranch Gen II 12ga Mossberg 500 pump with 3 barrels 12 ga Panser Arms M4 speedpro semi auto.
That is my collection for the foreseeable future as its all I want/need.
For ammo shop sales and stack it deep when you find a smoking deal. I also trade ammo with friends so we all get to try what is out there and we can dial in each gun.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 25 '26
Just gotta say, you got the perfect little collection, that hits every kind of shooting.
Blast away at closer range with your Wildcst semi auto, action shooting, multiple targets.
Try a bit of long range shooting with your 6.5 creedmoor
And then be good for any shotgun sports, clays and skeet, with your pump and semi auto shotgun. And if you think your panser doesn't belong on the skeet range, heck, it's got Chokes, throw a 6 inch extension in it and you'll have a 24.5 inch barrel on it plus Chokes to choose your spread!
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u/DecentComposer545 Apr 25 '26
Its taken me a bit to find everything that works for me the way I like.
I sat online for months looking for a semi auto shotgun. Looked at all the big guns, talked to many people... then one day I saw the Panzer at the store and it felt like it was "the one". My only complaint is I can eat a case of ammo on each range trip blasting with it.
The 6.5 came from necessity with helping a friend on their farm deal with brave coyotes. I wanted something I could use near London and also go north with and go after bigger game. Its not going to compete out at 600 yards but damn will it ring a gong at 300. Ammo is cheap enough and varies in what you can do.
The Wildcat was due to having my kids get into shooting and wanting a very cheap way to train them. It does everything I want and is light enough to be a backpack gun when needed.
The mossberg is pretty much my bird gun. It's filled my freezer with goose, duck, and Turkey(more tomorrow)
To the OP find what guns speak to you and fit your wants and needs. Buy once cry once. Get a good range membership or find crown land and learn all the in and outs. go to range days and test drive some guns you want to try.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 25 '26
Might have to check out the Panzer. Have yet to buy a semi auto shotgun myself, just pump and break action so far
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u/DecentComposer545 Apr 25 '26
The Panzer is about 1/3 of the price of a Benelli. I would say it is at the top of the clones and as close as you can get. Out ofnthe box it has performed fantastic and I can see that getting even better with more of a break in.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 25 '26
Now does Panzer make an inertia version, or a clonenof an inertia shotgun too??
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u/DecentComposer545 Apr 25 '26
Panzer Arms M2 is what you are after. Not sure if they are in Canada. Can always ask your local store that carries the Panzer/EGE brands. Not sure if I can shout out places here.
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u/newtdiego Apr 24 '26
Based on your post history you're a lot better off than a lot of gun owners in canada. Go to tenda they have a lot of stuff
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Apr 24 '26
I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, lol.
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u/newtdiego Apr 24 '26
Oh I meant like you can probably buy a good starting set without doing dumb stuff like storing your gun in a hard case or something
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Apr 24 '26
Oh, gotcha. I thought you meant just go buy a $10k Benelli and not worry about it, 🤣.
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u/newtdiego Apr 24 '26
I mean if you do that I’ll support you with a slightly jealous heart, it’s all up to you lol. But like realistically I’d start with either a safe and an sks or a safe and some cheaper guns of multiple types and calibers so you can see what you like. If you have like a gun you really want like a surplus bolt action or something though, try gunpost as stores will sell them at a much lower rate
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Apr 24 '26
Thanks bro!
I'm a pretty frugal guy and don't splurge on things out of excitement. I play guitar and collect them as a hobby as well and to this day don't own any super expensive guitars.
I feel the same way about guitar; I support a newbie getting a $10k custom shop Fender, but it'll be underappreciated as the learning curves and experiencing an understanding of quality as you progress and upgrade will warp your appreciation.
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u/BlandRusk06 Apr 24 '26
Online places to shop: GunPost and TownPost. I have not bought on either yet, so I am unsure about how well it works. For Ammo: Tenda, G4C, FOC, CanFirearms, International Shooting Supplies, AmmoScout, AmmoBin. Bass Pro does match online prices if the other store has it in stock.
I would recommend a 22LR, along with a centerfire rifle of some sort. Maybe an SKS, a .223, or a .308.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 24 '26
So I use a website to compare prices on every gun I buy. Right now I'm using Almostprohibited.ca, I think there are a few more out there though. Most places have free shipping on guns since they cost so much. It's helped me out a few times especially for finding little deals and flash sales.
I've really enjoyed some of the old Surplus sites like Intersurplus places that bring in a bunch of old sporting guns from Europe. Prices are really cheap, tons of good shotguns and bolt actions from them. I bought a nice double barrel shotgun from them, but I see a ton of over under shotguns too. Tons of vintage guns there.
As for recommendations, a cheap break action from Intersurplus can set you back 300-400 and you can use it for all sorts of clay shooting. Or get a nice little budget pump action like the Maverick 88.
As for bolt actions, I love a CZ bolt action. The 60 alpha is cheap but good. Otherwise, Howa is a good brand for a budget gun too. Or you can grab a cheap vintage one from Intersurplus. Their 3006 guns are likely the cheapest ammo ones there.
As for 22lr rifles, I think everyone should own one. I have a cheap bolt action and I love it, but many folks prefer semi auto and go with a ruger 10/22. Either one is fun and can easily become your most shot gun, especially with 22lr ammo being so cheap.
The old Sks has gone up in price quite a bit, but they are still cool, really durable and dependable rifles for a decent price. Tons of history in them. I still recommend one.
And other than that? I've had a ton of fun with a 357 lever action. Prices vary a lot. Good marlins are expensive. Rossi and Citadel and Turkish made lever actions are cheaper, around 1k, but can sometimes have issues. I bought a cheap Citadel, and other than some early issues that i fixed, the gun has been solid for me, and a lot of fun.
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u/-rifle-is-fine- Apr 24 '26
I highly recommend doing what I did. This is one of the few situations where we have it better than the states...
Fresh with an RPAL, I had my eye on a rifle and handgun. Hemmed and hawed because I only have so much fuck around money.
One night while my kids were at their mom's, I got pissed up and partied in my basement with my cats. Music cranked from my PC, looking at guns. In my drunken state I finally impulsively pulled the trigger (ba dum TSS!) on an SKS and TT33. I then realised I was also out of gummies so ordered some of those too.
So, I got drunk and legally ordered drugs and guns online and the mailman brought them to me. 🇨🇦🫡
While you're drunk, just get a 10/22 and enroll in Mapleseed this summer. Start there. The SKS is a fun shitty gun too, don't let any naysayers tell you otherwise.
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u/2feetandathrowaway Apr 24 '26
Can't go wrong getting a .22 like a Ruger 10/22 or an SKS as your first gun. I like gunpost, but read the disclaimers, and check profiles carefully.
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u/Mahatma_Ghandicap Apr 25 '26
If you're looking for semi-automatic rifles, then yeah all the stock will be the same because there are so few left for us to choose from. Almost everything has been banned.
But looking for literally any other action type (lever, bolt, even revolver, etc...) or for shotguns and you have options galore.
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u/FedInformant Apr 25 '26
Same as everything else. Figure out what your looking for and look everywhere for the best price . Stores and gunpost
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u/iatekane Apr 27 '26
Gunpost and canadiangun nuts forum are the best places to buy private sales online. Be aware that anything that’s a good deal will go fast so ask quick if you find something you like.
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u/2piecechicken0 Apr 24 '26
If you’re in Toronto, go to Al Flaherty’s outdoor store. It’s at Dufferin and Rogers. Great selection with the best prices.
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u/BigCyanDinosaur Apr 25 '26
Rude staff, mid selection, prices aren't any different than anyone else. Absolutely mid to shit experience everytime I've been.
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u/fuckbitingflies Apr 24 '26
For 1, I would have to imagine that the overwhelming volume of Turkish-made crap that all looks pretty much the same must be overwhelming for first-timers?
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Apr 25 '26
I've always been "into guns", so I've got like enough research under my belt to know about the Turkish stereotype.
But I'm like...also a dude. And there's some insanely cool ass stuff from Turkish manufacturers; wild aeathstics, weird barrel lengths/stock combos, etc.
But everything I've seen about them online is largely bad and very polarizing and yes, super overwhelming. Every firearm website plugs these Turkish-made Kim Kardashians that are either so cheap it's hard not to pull the trigger (pun intended), or prices them slightly under more reputable models and has a "flash sale!"
My instructor loved to hear himself talk but I never understood what quality and action meant until I did practical training; he had some good stuff. I looked up those firearms we practiced with and I can see why Turkish firearms are so hot on the sales rack.
Fashion over function.
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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '26
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