r/canadaguns • u/Massive_Expression_2 • Jun 20 '26
Misc The lies that we tell ourselves
Well, I grew up on the prairies. Guns were a tool, but I was always fascinated by my dad's Marlin .32 Winchester Special, Savage 99c .243, antique shotgun, and .22s (Cooey, Savage, etc).
I freed up a lot of time for shooting a few years ago, and got my PAL. Told my spouse that I " just want a .22 and a 12 gauge".
Fast forward to today and I'm 5 calibres and 5 digits deep, with 5 actions in this hobby. And I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. 😁
So here's the question: how many of you had a similar experience? And how many are happily shooting 2 calibres and loving this sport/hobby?
Get out and shoot safe this weekend.
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u/Relevant_Diver_3228 Jun 20 '26
Me and everyone I know has had the same problem as you we buy one thing but it needs a brother but then a beautiful SKS walks by and the first gun makes a baby .22 with it but then the brother is sad so another beautiful SKS comes walking by and then they have a 6.5 mm baby named Creedmoor and then the neighbors come over to congratulate them and then they never leave and the next thing you know you have 2 full safes and a pile of ammo
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u/EnglishmanInMH Jun 20 '26
I was only going to get a .308 for hunting. Then I had to get a .22 LR for the kids, then I had to get a Lee Enfield cos I'm Bri'ish, then I got into Coyote hunting so I had to get a .223 Semi, then Justin banned it so I had to get a .223 bolt, then I remembered I was in Canada so it'd be rude not to get a lever gun. And having typed all that I realise I dont even have a shotgun so I should probably rectify that omission... 🤦♂️
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u/Response-Cheap Jun 20 '26
I mainly shoot .22 and a bit of 12 gauge. I have a cz457, a lil badger, a tm22, a Benelli supernova, and an SKS. .22 is cheap and plentiful. I shoot it the most. I can shoot off my back deck, but I try not to drive the neighbors wild with the 12 gauge and 7.62.
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u/Massive_Expression_2 Jun 20 '26
I still have a cz457 on my shopping list. What barrel length and optic on yours?
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u/Response-Cheap Jun 20 '26
Mine has the 20" barrel, and I've got a Vortex Copperhead 3-9x40 on it. Thing is an absolute tack driver. Definitely grab one, you'll love it!
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u/GinnAdvent Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
First time held a firearm at 2017, just a simple Mosin.
Then got the PAL at 2020 since nothing else to do coz lock down.
Then collection start to grow.
22lr 9mm 45ACP 7.52x39 30-30 7.52x54r 223 12 Ga .308 30-06 5.7×28mm 380ACP .38 spl 357Mag 44 Mag 7.62x25mm .303 7.5x55mm
Yeah I think I will stop for a while....that will last me 2 decades at least
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u/567432Gains Jun 20 '26
Always had a fascination with firearms growing up. No one in my family have any real experience with firearms besides my dad when he was a kid with his cooey.
Fast forward to two years ago with me being 23 and realizing I still had that fascination and decided I would finally go get my PAL/RPAL. I’m a university student but I did pretty well for myself for the few years I took off to work in-between high school and going back to university. Parents said they didn’t want more than a few firearms in the house, so I rented a storage locker and moved an actual 40-gun safe into it.
I’m no going to say the exact number iv spent, but I have to say it’s been worth every penny. I’m proud I’m my collection and I’m going to keep growing it.
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u/H0B013 Jun 20 '26
I only buy guns that fit some sort of niche or unique aesthetic or are otherwise significant in some way to me. Everytime I buy one I go "theres nothing else cool to build" and then inspriation for a battlefield3 m1014 build or an ultra lightweight scout rifle build pops into my head and the Visa weeps
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u/Rewindonemoretime Jun 20 '26
I heard guys always talk about the Canadian trio, Sks, 12g pump, and a 22LR. So that’s what I started with, and I’ve only bought new firearms in those calibres.
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Jun 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Rewindonemoretime Jun 21 '26
Lack of options for semi auto centre fire definitely worked its magic for the SKS price that’s for sure. I wish I could go back and apply for my PAL in 2010 instead of waiting an additional 14 years I missed almost everything.
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u/NIBLZ_HAMSTR Jun 20 '26
I've tried to keep it as simple as I could... but they're tools... and different tools do different things... so i started collecting tools for all those things. 7 calibers now...
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u/Infinite_Price_3550 Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
I told myself i only wanted my PAL so i could own a Lee Enfields No1 and No4 because i love history and the history of those guns. Well, I didn't stop at Lee Enfields.