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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u/FenderFanatic Jun 21 '26
SKS is slowly fading from that trio. At this point there are many better options at the price range most SKS are in unless centerfire and semi auto are a necessity. Wish we could go back to when you could buy them by the crate for a dime a dozen.
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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/FenderFanatic Jun 21 '26
Me too. I got my pal in 2022 and my rpal in 2024 and I've missed a lot of awesome stuff. I wish I could get a Beretta 92, a 45 Colt single action, and a 44 mag double action.
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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.