Best all around gun?

Soundguy · Dec 6, 2011

dmay said:
Being Canadian i thought to clear up our firearm laws for you Americans

Very simply firearm possesion, transport and usage in Canada is highly regulated but it is permitted. Just follow the regulations and we can enjoy our firearms just like you. Really the only thing we are not permitted to do in Canada is to conceal carry. Everything else is just regulated. Sometimes to the point of being a PITA, but much better than not being permitted at all.

Today to enjoy firearms a Canadian must take and pass a firearms course. We have two courses. One for non restricted long guns. One for restricted handguns. These are one day courses. When you pass these courses you then apply for a firearms license in the correct class. We have two types of licenses available. Possesion (POL) or Possesion & Aquisition (PAL). If someone is interested in hunting there is a hunting course to take.

We have both indoor and outdoor ranges to target shot and participate in firearm sporting events.

I have lived in Canada and enjoyed firearms all my life.

so which class / license do yuo have to take to get a machine gun?

seems like lots of classes and license's just to go hunting.. but then.. I DO live in a free state / country that was pretty much founded on firearms ownership.. so I do understand whey there are national differences.

soundguy

wdchyd · Dec 6, 2011

Soundguy said:
as much as I like a side by side.. I like the o/u better.. at least for clay's etc..

soundguy

I have 2 side-by-each twice-barrel shoot guns, and am ready to try out an O/U for bunny banging, they seem to be very popular

studor · Dec 6, 2011

so which class / license do yuo have to take to get a machine gun?

Machine guns have been severely restricted in Canada since 1969. If you owned one prior to that you could obtain a permit that allowed you to keep it and to buy others. Anyone else is illegal. Obviously the number of legal owners is diminishing and unless they find that Fountain that the Spanish were looking for in your state will reach zero at some point
Firearms training before you go hunting is not necessarily a bad thing -- ask Dick Cheney

RoyJackson · Dec 6, 2011

studor said:
Machine guns have been severely restricted in Canada since 1969. If you owned one prior to that you could obtain a permit that allowed you to keep it and to buy others. Anyone else is illegal. Obviously the number of legal owners is diminishing and unless they find that Fountain that the Spanish were looking for in your state will reach zero at some point

Why were they banned?

In 1986, when selective fire weapons were restricted in the US, it was a bow to the leftwing politicians. Since it's never (to my knowledge) been taken to court, there's still questions about it being constitutional.
The problem with a test case is, in order to have "standing", the plantiff would have to be arrested with an "illegal" machinegun. That would be a rather risky case...10 years in the federal pen if you lose the case.

studor · Dec 6, 2011

Why were they banned?

I guess the thought was along the lines of why would anybody need one -yes - politics was certainly involved as well as strong support from the law enforcement side (they probably could not afford to keep pace

).

JiminGa · Dec 6, 2011

best all around gun??? no one gun fits the bill, but I say a 12 gauge pump, a .22 lr, and a .270 bolt action. those three weapons will take care of any situation you might have. personally, I pick up the 12 gauge most often, but I wouldn't own only a shotgun.

Tenn_Blue · Dec 6, 2011

Wow! Lots of opinions!!!

I think part of that is in defining what your needs for "an all around gun" are - we are looking at several different focuses, some broader than others and conflicting requirements. We are working in rural environments which have differing needs. And people with differing gun skill levels and comfort levels.

For example, in my younger years, I spent a LOT of time practicing, training and pistol shooting. While it is NOT the ideal gun for many situations, I feel pretty confident carrying a 9mm pistol, and it would be a functional platform for most of the things I would use an "all around gun" for. Not the best gun for some tasks but a good jack of all trades weapon/tool FOR ME. However, for MOST people, ANY pistol would not be the best candidate for an all around gun.

I think a shotgun is the ultimate urban weapon, and a definite component in a rural toolbox, but the same thing that makes it good (multiple pellets, larger pattern) is a liability in some situations, and it is difficult to be accurate with slugs (for most people) at any reasonable range.

Higher power rifles are bigger, bulkier, and can be intimidating (noise, recoil) for non-shooters. And range/penetration are issues, especially for someone not too familiar with a gun.

We have been using a marlin 357 lever action carbine and it fits the bill for us and our use. Ammunition is relatively cheap, easy to come by, and powerful enough for most uses short of "serious" hunting. No recoil, not too much noise and accurate out to 100 yards or so. And it has a closed action so doesn't pick up much dirt - what does get in does not affect cycling (unlike an automatic), since it is "arm powered", 7 rounds, quick as you can cock it. I reload, so can make low power/light bullet loads for use around the barn, and even use the CCI/Speer shot pellets (mixed results...) when appropriate.

Course, we also have shotguns (12 and 20 guage), 22 rifles/pistols, "assault rifles" (223 and 308), and bolt action/scoped long rifles (22, 6mm, and 308) when needed. But the marlin is whats handy most of the time..

Soundguy · Dec 6, 2011

studor said:
I guess the thought was along the lines of why would anybody need one -yes - politics was certainly involved as well as strong support from the law enforcement side (they probably could not afford to keep pace ).

Need? sounds like a bad premis to the question.

How about 'want' one.

IE.. private ownership / collection.

soundguy

slowzuki · Dec 6, 2011

The sort of general premise is gun ownership here falls into hunting, target shooting and collection. Long guns including rifles and shotguns are the least regulated, handguns are restricted (also short rifles and shotguns), and some guns are prohibited. I don't have the exact definitions but prohibited includes full autos, some small calibre pistols (.25 and .32) that are easily concealed, and a few other things.

The last 20 years has brought about a big change in rural Canada, in the 80's everyone around here had a .22 and shotgun leaning next to the door and the .30-06 or 30-30 was up over a door frame somewhere until deer season. Kids could take there hunting rifles to school sitting in the gun rack in the rear window of the pickup. Lots of people had handguns for plinking but you had to have what was basically a background check to get one.

Since then all the lockup rules came in, registration, licenses etc. We sold our handguns as you had to call when you transported them to a range, which was the only legal place to shoot them (there are a lot of ranges still). Guns all got registered but this licence business means you can't grab dad's gun and go out hunting after school etc.

The gun shows have really shrunk too.

On the flip side, the number of guns owned is far higher than the numbers suggest above. I'd guess there are twice the number of gun owners as licensed owners in our area. Also, many people only registered 1 of 20 of their guns, or none. Its a funny loophole, as soon as you register they can come inspect the storage. Unregistered they need a search warrant to enter your premises.