Firearms Licensing - Part 2

"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-) 05/07/2017 at 18:45 • Filed to: GUNS

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Hello again, Oppo,

I finished the second and final day of the Canadian firearms safety course which is about the “restricted” class of firearms - mostly handguns, but other long guns which because they look scary (and should be “non-restricted”) have so many other restrictions, namely the AR15.

Honestly, this course is just as simple as the long-gun (or “non-restricted”) safety course but focuses on how the actions/ammunition differ along with the stricter storage/transport regulations.

However, I didn’t enjoy handling the handguns as much as I thought I would. You have to be much more mindful of muzzle control and I didn’t like how different the handgun safeties worked, if there were any at all (i.e. the Glock pistols we held didn’t have a safety switch, there was a 1911 with a grip safety and a safety switch, and a SIG-type pistol with a decocker switch which activates the hammer but supposedly shouldn’t fire the round). They just seemed a lot more finicky than the long guns with which I was much more comfortable. Just like anything else, it all comes down to familiarity and I suppose if you get to shoot a gun even for half an hour you’ll get used to how it works.

Anyways, I don’t think I’ll be getting a handgun soon simply because of the restrictions surrounding it. I’ll be starting with a .22LR rifle simply because: a) ammunition is very cheap; b) no magazine capacity restrictions; and c) it’s the least intimidating of guns and will come handy when I inevitably invite friends to come along shooting.

Anybody have recommendations for a high-capacity .22LR rifle? I was looking !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! e. Since .22LR rounds can foul up your gun this will be a total pain in the ass to clean since it’s a plastic case held together by sixteen screws. On the other hand, there’s this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! which I think is awesome since I like WWII guns, and the only centrefire rifle I know I want is the M1 Garand (reproduction or otherwise) since I think it’s so cool.

I still have a long time to do some online research since I won’t have an actual license for a while (at least one month, but I’m projecting closer to two months) but some help from fellow Oppo firearms enthusiasts would be appreciated. Keep in mind I’m in Canada, and large calibers become expensive very, very quickly which is why I’d like a nice .22LR for now until I get my hands on an M1.

I’m looking forward to a lifetime of responsible firearms ownership. This is the most excited I’ve been about something in a while.

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 19:00

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Look into a .17HMR or similar if you are just target shooting. Still cheap but use copper plated bullets so the barrels don’t foul as much.

Also a Ruger 22/45 Lite is a good starter pistol that it not intimidating what so ever for target shooting.

XJDano > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 19:01

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Ruger 10/22

http://www.ruger.com/products/1022/overview.html

They make tons of hi cap mags and the hot lips loader is a must. You can mount a scope pretty easily or leave it with just iron sights. They also make over under scope rings to keep iron sights useful.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 19:10

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Have you considered an M1 Carbine? They handle better than the Garand due to the decreased barrel length, and the higher production numbers makes genuine ones much cheaper than the Garand.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > XJDano 05/07/2017 at 19:12

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That was the first gun I ever fired

gin-san - shitpost specialist > XJDano 05/07/2017 at 19:13

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I really had my heart set on the 10/22, but one problem: the high-capacity mags for this are illegal in Canada. Only reason is that they can apparently be used restricted Ruger firearm (so it’s a handgun or something that falls below the minimum barrel length to be non-restricted) and all handguns have a ten round maximum magazine capacity. I could technically own a high-capacity mag but it would have to be blocked off to hold no more than 10 rounds, which is no better than their neat rotary mag.

I’ve only ever read good things about Ruger and my teacher for the course was saying that their products are very well made and durable.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow 05/07/2017 at 19:19

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Based on some brief research, the .17HMR is more expensive around here than the .22LR. I guess that’s because of the copper jacketing but I’m willing to get a gun that shoots .22LR even if I have to clean it more frequently, I just want it to be reasonably easy to take apart since I’d be putting a lot of rounds through it.

DipodomysDeserti > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 19:27

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What’s a firearm license?

-Arizona resident

My first gun was a Henry Repeating Arms AR7. The whole gun screws apart and stores in the stock for backpacking purposes. It was a great gun.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/07/2017 at 19:29

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I have but am avoiding it for the same reason I’m avoiding handguns for the time being: they are a restricted firearm due to their barrel length. They are literally a centimetre short of being a legal firearm (460mm barrel but regulation for a non-restricted rifle is 470mm).

Another fun fact: the M1 Garand is one of the few rifles that are specifically named as exempt from the five-round maximum magazine (or clip, I guess) capacity for centrefire rifles since they use those eight-round clips. Plus that ping is just classic.

In an ideal world, we’d have a government who was sensible about firearms restrictions. Canada has it’s advantages but gun ownership is where our regulations seem incredibly flawed and biased against guns in general.

My bird IS the word > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 19:34

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I know you are looking at rifles, but they make a Walter ppk in .22lr that I would love to have

gin-san - shitpost specialist > DipodomysDeserti 05/07/2017 at 19:37

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I’m envious (to a degree) of the ease of access to firearms in the US.

I still believe there should be a vetting process and safety education for anyone getting into guns but provided those checks are clear I think there should be more reasonable and logical firearms restrictions.

Demolition Ranch is the only reason why I’ve ever heard of Henry, and the guy was reviewing a .45-70 Gov’t lever-action they made which looks beautiful.

The gun you showed is probably prohibited here since it packs away like that, but this kind of gun never came up in the course.

DipodomysDeserti > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 20:19

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I know people with metal health issues who own guns, so don’t be too envious of our lax laws. I had a friend shot to death in high school by some hot head dipshit with a gun.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > DipodomysDeserti 05/07/2017 at 20:35

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I was thinking more in regards to the wide variety you guys are able to purchase. Otherwise, I still believe that there should be a vetting process.

XJDano > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 20:36

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That’s a bummer. There is a huge aftermarket for this gun as well that you can turn it into similar to a hand gun so I see the regulations. Good luck.

jimz > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 20:54

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honestly I don’t see any reason not to get a Ruger 10/22. They’re fairly cheap, common as dirt, stone-cold reliable (IME,) and if you’re so inclined there are plenty of aftermarket parts to turn it into a tack driver.

This is mine. The only stock parts left are the receiver, bolt, and magazine. I had the trigger group thorougly re-worked by a gunsmith, added a heavy barrel, walnut Monte Carlo stock, and Simmons 4-12x scope. it shoots way better than I can.

jimz > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 21:06

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it’s a mixed bag, really. It’s incredibly hard to be able to own “NFA” (National Firearms Act of 1934) firearms, which for the most part are full-auto/select fire and short barreled shotguns (SBS.) other countries let people buy full auto and SBSs, but with the caveat that they have to go through a lot more stringent processes just to own a firearm period.

And some of the things politicians here try to ban are silly on the surface; mostly to look like they’re “doing something.” Like the “assault weapons” ban in the ‘90s. For example, these two rifles are functionally identical:

same caliber (.223 Remington/5.56mm NATO,) both are semi-automatic (auto-loading, one shot per trigger pull,) both have detachable magazines. Yet the bottom one is supposedly an evil killing machine, and the top one... isn’t?

gin-san - shitpost specialist > jimz 05/07/2017 at 22:17

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That whole “assault weapon” mix-up happens here, too. I was looking at .22LR rifles and was surprised at the variations you can get, I figured they’d all look similar to the Ruger 10/22, but then I found “assault” ones like the S&W below (although the Canadian one comes with a smaller mag). They’re both semi-auto rimfire rifles, but guess which one you can’t get with your non-restricted long-gun license? Just like the M1 Carbine, it’s restricted because the barrel isn’t 470mm long (18").

This is the flaw I see in our system - I’m totally okay with the safety course, examinations, background checks, etc. but making arbitrary, inconsistent decisions on what’s restricted, not-restricted, and prohibited is what I dislike.

Kiltedpadre > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 22:20

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Since you can’t get the extended magazines for the 10/22 there another option would be a Remington 597. As far as I know there isn’t a pistol that used the 30 round magazine that’s available for it.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Kiltedpadre 05/07/2017 at 22:24

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Interesting, I’ll take a look. Thanks!

wiffleballtony > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 22:31

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We still have background checks through the NICS, Assuming you made the purchase at a store. But Arizona probably has the most open gun laws anywhere.

wiffleballtony > jimz 05/07/2017 at 22:33

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Suppressors is what really gets me. Select fire is useless, and you can get legal burst fire anyway. Now with the Sig Brace SBR rules are obsolete.

wiffleballtony > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 22:34

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The only .22 I own is an air rifle. All my other toys are much more powerful.

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 22:49

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How is the availability in Canada? For over a year 22LR was not on store shelves but .17HMR was easy to get.

TheRealBicycleBuck > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 23:18

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Most states have safety course requirements for those seeking a hunting license, but many states don’t have any course requirements for either purchasing or owning a long gun or handgun. There are requirements for concealed carry, but some states explicitly allow people to openly carry, although it is rare to see someone doing it.

just-a-scratch > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/08/2017 at 10:46

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Yes, handguns are far more dangerous. I’m not convinced that safeties (i.e. safety switches) are of great benefit to some handguns. They’re great where they can inhibit accidental/neglegent discharge. I like them on true single action semi-auto handguns like tbe 1911 but not for striker fired actions like glocks.

XJDano > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/12/2017 at 21:42

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I was at a store today and this was for sale. I know exactly what you are talking about now.

Silly laws.