Buying a Restricted Rifle

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cedargrove

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I am considering buying a restricted rifle, something like a Bren 8” or 11”. However when searching the forum I see some people have concern that these could become prohibited. I understand the concern as many other AR style guns have been prohibited.

Being somewhat new to guns, I just want to better understand why something like the Bren would become prohibited considering there seems to be less concern about handguns (which can’t be transferred but are not prohibited). And if something like the Bren doesn’t end up being prohibited, what makes it so different from all the other rifles that were prohibited?

Not trying to stir up a hornets nest here, and I get that it is hard to understand the current government’s rationale, just looking for information to help me make my decision.

Thanks
 
I think this has been discussed a bunch. Comes down to the fact all options are carrying risk.

The Bren is special cause it’s battle proven and IMO more pretty the the APC. I also like that there are pending factory barrel and caliber swap kits for these rifles and the change over is somewhat easy for technically inclinded. I dream and pray daily for 18.6 inch 7.62 kit from CZUB.w:h:

But also comes down to: you only live once, shoot ‘em, If you got ‘em, and only time will tell how the legalities pan out. Pick the gamble you can afford to lose worst case ontario.

The NRs Bren rifles have been pending for a nearly a year and that’s below average for new gear as seen on here. The war is another huge thing with massive restocking and arsenal updating happening with many European nation like never before since the WWs.

Just turn this thread into a restricted rifle transfer time one :dancingbanana: :stirthepot2:
:stirthepot2: :popCorn: :popCorn:

I’m waiting for mine.
 
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SilverCore basic membership is sufficient to aquire.

The thing to know... Canadian Gun law... mostly makes no rational sense. It just is, what it is.
 
Ben_in_Canada said:
Other thing to consider (maybe not being in Ontario) is the need for a range membership for restricteds. Is it worth it for one firearm?
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Ive labored over this, but ultimately 5.56 is not really an inna- the-woods caliber. Other than rodents and vermin, maybe coyotes and wolves at most. But if you have property big enough to need that no questions asked. 7.62 yes maybe. Big bore lever guns? Hells ya better.

My plan is more mixed sport shooting events, trips ranges with 300m, 500m + to stretch the legs on a gun that’s not designed for that and to have fun within my ability.
 
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AfroCowboy said:
Ive labored over this, but ultimately 5.56 is not really an inna- the-woods caliber. ....
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Everyone should make their own call, of course. Plenty of people successfully (and ethically) hunt deer with 223Rem. With the correct bullet, impact velocity, and shot placement, it kills just fine. (EDIT: You can say exactly the same as every other hunting cartridge)
 
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cedargrove said:
... I just want to better understand why something like the Bren would become prohibited considering there seems to be less concern about handguns (which can’t be transferred but are not prohibited). And if something like the Bren doesn’t end up being prohibited, what makes it so different from all the other rifles that were prohibited?...
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Being restricted, handguns are already subject to severe restriction on their use (only at approved ranges, etc.). In theory, there is nothing to stop additional restrictions being put on their use (including stopping recreational use entirely), but generally speaking, the powers that be have made no moves in that direction.

Black rifles (like the Bren) have been specifically targeted by the powers that be, and are apparently still a priority for the ban hammer. There is nothing stopping them being summarily declared prohibited by name. If prohibited, it's a paperweight.

In theory, any firearm is at the same risk of being declared prohibited, but the powers that be have their priorities.
 
Thanks for the insight everyone. A couple more questions and thoughts:

For the models that were made prohibited in 2020, can owners legally keep them, for example locked their safe? Or were owners legally required to turn them in? I don’t suppose the Feds compensated anyone for them?

If given a choice I think I’d prefer to hang onto it in the extremely unlikely event laws were reversed, rather than get rid of it for nothing, assuming this was legally allowed.

I also suppose if a model is made prohibited, the Feds don’t distinguish between NR and Res, and just prohibit the entire model as they seemed to have done in the past. In that case, the Feds would not have complete ownership records of the newly prohibited guns, considering the previously NR versions would not have be registered.
 
cedargrove said:
I am considering buying a restricted rifle, something like a Bren 8” or 11”. However when searching the forum I see some people have concern that these could become prohibited. I understand the concern as many other AR style guns have been prohibited.

Being somewhat new to guns, I just want to better understand why something like the Bren would become prohibited considering there seems to be less concern about handguns (which can’t be transferred but are not prohibited). And if something like the Bren doesn’t end up being prohibited, what makes it so different from all the other rifles that were prohibited?

Not trying to stir up a hornets nest here, and I get that it is hard to understand the current government’s rationale, just looking for information to help me make my decision.

Thanks
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cedargrove said:
Thanks for the insight everyone. A couple more questions and thoughts:

For the models that were made prohibited in 2020, can owners legally keep them, for example locked their safe? Or were owners legally required to turn them in? I don’t suppose the Feds compensated anyone for them?

If given a choice I think I’d prefer to hang onto it in the extremely unlikely event laws were reversed, rather than get rid of it for nothing, assuming this was legally allowed.

I also suppose if a model is made prohibited, the Feds don’t distinguish between NR and Res, and just prohibit the entire model as they seemed to have done in the past. In that case, the Feds would not have complete ownership records of the newly prohibited guns, considering the previously NR versions would not have be registered.
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I dont typically let the government influence my decisions when it comes to my life choices.

If you choose so, thats up to you.

I recently purchased a restricted firearm (Christmas time) and will be getting it finally next week (hopefully) even though it may be banned, I'm going to have fun with it while I can and enjoy it.

IF they ban them, it's going to take years and billions of dollars to collect them all. Something in the current economic climate that is unaffordable.

and the naysayers that say will say "what about the money", well I have had worse investments haha, like taxes.

buy it use it and enjoy it :)
 
The short answer is that nobody really knows what is going to happen.

Anyone buying a modern semi automatic, military style firearm is taking a risk. If that firearm is currently restricted then the government knows that you have it. If it is non restricted and then becomes prohibited the government may not know that you have it, but what can you do with it? You would be running a risk every time you took it out and whats the point of having a safe queen that you can't use?

Some people say to heck with it just do what you want but a guy I know did just that, got caught and lost his very extensive and expensive collection and was prohibited for life rather than go to jail.

It all depends on your outlook. This may be the last chance that you have to get a rifle and should seize it. Try buying a handgun these days! Or it may become illegal and useless. There are so many versions of what "prohibited" means at the moment that any advice is just guesswork and dependent on individual wants/needs/risk tolerance etc.....
 
cedargrove said:
Thanks for the insight everyone. A couple more questions and thoughts:...
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If you want to get into details, there's lots of useful content in the Legalese and Bill C-21 subforums here on CGN.

Short version: Legally speaking, all recent prohibs are now paperweights (original status as NR or R is irrelevant). Additional models may be added to the prohibited list with no notice or rationale, and they certainly don't have to be "black rifles" to be at risk. The feds may or may not proceed with some kind of a buyback program for recently prohibited firearms, but there are many hurdles for them. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next election cycle, and maybe never.

Uncertainty is a fundamental part of legal firearms ownership in Canada.
 
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