Rifle & Shotgun Ammunition in Canada — Complete Guide
Rifle ammunition ranges from rimfire .22 LR to large centrefire hunting cartridges like .308 Winchester and .30-06. Shotgun ammunition uses gauges (12, 20, .410) with varying shot sizes for different purposes. Semi-automatic centrefire rifles have a 5-round magazine limit. Shotgun tubes are limited to 5 rounds.
| Entity | Attribute | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Gauge Shotgun | Common Use | Hunting, home defence, sport |
| 20 Gauge Shotgun | Common Use | Upland hunting, reduced recoil |
| 410 Bore | Common Use | Small game, introductory shooting |
| 22 LR | Type | Rimfire — no magazine limit |
| 308 Winchester | Type | Centrefire — 5-round semi-auto limit |
| 7.62x39mm | Common Firearm | AK-pattern rifles |
| Shot Sizes | Birdshot Range | #9 (smallest) to BB (largest) |
| Slug | Shotgun Type | Single projectile for large game |
What Are Common Rifle Calibres Tested on the CFSC?
Common calibres in CFSC study material include: .22 LR (rimfire, no magazine limit), .308 Winchester (centrefire hunting), .30-06 Springfield (popular deer cartridge), 7.62x39mm (AK-pattern), and .223 Remington/5.56 NATO (AR-pattern — now prohibited in .223/5.56). Identifying centrefire vs rimfire by the primer location is a key exam skill.
What Are the Shot Sizes for Shotgun Shells?
Shotgun shot is measured numerically: the higher the number, the smaller the pellet. Common sizes: #9 (tiny — for clay shooting), #7.5/#8 (bird shooting), #4 buckshot (larger game birds), 00 ("double-aught") buckshot (deer, defence). Slugs are single projectiles for deer hunting in restricted-to-shotgun zones.
What Is the Rule on Shotgun Tube Magazines?
A shotgun tube magazine is limited to 5 shells total (including chamber). A tubular magazine that holds more than 5 must be modified to create a 5-round physical limit. Unlike detachable box magazines, tube magazines are measured by actual capacity of the tube — not the design capacity of the platform.