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There are no big bore rifle clubs over here in Canada. The SCI Canadian chapters are a source of cameraderie that would have some members that would have some degree of big bore experience, but not for shooting big bore competitions. Source of components is a shared challenge here. There are absolutely no manufacturers within Canada that dabble in the big bore market, and very few importers/distributors of brass and bullets that service the big bore market. The government sanctioned (but privately run) gun clubs are the go to places for organized shooting sports, but the reality here is that big bores are not very common here, ergo the clubs will shoot 3 gun and IPSC, Bullseye, and silhouette competitions, but there would be near zero prospect competitors for the big bore game. Australia has the distinct benefit of being the beneficiary of India's offloading of lots of classic big double rifles. Likewise, the USA is a bastion of all things that go bang, including a healthy market penetration of big bores. Canada is painfully separated from the US market and does not share the free firearms love of the States to the south of us. The US has all manner of export controls, one of which requires a prospect exporter to pay a significant $$ransom/export permit fee to export ammo and guns/gun parts, which eats into the profit of any potential importers, which limits the supply of goods coming out of the US to only mainstream stuff where exporter/importer can make enough volume to make it worth while. Canada of course has its own pouty form of gun control,and up until recently a registration regime, all of which adds to the headache. So for me, I'm a bit of a stranded asset. I am a member of three gun clubs, and each and every time I show up with my doubles, I attract attention when the concussion of firing the large bores make everyone on the line stop and question "what the f*uck was that??? Occasionally, I'll get an inquisitive mind ask me what gauge my double shotgun is, very telling of the general knowledge and awareness here that such a thing as double rifles are a form of firearm...... So. I'm pretty much on my own. The Internet is my friend, and the good publications that are available (again sourced with some focused effort) help me along. i can't even begin to effectively describe my affinity for this forum and the good members here for helping me navigate the world of big bore double rifles. It is a resource valuable beyond description. I have lurked for a very long time and eventually felt I could participate in some of the discussions to a small degree, ever and always limited by my personal experience and knowledge. |