Episode 640: Ontario Strikes Back: Deer, Gear, and the Long Game

Recorded live on February 4, 2026, the “Ontario Crew” (Kelly and Dave) reunites with Adriel, Tony, and Dustin for a packed Episode 640. The team catches up on a long hiatus, sharing hunting success stories, technical gear headaches, and the evolving landscape of Canadian firearms advocacy.

What We Did in Guns

  • Adriel’s Range Day: Convinced his wife to shoot for the first time in a decade; she favored the semi-auto .22.
  • The Glock Headache: Adriel diagnosed reliability issues with an optics-ready slide, discovering he had used screws that were too long, interfering with the extractor.
  • Dave’s First Deer: After seven years of hunting, Dave harvested his first deer (a spike horn) using a Lee-Enfield with iron sights.
  • Tony’s DIY Grip: Experimented with 3M Safety Walk tape as a rubberized, less abrasive alternative to skateboard tape for handgun frames.
  • Kelly’s “Core” Training: Assisted correctional officer recruits with pistol drills to help them qualify for their service requirements.

The News Desk

  • RCMP Inventory Issues: Discussion on the Halifax RCMP losing service carbines for three months, only to find them at the wrong detachment.
  • FRT Prohibitions: The Charles Daly N-Force G-III bullpup shotgun has been moved to the prohibited list as a “variant”.
  • The “Buyback” Stall: The hosts analyze the latest federal confiscation numbers, noting that declarations seem to have plateaued around 20,000–25,000 firearms.
  • Political Shifts: Discussion on the Conservative leadership review and the NDP’s shifting (and often confusing) stance on firearms policy.

Gear & Tech

  • Vortex “Relay” & GeoBallistics: Tony breaks down the new Vortex ecosystem, including the ACE Ballistic Weather Meter and the integration of GeoBallistics software for long-range shooters.
  • Stock Swap Woes: Dave warns about the different versions of the Magpul Hunter stock for the Ruger American, noting that the AICS version does not always play nice with Magpul’s own PMAGs in certain configurations.

Community & Advocacy

  • She Shoots Update: Kelly announces that the “She Shoots” podcast is now an independent entity, no longer under the CUSF banner, and is launching its own YouTube channel.
  • MP Outreach: Dustin shares his strategy for an upcoming meeting with his Member of Parliament to discuss the financial and social impact of recent firearms bans.

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