Originally Posted by
FiReSTaRT
For handguns, it's 105mm or about 4.14" to make it legal to own as a collector or sports shooter. The law doesn't recognize any other legitimate uses of a "restricted" firearm. While you can technically use a firearm to defend your home, you will get charged with something, usually it's related to improper storage (even if you go above and beyond the letter of the law). A very small number of people are allowed to carry, but often under very tight restrictions and it's like a 1 in 100,000 thing or even more rare.
Note: We have 3 classes of firearms today and while they follow certain general trends, they're by no means consistent and often don't make sense
Non-restricted - Typically your hunting rifles and peashooters. Then again, TAR-21, SKS and CZ-858 are non-restricted and can even be taken hunting - easiest class of license to get (only one exam to take and they don't typically interview your references)
Restricted - Handguns (including .22LR ones), short barreled semi-autos, and whatever looks too mean at the moment, like the AR. Tighter licensing restriction and you have to ask for permission to take it anywhere (you can, however, get a long-term authorization to transport if you are a member of a range, which would allow you to take your restricted from home to any range in the province/international airport/border for a fixed period of time, typically 5 years iirc but don't quote me on it)
Prohibited - Anything AK-based even the Saiga or AK-based air rifles, anything full auto, midnight specials, short barrelled handguns, unfortunately the QBZ-97 ("too easily convertible to full auto") and anything else that looks even meaner than restricted. You can't really qualify for that one unless you have owned prohibs before the law came into effect or maybe by inheriting. If nobody interested in owning them inherits, your firearms get confiscated and destroyed.