By Travis Bader, founder of Silvercore Outdoors.

Last updated: 28 September 2026

No, the SKS is not banned in Canada. The standard SKS is a non-restricted firearm that you can buy and own with a regular PAL. No SKS model appears in the prohibited lists of 2020, 2024 or 2025, which are consolidated in the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons (SOR/98-462).

The SKS has been one of the most common rifles in Canada for decades. It is cheap, tough and shoots inexpensive 7.62x39 ammunition, and plenty of hunters, trappers and rural families own one. Every new prohibition announcement brings a wave of rumours that the SKS is next, so here is what the law actually says today.

The short answer

• Status: non-restricted. PAL required. No federal registration.
• Not on the lists: the SKS was not prohibited in May 2020, December 2024 or March 2025.
• Magazine: the fixed 10-round magazine must be limited to 5 rounds, like any magazine for a semi-automatic centre-fire rifle.
• Watch the variant: a barrel under 470 mm makes a semi-automatic centre-fire rifle restricted. Check the exact model.
• Could change: classification is set by regulation, and the federal Expert Advisory Panel on Firearms has recommended that modified SKS-type rifles be considered for prohibition.

Why wasn't the SKS banned?

Canada's prohibitions name specific makes and models in SOR/98-462. The SKS was never added to those lists. The standard SKS was designed with a fixed magazine, loaded from the top with stripper clips.

The December 2023 technical definition of a prohibited firearm in Criminal Code section 84 does not catch the SKS either. That definition applies only to semi-automatic centre-fire firearms originally designed with a detachable magazine of six or more rounds and designed and manufactured on or after 15 December 2023. The SKS was designed in the 1940s.

For how the classes work, read our guide to the difference between non-restricted and restricted firearms.

How many rounds can an SKS hold in Canada?

Five. The SKS's original fixed magazine holds 10, and the RCMP states that the maximum for most magazines designed for a semi-automatic centre-fire long gun is 5 cartridges. A magazine permanently altered so it cannot hold more than 5 is legal. Aftermarket detachable magazines built for the SKS face the same limit. See our page on magazine capacity limits in Canada.

An unaltered 10-round SKS magazine, or a high-capacity aftermarket one, is a prohibited device. Individuals cannot possess prohibited devices, so owning one exposes you to criminal charges even though the rifle itself is legal.

Are any SKS variants restricted or prohibited?

Some can be. Under section 84, a semi-automatic centre-fire rifle with a barrel shorter than 470 mm is restricted, so a short-barrelled SKS is a restricted firearm. Cutting down a rifle to under 660 mm overall or to a barrel under 457 mm makes it prohibited.

The federal Expert Advisory Panel on Firearms, in its final report, said the government should consider prohibiting models that originally had fixed magazines and have been modified by manufacturers or users to accept detachable magazines holding more than five rounds. It named the Kodiak Defence Scorpio SKS-15 as an example. That is a recommendation. As of the current consolidated regulations, no SKS model has been added to the prohibited list.

Before you buy an SKS, look up the exact model and FRT number in the RCMP Firearms Reference Table.

Could the SKS be banned in the future?

It could. Classification in Canada changes by regulation, which means cabinet can add models without a vote in Parliament. That is how the 2020, 2024 and 2025 lists happened. Today, no SKS model appears in the prohibited lists.

My advice has not changed in 30 years of teaching: keep your licence current, keep your paperwork, and follow the rules as they stand. If something changes, owners who are licensed and informed are the ones who can act.

Can I hunt with an SKS?

Where your provincial hunting regulations allow a centre-fire rifle of that calibre for the species and season, yes. Read your province's regulations for the species you hunt before you take it into the field.

How do I transport an SKS?

As a non-restricted firearm: unloaded, and out of sight in a locked vehicle when unattended. Our guide to transporting firearms in Canada covers the details. You do not need an Authorization to Transport.

Getting licensed

You need a PAL to buy an SKS. Start with our CFSC course, where you will prove a semi-automatic rifle safe as part of the practical test. Many students add the CRFSC in the same course. The Silvercore Club keeps you current as the rules change and includes member liability insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the SKS restricted in Canada?

The standard SKS is non-restricted. A version with a barrel under 470 mm is restricted.

Was the SKS on the March 2025 ban list?

No. The SKS was not among the 179 makes and models prohibited on 7 March 2025.

Can I buy a 10-round SKS magazine in Canada?

Not an unaltered one. A magazine for a semi-automatic centre-fire rifle is limited to five rounds, and an unaltered 10-round magazine is a prohibited device.

Do I need to register my SKS?

Not federally. Non-restricted firearms are not registered with the RCMP. Quebec is the exception: owners there must register non-restricted firearms with the Québec Firearms Registration Service.

Is the SKS going to be banned?

No SKS prohibition is in force. Classification can change by regulation at any time, so check the RCMP and Public Safety Canada before you buy.

Travis Bader, Silvercore Outdoors