Tips For Getting Your Firearns license on the first try?

[blacksmithden]

When you do your practical portion, pick a break action shotgun. They're the easiest thing on earth to prove safe. Look down the barrel....yep....unloaded and safe. Done.

[KB_TheDireWolf]

When you do your practical portion, pick a break action shotgun. They're the easiest thing on earth to prove safe. Look down the barrel....yep....unloaded and safe. Done.

Okay note taken. Use that if they have it.

[FlyingHigh]

When you do your practical portion, pick a break action shotgun. They're the easiest thing on earth to prove safe. Look down the barrel....yep....unloaded and safe. Done.

You got to choose?

I did both restricted and non-restricted rolled into one course. Two practicals done at the same time. The instructor had a whole bunch of various actions; rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers all scattered across the table. He then said "Pick up a *insert non restricted action here* and prove it safe". After that was done he said "Now pick up a *insert restricted action here* and prove it safe".

I got what he called the cowboy combo, a lever action rifle and a double action revolver. My dad got a pump action shotgun and a semi-auto pistol iirc.


Either way, don't worry about it too much OP. Pay attention and you'll be just fine. My girlfriend did her PAL and RPAL last year. She'd shot a few times with me and I'd given her a basic run down of the actions I own (bolt, pump, semi rifle) but she had to learn the practical handgun stuff in the course as I don't own any right now. She passed with flying colours.

[Foxer]

You got to choose?

I did both restricted and non-restricted rolled into one course. Two practicals done at the same time. The instructor had a whole bunch of various actions; rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers all scattered across the table. He then said "Pick up a *insert non restricted action here* and prove it safe". After that was done he said "Now pick up a *insert restricted action here* and prove it safe".

I got what he called the cowboy combo, a lever action rifle and a double action revolver. My dad got a pump action shotgun and a semi-auto pistol iirc.


Either way, don't worry about it too much OP. Pay attention and you'll be just fine. My girlfriend did her PAL and RPAL last year. She'd shot a few times with me and I'd given her a basic run down of the actions I own (bolt, pump, semi rifle) but she had to learn the practical handgun stuff in the course as I don't own any right now. She passed with flying colours.

Yeah, i didn't get to choose either, and i got the lever gun as well

[TPK]

You got to choose?

You get to choose two numbers between 1 and 5 that correlate to the 5 different actions. You should not be given a direct choice as to the two action types you will be tested on, that is wrong.

[greywolf67nt]

You get to choose two numbers between 1 and 5 that correlate to the 5 different actions. You should not be given a direct choice as to the two action types you will be tested on, that is wrong.

Not sure about elsewhere but the test in AB and NT is actually written out with what you have the student do. The only flexibility the examiner has is what cartridges you have to identify.
The break action is so simple they don't test you on it but I'm not sure why they don't test on the semi.

READ EVERY QUESTION CAREFULLY.
Like TheCenturion said some of the questions are written poorly. I don't have any "for examples" right off the top of my head but as long as your reading comprehension is good a question that seems odd on first reading will make sense the second or third time.
We have had some ESL students and they all passed.

[labradort]

When you do your practical portion, pick a break action shotgun. They're the easiest thing on earth to prove safe. Look down the barrel....yep....unloaded and safe. Done.

Didn't work that way in Nova Scotia. You are handed something random - no choice. You need to know how to prove it safe, identify ammunition for it, and secure it.

If you have that sort of test in your region, use the break times in the course to become familiar with every type of firearm. If there is a semi-auto shotgun, don't lose a fingertip in the action when you figure out where the bolt release button is. Some classes avoid stocking the semi-auto shotgun for liability reasons, but the place I went had the attitude to prepare you for everything rather than be too protective.

[greywolf67nt]

When you do your practical portion, pick a break action shotgun. They're the easiest thing on earth to prove safe. Look down the barrel....yep....unloaded and safe. Done.

I have now sat through the course 3 times (helping instructor not taking it) and it is "please pickup the bolt action rifle" "please pick up the semi automatic shot gun" "please pick up the lever action rifle". You ACTS and PROVE the gun when you pick it up and again when you set it down. You will have to demonstrate how to load each gun. ONCE IT IS LOADED PUT ON THE SAFETY.
You need to know how to ACTS and PROVE all of them but it is covered in the course and you do get to practice with each kind before hand.
Know how to read your head stamps and data stamps.
You will also have to demonstrate a couple of shooting positions (kneeling and standing) and what to do if you have to cross a fence. ACTS and PROVE the gun when you set it down and AGAIN when u pick it up. Even though you just did it when you set it down it is a mark against you if you don't check when you pick it up just in case "something accidentally got in the barrel or action". ALWAYS leave the action open when you are setting down an ACTSed and PROVEd gun.
The 2 HUGE things is pointed in a safe direction and finger off of trigger and outside of trigger guard and as mentioned before talk your way through because even if you don't completely properly demonstrate what you are doing the examiner will still know what you are attempting to do.

[RangeBob]

Dear original poster :

as mentioned before talk your way through because even if you don't completely properly demonstrate what you are doing the examiner will still know what you are attempting to do.

Yes.
The 2008 manual had a full page repeating ACTS & PROVE only on every 10th page or so.
During the practical test, mumble out the phrases for each letter of ACTS & PROVE as you're doing it, to explain what you're thinking as you move your hands.
And of course, do the correct things with your hands -- no touching the trigger, no sweeping the instructor.

[lone-wolf]

And of course, do the correct things with your hands -- no touching the trigger, no sweeping the instructor.

Back when my dad got his license, they had actual range time shooting. Some guy there sweeped everyone on the range!