r/canadaguns • u/AutoModerator • Jul 17 '22

Weekly Newbies & FAQ Thread - Post your questions here for PAL/RPAL application, timelines, CFSC/CFSRC, references & requirements, or general new to firearms ownership -type questions

This thread will be used for the "new"-type questions, PAL/RPAL applications, references, CFSC/CFRSC requirements, storage/transport, or other general "new-to-me" firearms ownership questions.

In response to this thread, the community was quite positive for a thread to cover these subjects.

These threads will be stickied for a week, renewing every Sunday @ about 0600 AST. Previous threads here. Take a look, your question may have been answered!

If you have any suggestions for this thread, please feel free to ask here, or send the Mods a message.

Thank you!

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

Hey guys I’m going for my PAL in a couple weeks and haven’t even held a firearm since I was 12. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to prepare or any advice you guys could give me. I’m very excited to do it I just don’t want to go in completely over my head.

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u/cryrid Jul 18 '22

Course manual: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/grc-rcmp/PS99-2-2-1-2014-eng.pdf

80% of the course is just going to be drilling ACTS and PROVE into your head.

ACTS

  • Assume every firearm is loaded.
  • Control the muzzle direction at all times.
  • Trigger finger must be kept off the trigger and out of the trigger guard.
  • See that the firearm is unloaded - PROVE it safe.

PROVE

  • Point the firearm in the safest available direction.
  • Remove all ammunition.
  • Observe the chamber.
  • Verify the feeding path.
  • Examine the bore.

ACTS is easy peasey. Just be mindful of where your fingers are and where you have a firearm pointed at all times. You can practice with a nerf/airsoft/etc if you have one. PROVE is easy too, but while its steps change the same, how you actually do each can vary depending on the action type of the firearm (bolt, pump, break, lever, semi-auto...) 10% of the course will be learning those different action types. The other 10% will be understanding the basic components of a cartridge/shell, and transportation/storage laws.

Your instructors want you to pass, so take advantage of their time to ask any questions you have, and make use of their example firearms to practice ACTS/PROVE. As long as you don't point the firearm in an unsafe direction then you should pass.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

Thank you I really appreciate it.