P.A.L course

[feserboy]

hey everyone im taking my pal tomorrow and i was just wondering what is most important to know for the test?
thanks

[pseelk]

Its all important, get the book and study it all!

[Good Ol' Boy]

A- assume all firearms are loaded
C- control the muzzle at all times
T- trigger finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard
S- see that the firearm is unloaded > PROVE it safe

P- point the firearm in a safe direction
R- remove all ammunition
O- observe the chamber
V- verify the feeding path
E- examine the bore

The examiner will expect that you PROVE a firearm safe each time you pick it up or put it down, and that you keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. If you point a firearm at the instructor or anyone else during the exam you will instantly be disqualified.
Take your time and think about each step before you do it. It's OK to ask about firearm functions during the exam (eg: you are unsure of how to release a slide or break an action), but the examiner will not hint at any of the procedures.
Keep your booger pickers off the bang switch! It is almost instinctual for people who are new to guns to put their finger on the trigger every time they pick one up, make a conscious effort NOT to do this. You'll lose points each time you do. The only exceptions are if a slide or magazine release is located in the trigger guard or you must manipulate the trigger to engage a half-cock safety. During the exam tell the examiner that you have to put your finger in the trigger guard to perform any neccesary steps.
It's really not that difficult, and if you read the book, you should be just fine.

Good Luck!

[Jcarter]

Don't worry.

I Last picked up a gun 20 years ago and scored 98% 4 weeks ago.

Make suer you know each of the Positions for holding a firearm and how to cross a fence.

It's 100% that you wll be asked to identify a specific ammo from a pile. The test is in 2 parts. 1 written 1 hands on.

Also know legal light


Good luck.

[alacringa]

GOB's post, above, is pretty much bang-on. All the stuff that is emphasized over and over, like ACTS and PROVE; basic firearm identification; selecting appropriate ammo; etc. Biggest thing in the practical (as has already been stated) watch muzzle direction and keep fingers away from trigger. Test isn't hard if you've prepared yourself. I got 100% on both parts without too much effort, 4 years ago.

[leeaspell]

http://www.gunexams.com/index.cfm?REFID=114

This website is a free practise exam, not the actuall one but it will give you a good idea of the questions that you will be facing. I got the book for 2 weeks, studied it and wrote the test, I scored 100% on both parts, but like good Ol' Boy said, keep that finger off the trigger, and keep the muzzle pointed at the ground.

[6.5x47 lapua]

most all the of the people who get mistakes on the written part didnt read the question properly.take your time with it.

[moosehunter3-0]

3 women in my class at the end of the day still could not tell the difference between bolt action, break action, pump action, or leaver action. The entire class passed. There is not a snowballs chance in hell you will fail.

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by moosehunter3-0

3 women in my class at the end of the day still could not tell the difference between bolt action, break action, pump action, or leaver action. The entire class passed. There is not a snowballs chance in hell you will fail.

Then the instructor failed too....

[6.5x47 lapua]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

Then the instructor failed too....

i agree.that will never happen in one of my classes.

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by feserboy

hey everyone im taking my pal tomorrow and i was just wondering what is most important to know for the test?
thanks

Duhhhhhh!, don't point the gun at the instructor? Why is it that AO is so much more populated by clowns? thanks

[DarkAisling]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

Then the instructor failed too....

Wow. No kidding. An instructor who is unable to clearly convey something as simple the differences between the actions has no business teaching.

That being said, I did see someone legitimately fail in '99.

And, I was almost failed on the practical portion of the non-restricted: I refused to point the rifle in the direction I was told too, as I was unwilling to "pretend" that there wasn't a person standing there (don't know how I'm supposed to assume a gun is loaded and then point it at a person). That turned into a heck of a blowout, and I'm quite sure the instructor finally acquiesced just to shut me up.

[Good Ol' Boy]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Duhhhhhh!, don't point the gun at the instructor? Why is it that AO is so much more populated by clowns? thanks

I had a student point a firearm at me during a practical exam 2 weeks ago, instant fail. It happens, gitrdun, and isn't anything to clown around about. He can re-challenge, but may have to submit to an interview with the CFO before his application is approved.

[twofifty]

Passing someone who can't or wont practice firearms safety....wow that an instructor would do the rest of us and our sports that "favour".