Worth it to challenge exams?

Battlerifleelitist

Battlerifleelitist

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Howdy folks, 'long time listener, first time caller' here.

Was wondering whether its worth it to challenge the PAL/ RPAL exams.
I've handled guns for quite a bit since a kid, had to take a break blah blah divorce blah blah never see my dad, and I've always had an interest in them.

I've handled both bolt action and semi automatic centerfire and rimfire, pump shotgun, and semi auto pistol.

However I'm a broke off my ass college student, with no prospect of owning a rifle for at least half a year ( blah blah no monies for rifles, and cabinet blah. Although meh pa would send me a savage mkII my way ). V:I:

I've got my PAL textbook, the ability to breathe and walk at the same time, and a mean attitude.

Should I challenge the exam?
Should I also buy a RPAL text and challenge that too?
 
Battlerifleelitist said:
Howdy folks, 'long time listener, first time caller' here.

Was wondering whether its worth it to challenge the PAL/ RPAL exams.
I've handled guns for quite a bit since a kid, had to take a break blah blah divorce blah blah never see my dad, and I've always had an interest in them.

I've handled both bolt action and semi automatic centerfire and rimfire, pump shotgun, and semi auto pistol.

However I'm a broke off my ass college student, with no prospect of owning a rifle for at least half a year ( blah blah no monies for rifles, and cabinet blah. Although meh pa would send me a savage mkII my way ). V:I:

I've got my PAL textbook, the ability to breathe and walk at the same time, and a mean attitude.

Should I challenge the exam?
Should I also buy a RPAL text and challenge that too?
Click to expand...

Yep challenge it..I did..if you are comfortable with firearms it should be no prob for ya..if you Youtube, I think its called "Canadian Firearm test or exam" (something like that) it has the video's on there they show on the course. As long as you know ur guns and ammo u will be fine.

The only issue is..in Ontario anyway if you want to take the hunting course they want to have an hour "handling" time before you take the course...but I think that may depend on ur instructor...good luck
 
If you can walk and breath at once, challenge the exam. Lots of the content is common-sense*, the rest is memorising your ACTS and PROVE, parts of cartriges and actions.
 
I agree with the two above, I took the course for my pal. Then challenged my rpal the tests are very similar. But as said before know your acts/prove and demonstrate it every time you pick up/ put down a firearm.
 
You're not in Quebec, but for those who are. If you get your PAL by challenging the test, they will not give you a hunting permit even if you take and pass the hunting course. You have to take the firearms course.
 
What province are you in? If you took the Manitoba hunter and firearm safety before 1995 you dont even have to take the PAL test. If not challenge them both. Toooooo easy. For the RPAL I challenged it was easy. I read the RPAL book once and passed the test with 98 I think it was.
 
Study the pal book then challenge. Do them seperately give your brain a chance to absorb it then worry about RPAL later. Tip PAL takes alot less time to be approved for. Get the PAL first so you can at least buy a long gun and start practicing. Will make RPAL easier.
 
For me personally, the only experiance I had before taking the CFSC and CRFSC was air guns, so I found the course pretty benificial.

During the exams I had to handle:

PAL
Bolt
Hinge
Lever
Pump
Semi auto

RPAL
Singel action revolver
Double action revolver
semi auto

If you feel comfortable with those, just read the manuals and challange.

I did both on the same weekend and got 100% x2 with the PAL and 98% RPAL written and 98% RPAL practicle. When you do the exams make sure you clearly say what you are doing.

The instructors are sometimes looking at their paper writing things down and even though you did what you were supposed to, they might have missed it. That's what happened to me. She took 2 points off for not checking the head stamp on the .45 round before loading the semi. I did, she just didn't see it.
 
You seem a pretty smart guy so, I think yes, you could successfully challenge both PAL and RPAL.
The most difficult part is handling guns during the exam, not the written part. The first time I went to challenge these two exams I got perfect score in the written exams and failed quite abruptly the practical part. At that time I was not even sure how a single action revolver looks like in reality.
So, I took the provincial hunting course with a qualified instructor. During this two day course (which I had in mind to take anyway) the instructor had his PAL exam guns (de-activated) brought in. I had plenty of time to look and handle those guns before the exam itself. Maybe you could do the same.
 
Just don't point the gun at the instructor, automatic fail.
This just happened to someone who was in my wife's class this past weekend.
 
I hadn't touched a firearm in almost 20 years but successfully challenged both exams with 95%+ on all parts.

I downloaded the manuals on a Tuesday and had the exams the following Saturday...so yes, very doable.
 
I actually enjoyed the course. I have never handled guns before so it was a definite education

I did PAL and RPAL at he same time. I wouldn't do it again it was a loooog weekend but I'm glad I did it now :)
 
I challenged both PAL and RPAL at the same times, alot of the material was overlap. I actualy only read the RPAL book. When time came to challange, my 4 scores (practical and theory x2) were between 92-94%. Submited the paper work and got denied from my ex kicking and screaming. The CFC told me I could get is so long as i took the entire course with no challenges!! Irelevant to them that ive had my hunting licence for 13 years previous to that:rolleyes:
 
Challenge both exams (I challenged my RPAL) , As stated earlier if you are comfortable with operating the different actions on rifles and handguns and with some time spent with the study material you should be fine .
Remember to do ACTS and PROVE always and with some practise and comman sense it isnt hard. There is a free practise exam on line as well .


Restricted course info
http://www.fsesoi.org/images/stories/pdfs/crfscmanual_e_restricted_2008_greyscale_version.pdf

Non-restricted course info
http://www.fsesoi.org/images/stories/pdfs/cfscmanual_e_non-restricted_2008_greyscale_version.pdf

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


CFSC Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVnKDEqsRHA&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQu6lY5_0YY&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpiqEx0JqEE&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TRTsnPSNrA&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xGbOfcGodg&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQOVEbjeils&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Bd48DWyxQ&feature=related


Frequently asked questions
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/faq/index-eng.htm#a3

Firearm regulations
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/index-eng.htm
 
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Don't buy the books. Download them for free. Save money and paper.

Challenge is the way to go. I find courses expensive for what you get. I spent a couple of hours with a guy I paid to familiarize me with the firearms used on the test. Cost me $25 and a couple of hours.

1) When you go through PROVE-ing a firearm, SAY the steps out loud as you do them. This gives the rater no choice but to acknowledge that you did what you were supposed to do.

2) If you cannot physically do something, let the instructor know what you are trying to do. At the time I wrote my test, I couldn't physically load a round into the gate of the lever action. As it turned out, that rifle had been damaged and he had meant to grab a different rifle. So he grabbed a functioning rifle out of his safe, which was right there because we weren't at some hotel meeting room :)

Good luck!

P
 
I challenged my RPAL about 15yrs after taking my first firearms course (hunter training at the time, for a FAC). Common sense entails when handling firearms, they do throw some "wtf" questions in the rpal exam, but nothing tough.

Sooner you get it, sooner you buy ....... :ar15:
 
Battlerifleelitist said:
I'm from BC, Kelowna specifically.
I've never taken CORE, or had a PAL previously.

Challenging PAL -> good thing OK
Second question: Buy RPAL text and challenge that as well? or should I take it slow?
Click to expand...

You don't need to "buy" the texts. They're available for Free on the Internet.
 
I did the course for my PAL, which I think was worth it for me as I didn't have much experience with firearms. Then about a year later decided I wanted my RPAL, I challenged the test and got 100 on practical and 95 on written. The RPAL test is basically identical to the PAL test other than the pictures in the test are of handguns. If your comfortable with firearms I would just study a little then challenge the tests. Know ACTS and PROVE well and do it every time you pickup/put down a firearm.
 
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