Nervous about PAL test

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alphawolf29

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Hi, I've finished the first day of my two day PAL (non restricted) safety course and am very nervous about the practical section of the test. I have handled firearms competently many times, however, the place where I am doing my testing has about 20 or 25 deactivated firearms, and I am NOT confident that I can memorize the different safeties in all the various guns.

I know I can operate every bolt action and shotgun without trouble (both 'knee' style, pump and semi automatic) but am not very confident that I can operate the numerous and different safeties/magazines on the semi automatics and lever actions. One of the lever actions requires that you put your finger on the trigger to set the safety, and one of the semi auto 22s has an odd magazine shaped like a pump action shotgun that you must pull out near the muzzle! I've never seen one of those in my life. What should I do? 20-25 guns seems a lot to have to be familiar with, considering that i will only really have to be completely familiar with my own guns in the future...
 
I agree with everyone ACTS Prove. The only way you can fail is if you point the barrel at the instructor. Remember when you cross the fence MUZZLE DIRECTION!!!! Good Luck
 
You are allowed to ask the examiner to explain the operation or the gun in question or for him to point out where certain thing are on the gun. For example, you can ask the examiner.."I'm not familiar with this gun, could you please explain to me how to remove the magazine" or "can you show me where the safety is on this gun?". Those questions are legitimate and the examiner should help you out. Remember you are not being tested on your knowledge of specific firearms but rather the safe use of firearms in general.

You'll be fine...the examiner is not out to get you!
 
Agreed. I can grab any of my rifles out of the safe right now, and none of them are laid out in quite the same way. They're not about to dock you marks because of a less-than-encyclopedic knowledge of unfamiliar firearms.

Know ACTS, prove, and the general concepts behind the different varieties of guns, and you'll do fine.
 
Like everyone else said just ask if you're not sure. My instructor came right out and told us that they won't dock marks for asking about operation of specific firearms. One thing that my instructor warned of if you have a firearm that the safety is inside the trigger guard before you put your finger inside the trigger guard to turn on the safety make sure you say that's why your finger is going in there. Otherwise they may dock points off for putting your finger on the trigger.
 
if there are weapons you are uncomfortable with ask the instructor for a little one on one time with them first. remember he is there to educate you on the safe operation of all types of firearms not there to fail you. The reason that you are expected to know the operation of so many different models, and not just your own is so you will be capable of handling whatever you may come across ie. a friends gun, or someone else at a hunt camp.

Don't worry be safe and you will do fine
 
I found saying it loud made a big difference. It keeps you focused and will help you remember the next step. A couple of nervous errors not a big deal and still got 95% on the practical.
 
just did mine 2 weeks ago, the course is designed so anyone, even someone who didnt even know firearms existed, could become educated in the safe handling and become qualified to handle firearms after taking the course. I have handled and fired a few firearms before, I do other hobbies related to shooting, I have been exposed to basic firearms information through videogames and media, and I found most of the course common knowledge. 25 firearms does not mean you need to know how each one functions just as competently as the engineer who designed it. We had 10 plus firearms in my class that we handled, but it was broken down into bolt actions, break actions, pump action, lever and semi automatic. Once you know how to acts and prove, its fairly easy to figure things out. It doesnt matter what caliber, manufacturer or intended purpose a semi has, once you can prove one semi auto, most others will function very similarly or you will be able to figure them out very easily.
 
I was worried about safeties as well but the instructor just pointed things out if you needed, it's unreasonable to expect you to know where safeties are on every firearm, that's what manuals are for. During my PAL I had to use an ancient hinge action shotgun and it took me like 5 minutes to get the thing to open hahaha.
 
Sixgunjohnny said:
I found saying it loud made a big difference. It keeps you focused and will help you remember the next step. A couple of nervous errors not a big deal and still got 95% on the practical.
Click to expand...

^ This. Just go super slow, verbalize the PROVE steps, and I guarantee you will pass. There is no time limit.
Rushing and not verbalizing the steps is a recipe for mistakes.
I saw one dude fail next to me because he picked up firearms 3 times without proving first (he was waiting to be told to prove it big mistake)
 
Handle the firearms as aften as you can. I mean it. Every chance i got to pick them up and prove them safe. Even if every one of the other firearms was being handled, and the one i was just playng with was not, i went back to it and did it again. I did that and it was a breeze. We were all nervous. You will do fine.
 
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