Challenging Restricted Exam

Muney

Muney

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Hi everyone,

This past weekend I too my PAL course and got 100% on both the written exam, and the practicle. I will be challenging the restricted exam sometime in the next week or so. The only thing i'm nervous about is that I have never handled the pistols that I'll be tested on (semi- auto single action, and single and double action revolver)

I have the Restricted book and I will be reading the parts about the different actions, but can anyone give me any tips?:redface:
 
Muney said:
Hi everyone,

This past weekend I too my PAL course and got 100% on both the written exam, and the practicle. I will be challenging the restricted exam sometime in the next week or so. The only thing i'm nervous about is that I have never handled the pistols that I'll be tested on (semi- auto single action, and single and double action revolver)

I have the Restricted book and I will be reading the parts about the different actions, but can anyone give me any tips?:redface:
Click to expand...

Go to the range and ask range officer to show you PROVE for all the above. Also, youtube vids - many of them.
 
Reading the book is not enough for the practical (more then fine for written), there are little things that are best explained by handling the handguns and getting someone to go through PROVE for each one.

those videos you found are pretty good tho, just remember to never put your hand in front of the barrel (except for checking bore) because thats an instant fail
 
luke s said:
Reading the book is not enough for the practical (more then fine for written), there are little things that are best explained by handling the handguns and getting someone to go through PROVE for each one.

those videos you found are pretty good tho, just remember to never put your hand in front of the barrel (except for checking bore) because thats an instant fail
Click to expand...

Which I notice she does a lot. After watching the videos, I feel a bit more confident. Im going to keep searching for videos though.
 
Muney said:
Which I notice she does a lot. After watching the videos, I feel a bit more confident. Im going to keep searching for videos though.
Click to expand...

Yah I thought so too but the angle isnt the best.

They will also ask you to load and unload each pistol. Every time you set it down (to load cartridges into magazine) you have to do PROVE again after picking it up.

After you load the semi auto, engage the safety (if there is one), when they ask to unload, you have to cycle the slide several times to make sure all the cartridges are out, lock the slide open, observe the chamber etc
 
luke s said:
Yah I thought so too but the angle isnt the best.

They will also ask you to load and unload each pistol. Every time you set it down (to load cartridges into magazine) you have to do PROVE again after picking it up.

After you load the semi auto, engage the safety (if there is one), when they ask to unload, you have to cycle the slide several times to make sure all the cartridges are out, lock the slide open, observe the chamber etc
Click to expand...

So basically, the same thing I did on my PAL testing, just with smaller guns. Do you look down the barrel on pistols, or do you stick something down it like she's doing in the video?
 
Yah basically the same as the non-restricted PAL, different guns

When I did the course, we looked down the barrel, except for the single action revolver for you have to use the rod (since you cant swing out the cylinder)

Its the only time you are allowed point the firearm at yourself...
 
Your examiner might give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the firearms as well. Plus - ours told us that they could answer questions during the testing if we asked specifically. They couldn't tell us "Where" to find things but they could confirm if we were unsure and asked specific yes/no questions.
 
I did the same thing , i took my non restricted over a friday and saturday then went to my instructors house to challenge the restricted on sunday , i spent saturday night reviewing the restricted book online and amazingly enough , theres not much difference between the two tests they were almost identical , in fact you could probably get information out of the non restricted book to pass .

The only different things on my test were questions regarding the type of bullets , ballistics etc

Before i began my test my instructor gave me a brief instruction on what each weapon was and where the safety was , and how to open the action / release magazine. weapons for me were a ruger mark II , a .357 magnum and an old single action winchester revolver . very very easy guns to work .
 
I'm going to ask my instructor if I can look the guns over quickly before I start. And then ask him what he's aloud to tell me during the test. I should do OK I think, if not then I will re take it and this will have been practice :rolleyes:
 
Yep the tests are pretty easy, especially if you have handled handguns before. One thing I found was that some gun clubs require you to take their course before they will let you shoot a restricted at their range. Colby in Waterloo is one of them.
 
Most ranges have some sort of orientation/safety/RO course, havent heard of a mandatory RPAL course at specific ranges before, that seems strange especially considering if you already have RPAL or are a member of another club
 
re:semi-auto handgun(not weapon)
one:remove mag
two:lock slide back
three: check chamber, feed path, mag well
four: examine bore(you should be allowed to use rod if you desire)
use PROVE exactly and in order, good luck

In Ontario most clubs require a CSSA approved club level handgun safety course, usually written, practical, and simple marksmanship test.
 
I challenge tested PAL and RPAL - instructor let me familiarize myself for a few minutes without asking any questions, just going over the guns on my own PROVEing them safe (had choice of bore light and cleaning rod, I don't like the bore light as much as the rod) and comparing the barrel stamp to the ammo on the examining table.

RPAL to me was much easier as I am primarily interested in obtaining a semi-auto pistol and a DA/SA revolver, so I have done my research online watching videos, reading the booklets, and having some trigger time at Target Sports and with another forum member on here.

Really it's simple, take your time and go through all of the steps slowly and carefully in your head. point in a safe direction, drop the mag, lock back the slide, observe the chamber for a cartridge, verify the feeding path (mag), and use a bore brush to examine it's clear (I don't like putting my fingers in the chamber and flipping up to look down the bore, or even a bore light, a brush to me feels safer)

Oh, one more thing - if your instructor asks you to simulate that you are done shooting at the range and you want to put your gun in the case, MAKE SURE YOU POINT THE CASE DOWN RANGE so your pistols muzzle is aiming in that direction! I see a lot of videos on youtube where people open the case "straight on" and the muzzle is pointing to the left or the right, unless those are specified safety zones you are doing it wrong!
 
one method is not any safer then the other, if you checked the chamber and there is nothing then there is no powder, if a bullet is stuck in the barrel, its not going to shoot out at you
 
luke s said:
Most ranges have some sort of orientation/safety/RO course, havent heard of a mandatory RPAL course at specific ranges before, that seems strange especially considering if you already have RPAL or are a member of another club
Click to expand...

I was surprised to hear it too. I had originally been signed up to do the restricted course at Colby, but as they could not give me a date when it would be held I signed up elsewhere. When I went into Shooters Choice to cancel and get my money back the guy at the counter told me that if I didn't take their course I couldn't shoot at their club.:confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom