Meeting place for Newbies and Mentors - BC

Question from a newbie

I am new to the forum and very new to the hobby… I have just completed my PAL & RPAL training and am in the process of preparing (reference signatures) my paperwork for submission.

While I wait for my license I would like to research the following areas – can anyone recommend:

- A good local (Victoria, BC – Vancouver Island) firearms dealer. One that will take time to share expertise and educate clients.

- A range/club (Victoria, BC) open to accepting young novice members. My current lifestyle would allow for a maximum of several annual trips to the range for target practice.

- An online (Canadian) resource for the purchase of firearms, ammunition, related tools and accessories (I see many advertised on this website – who do you use?). Still can't believe we can order firearms online???

All of the paperwork is overwhelming and at times a little confusing. For example: I am still researching whether or not I will need to acquire an Authorization to Transport (ATT) before I can collect a new acquisition (restricted firearm) from a gun store? The ATT form on the RCMP website requests specific details for each restricted firearm you intend to transport; as well as detailed information related to the range/club you join.

What is the correct order of events???

#1 Complete Firearms Safety Course
#2 Take written/practical tests
#3 Submit application (with proof of successful safety course completion)
#4 Receive License
#5 Join Range/Club (pass range/club internal safety course)
#6 Purchase Firearms (locks/secure storage for residence and transport)
#7 Complete Authorization to Transport

Is the aforementioned list in the correct order??? Please let me know if I am missing any important steps….

Thanks for all that will take the time to read and respond… as experienced and responsible firearms owners your feedback will be greatly appreciated

Rob

PS Bruce is the name of my dog (Crazy_Bruce)
 
Crazy_Bruce said:
- A good local (Victoria, BC – Vancouver Island) firearms dealer. One that will take time to share expertise and educate clients.
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Try Pullen's on Millstream Rd (Langford/Highlands). It's only open 10-6 Fri/Sat/Sun, but I'm sure they'd be glad to see you. They're not out after the almighty buck, so their advice is worth considering. The other more commercial alternative is Island Outfitters on Douglas - they keep regular business hours.

Crazy_Bruce said:
- A range/club (Victoria, BC) open to accepting young novice members. My current lifestyle would allow for a maximum of several annual trips to the range for target practice.
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Pretty much Victoria Fish and Game up on the Malahat:

http://www.vfgpa.org/

You join up by paying at one of several businesses (Pullens, Island Outfitters, Robinson's). A rustic alternative is Juan de Fuca Gun Club (ask about it while you're at Pullens) but I think they may have maxed out their membership for now. A course called "Introduction to Handguns" is put on by Colwood PPC twice a year:

http://www.colwoodppc.com/
 
helgeteveryone

Hi i am In duncan, bc on vancouver island. i am a member at the Glenora Range, i have also just completed my Restricted course and am just about to send off my papers.

I want to get a semi-auto pistol but dont know what i am looking for yet as i have never shot any. if anyone in the area would be willing to take me out and let me put some rounds through their assortment of handguns it would be appreciated. $ for ammo etc can be provided

please email to Neil.hamilton@shaw.ca as i dont check this site too often

thanks
Neil
 
Happy New YEar everyone

I live in Vancouver, but formerly from up North where it was a bit easier to use the collection.

I've joined because my younger brother was an enthusiast and recently died, so I have to explore my options regarding the estate.

Dan
 
neilhamilton said:
I am a member at the Glenora Range, i have also just completed my Restricted course and am just about to send off my papers.
I want to get a semi-auto pistol but dont know what i am looking for yet
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If memory serves, the Glenora range has an active handgun club, which meets weekly for shoots. When I was brand new I went quite a few times and they were very accommodating. I'm sure they'd let you try some of their toys and give you good advice. You might try sending a PM to Win Shooter for more details.
 
Hey everyone, im new to this forum and somewhat new to guns. I used to be part of the "rage team" about 10 years ago in air cadets. we had some anschutz .22 rifles we would bring out at the ex-militray range that used to be at YVR (i think its been ripped down now). Well, i miss the sport and ive decided to get back into it.

So all of my previous firearms experience has been simply with bolt action .22 competition style rifles. id like to take both exams and eventually get my restricted license.

i suppose my best bet would be to acquire the manuals, study them, take the course and then the exams. is it necessary to take both courses?
 
good plan. I have a friend who also would like to get his licence. i found a PDF version of both manuals on this forum. so far i've read the non-restricted manual front to back. its very straight forward and is generally just plain old common sense. there are alot of interesting points regarding ammuntion sizes and what will and wont work. i did not know that the length of a shotgun shell was so critical. and although the right gauge is used, a shell that is one quarter inch too long could cause the firearm to explode.
 
Hi,

I live in the Surrey/Langley area and am new to the world of shotguns and hand guns. Can anyone recommend a dealer anywhere in the lower mainland that I can go to who will listen to my requirements and then give me real world options.
 
Hi Charlie. Can't recommend a lower mainland dealer anymore, because I don't live/shop there anymore.

However, you do realize that asking a question in the appropriate forum here at GunNutz will net you the opinions of some of the 'best-and-brightest" in the country, right?

We have trap and skeet shooters here, and successful hunters by the bucketful and for handgun we have IPSC, PPC, IDPA, Bullseye and silhouette shooters here, not to mention a hockey-sock full of plinkers.

Plus, the Equipment Exchange lets you tap-in to fellow gun nuts from across Canada.

I'm not saying "Don't visit your local shops.", do, please, support you local gunshops. I'm just reminding you that you are now "jacked-in" to a network of a couple 100k shooters now.
 
really hit and miss, at least that is what i have found, 1st place i went to was reliable gun, great guys know their stuff but way to outta my way.

next went to italian, dealt with a guy name ken, awesome guy knows his stuff, really knowledgeable, but find personally when you go in there with what you want in your mind and tell them that, they say "i know u want a decent shotgun for 500-1000 dollars, but have u tried this 2800 dollar benelli, or this 3500 dollar over under?" and if u say u dont want those, they treat u like dirt, and pretty much say well your an idiot for not buying the expensive guns, i can understand they are trying to make a buck, but pushy sales are annoying. they do have tons of stock tho.

also tried out lever arms, guy who works there is nice enough, not very customer friendly tho.

I now deal with wanstalls, super nice guys, very knowledgeable, will lead you where you wanna go regardless of how much they make, very friendly, only problem is small selection of firearms.

also tried blue-line in poco, very strange set up, bad selection of everything, and the owner runs an online company that "ships guns to south africa for the army" iunno, nice enough guy tho

Wanstalls is the best imo, but all my friends go to different dealers and have different experiences, different stroke for different folks
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

Yeah, that was what I was worried about with going to a dealer, being pushed into a higher price range than I am comfortable with.

And yeah, I have, and will continue to dig through the awesome wealth of info on this site. It's been very valuable.

Thanks again
 
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Hey! I am new to this site! Looking for someone in Victoria who can show me the gun clubs.

Also, I am currently owning a 270 (which i hunt with) but am looking for something with a little more power and not so much recoil. (Dont get me wrong I know how to hold a big gun) Would anyone be into going out with theirs? I'll supply whatever else is needed.. PM me please :)
 
Hi Barbie.
Looking for something with more power; but less recoil is going to be pretty tough. Usually the power and recoil thing go hand-in-glove.
There are some tricks that several members, here on the board, can help you with. Installing a really squishy recoil pad and a good muzzle brake on your present rifle will make you feel a lot less of the recoil.
As well, when you have your recoil pad installed, check the length of your stock to make sure it fits you.
 
Hey i'm from abbotsford, i'm wondering where I can take the PAL-R course and if someone could show me the ropes? i have fired a variety of pistols/rifles/shotgun, before.
 
Moving to Esquimalt

Looking moving to Esquimalt this summer from Manitoba. Looking for ranges for handgun/AR/Rifle that are nearby. Hopefully with at least 100m. Also what are good stores for parts/powder and such.
 
wpnstec421 said:
Looking moving to Esquimalt this summer from Manitoba. Looking for ranges for handgun/AR/Rifle that are nearby. Hopefully with at least 100m. Also what are good stores for parts/powder and such.
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Victoria Fish and Game (on the Malahat, about 35 min. north of Victoria)
http://www.vfgpa.org/

North Saanich Rod and Gun Club (near the airport, 30 min north of Victoria on the way to the ferries)
http://www.nsrg.org/nsrg/

Juan de Fuca Gun Club
Rustic range (very reasonable fees) located about 45 minutes west of Victoria, in the East Sooke/Metchosin area. No website, but ask for details at Pullen's Gunsmithing, 1698 Millstream, 5 minute drive from the Langford big box stores. Pullens is only open Fri-Sun., 10-6. Good place for parts/powder, though you will find the Island quite expensive for components (could try Wholesale Sports in Nanaimo).

The other parts/powder/gunshop is Island Outfitters on Douglas St., just outside of downtown.
 
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