The PROVE Tests

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ssbn506

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I have a question about the PROVE portion of the pal test. I will be given different guns and will have to prove them safe. In the course book it tells you to put the safety on if you can then PROVE the gun. But in this videos
http://firearms-safety-course.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3
they don't mention putting the safety on.

My question is I know the safety should be on, but will the tester want me to figure out if it is on or off. Then if i can prove the gun with it on and if not turn it off and PROVE it?

I would never accept a strange gun from someone without asking them where the safety is and if it can be on at all times. But will i have to blindly except a strange gun for the test?
 
OldRanger said:
If you are taking the course, you will be shown how during practice.
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So your saying they assume the guns they give you are guns you know very well or should? They don't test for ability to PROVE guns you may not be accustom to?

for example their bolt action may be able to have the safety on but they wont give you one at the test that the safety has to be off.
 
There are no switches or trickery on the test. The goal is to teach safe practices and effectively pass everyone. You have to score poorly on the written test or point a firearm at someone to fail. You will spend the better part of a day learning how to prove a firearm and mostly on the firearms you will use on the course. Dont worry, pay attention and use common sense and you will be fine.
 
Yeah there aren't any curve balls. They'll show you what to do. Just take your time and really emphasize what you're doing. Make sure they see what you're doing, it doesn't hurt to say stuff out loud even if it makes you feel like a ham.

You'll spend a good chunk of the day practicing on the firearms and learning their operation. Just remember muzzle control, and keeping your trigger finger out of the trigger guard. When I took the training, we were penalized during practice if we forgot these things. Muzzle control is key as sweeping one of our peers resulted in an auto fail for obvious reasons.
 
Perhaps an Actual Firearms Safety Examiner can moderate my suggestions here, but...

Alright... When I qualified for my PAL last summer, I "challenged" both tests consecutively on the same day; so, I've never taken the Canadian Firearms Safety Courses; but, I'll give you some advice for the PROVE sections.

Be slow and cautious... being able to field-strip a 1911 in less than 5 seconds is no excuse to attempt to show-off during the test! Attitude is very important; and so is making sure that your examiner doesn't miss any motion you make, since everything counts. Think of the test as an exhibition, as if the examiner doesn't know anything about the proper procedure and that you're instead instructing a neophyte in the principles of safe-gun-handling.
Know your actions... there are some odd-balls out there that either don't have a manual safety, or can't be PROVEn with it engaged: you will be deducted if you don't try to engage the firearm's safety; so...
Give a play-by-play commentary... talk through the PROVE sequence for every firearm you manipulate, and state aloud when you have determined that there is no manual safety device, or you can't locate a manual safety device (helpful to regurgitate that "manual safeties shouldn't be trusted anyway" in such a circumstance), or that you have engaged one, but that it is inhibiting your progress...
Ask questions about the circumstances... there's no stipulation that you can't, and the examiner will tell you what he can, and keep his mouth shut about what he can't.
Be prepared for the unexpected even if it isn't likely to happen... That is a healthy attitude, in general. I went into the test relatively blind, and had no idea whether the examiner was 'pro' or 'con'; so, I studied my manual heavily for a few weeks, and tried to imagine the various ways I might be induced to inadvertantly trip-up... This is a good exercise, even if you know your examiner well; since, out-in-the-feild you may come in contact with some ya-bos at the hunting-camp or department-store who are mis-handling guns; and, you should be prepared to politely-but-firmly diffuse the situation without committing any faux-pas yourself.

Personally, I believe anyone who looks down the muzzle of a gun without a *really-good-reason* should be failed (since doing so blatantly violates the fundamentals of 'pointing the gun in a safe direction' and 'treating a gun as if its loaded all times'); so, I said so at my test, and asked for a bore rod to verify there were no obstructions in the barrels of the guns I was proving, and I was gleefully provided with one (it seems my examiner was of the same mind). I did get dinged for not engaging the safety on a single-barreled break-action shotgun, and when I professed that there 'was no safety' I was told that I 'should have said so' during the test. Nonetheless, I averaged over 97% in all sections, but I got 100% on my Restricted Practical.
 
NRA4Life said:
Give a play-by-play commentary... talk through the PROVE sequence for every firearm you manipulate, and state aloud when you have determined that there is no manual safety device, or you can't locate a manual safety device (helpful to regurgitate that "manual safeties shouldn't be trusted anyway" in such a circumstance), or that you have engaged one, but that it is inhibiting your progress...
Ask questions about the circumstances... there's no stipulation that you can't, and the examiner will tell you what he can, and keep his mouth shut about what he can't.
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Good advice...:wave:
 
Many examiners will allow you to ask how a particular firearm functions before you pick it up. Then walk through ACTS & PROVE slowly and clearly, so the examiner sees you've performed each step.
 
I agree with the others, just relax and have them go through it with you before hand. Several times if you want. You're money. Ask if you're unclear. Take your time.
REmember, VERY FEW people have ever even Heard of someone failing this test. The only thing I can think of that will get you tossed is poor muzzle control/pointing it towards the instructor or being a complete schmuck. My wife can't use a can opener without screwing up and never handles guns and she managed to pass.
Different instructors have different guns to test with, some only test certain ones, some are very thourough and have you prove them all. Just take your time.
Chances are they wont hand you a gun, but have you pick it up off the table. If someone hands it to you, you technically shouldn't accept it with a closed action/ un'proven' anyways. No harm in mentioning that or refusing one without them doing it before its handed over...
 
...I'm glad you're cautious!

For what it's worth...the test is designed for you demnonstrate your knowledge and, safe handling...there should be no tricks or, traps set. It would undermine the purpose of the test as, most guns involved are of the "common" sort...lotta lost thumbs if a Ljungman was thrown in to the exam.

The fact you're "concerned" is almost enough to pass...[IMO]

post #7 is excellent advice. Remember, it's an opportunity to demonstrate what you've learned not an excersise designed to "fool" or "trip up" the common person. As stated before, by asking some questions BEFORE even touching the gun in question will demonstrate your concerns.
 
A: Always point the weapon at someone.
C: Cap that son of a #####.
T: Take flight.
S: Scream wildly.

This is pretty much the only way to fail.

You should be given a chance to examine and get familiar with all of the firearms that you'll be required to work with on your test (or at least I was).

As someone already stated, it's probably worth talking through the steps out loud, it's not hard to remember, and shouldn't take you more than 15-20 seconds for the average firearm, but if you're calling it out, the examiner knows you're doing it.

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask your instructor, or even ask them to supervise you through a dry run the day before your test when you're familiarizing yourself with the weapons.
 
When I did it all we were asked to do was recit the steps out loud as we did them. With regards to the safety all we had to say was ensure that the safety is on. We did not have to actually engage the safety as some of the firemarms did not have safety's. All they were looking for was that we remembers it was one of the steps. As mentioned above as long as you do not point the firearm at the instructor or anyone else you should be fine.
We were even given a few dry runs before the actual test began. Those who wished or needed more help were given it before the test started.
 
Well I didn't see all the responses before i took the test but they are all very good. My score on the written was 92% and practical was 96%. I was just overly paranoid a few hours before the test.
 
NRA4Life said:
....Personally, I believe anyone who looks down the muzzle of a gun without a *really-good-reason* should be failed
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Well .. you're just plain wrong. This is done AFTER the ACTS and PROV portion has been done, so what's the worry, what could happen? How else can you EXAMINE the bore? Loading a firearm to fire it is a really good reason to do this.
 
I don't care that much about what the manual said about acts and prove. When someone (anyone) pass me a gun (any gun) i : 1-keep my finger off the trigger at all time if i am not ready to fire. 2-point the firearm in a safe direction at all time. 3-open the action to visually/manually check if there is a round in the chamber and/or magazine. No need to fumble with any type of safety lever or switch.
 
I passed my PAL test just this last Sunday. During the course the instructor briefly talked about the safety, but he also said "one should never assume safeties are safe" and that is pretty much where the topic of safeties during the course ended.

During my practical test he asked me to PROVE the firearm was safe. I picked up the rifle made a comment to him that I observed that the safety was ON, but then I proceeded to do what he wanted me to do and that was PROVE that the firearm was safe. I think commenting on the safety might have earned me a few brownie points, but I am sure commenting on whether the safety was ON or OFF was one of the last things he wanted me to tell him. Just make sure you PROVE to the instructor the firearm is safe and the topic of safeties will take care of itself.
 
When I picked up one of the rifles the safety was off and i turned it on and proved the rifle. The 12 gage didn't have a safety and after i looked for it for 5 seconds he told me it didn't have one and i proved that gun and moved on. I was just overly paranoid when i started this post.
 
FAQMAT said:
When someone (anyone) pass me a gun (any gun) ... 3-open the action to visually/manually check if there is a round in the chamber and/or magazine.
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FAIL ... You NEVER accept a firearm from someone with the action closed, you politely (or not) ask them to open the action THEN you accept it.
 
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