School me on how I can get into shooting

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CrazyKell

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So, I want to get into shooting but have NO idea how to go about this. A friend recently joined a gun club/range.

Do I need my PAL?

How do I transport my guns?

What are the regulations on storing guns?

Are there any restrictions on handguns?

I'm going trap shooting tonight and it will be the first time I've shot anything in at least 10 years.

Ultimately I'd like a pistol or handgun of some sort. Any suggestions?
 
For pistols and handguns you need your RPAL (restricted possession and aquisition license) which is more intense than the pal for long guns.
To own a handgun you must belong to a club and the only time you can transport it is when you are going to the range directly or the gun smith.

To go out and shoot without a license you need to share a fire arm with a licensed operator and be within 3 meters of them.

Storing them is common sense. Mine have action locks and are in a safe. Ammunition is locked up in a separate room in the house. I think most people do it this way.

Enjoy your range time!
 
Ranges round our way have open nights where you can go along and chat to the members/try a few things out. Give a couple a call and see if they do the same thing.
 
CrazyKell said:
So, I want to get into shooting but have NO idea how to go about this. A friend recently joined a gun club/range.

Do I need my PAL?

How do I transport my guns?

What are the regulations on storing guns?

Are there any restrictions on handguns?

I'm going trap shooting tonight and it will be the first time I've shot anything in at least 10 years.

Ultimately I'd like a pistol or handgun of some sort. Any suggestions?
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I just did my Firearms safety course for resticted and non restricted this weekend. I'll give you the rundown as far as I understand it for the handguns,
to get your PAL or RPAL you need to do the course, or challenge the tests. The tests are very easy providing you've handled firearms of all different actions
and can prove them safe, know the difference between between types of ammo. I didn't have the knowledge so I did the course.
your course paperwork will get sent to the CFO in Orillia, once you get it back you can apply for your PAL, paperwork goes out to NB.
Once you have your PAL you can join a range as a "probationary member" or something like that. Every range will be different buy basically you will have
to do another safety course at the range you join and do a certain number of supervised shoots with a full member. Most ranges will have a night where the probationary members come in, full members will bring firearms for the probies to use. Once you get your full membership the range will then apply for your authorization to transport.
Once you have your PAL and ATT you can go and buy your lovely new semi auto.

on a sidenote, anyone here a member at the Aurora gun club?
I'll be one of the said "probationary' members shortly

hope that helps, if not
I'm sure others will chime in, seems guns and bikes go hand in hand......like chocolate and peanut butter
 
If you're serious about it, you should take the courses and get both licenses. Even if you don't intend to shoot handguns or other restricted firearms. Go to guns.to That course is run by a couple of competitive shooters with lots of experience. They are good educators and they are very diligent about sending your test results to CFO (others drag their feet for months and that adds to your waiting period to get licensed). I recommend reading through the manuals before you take the course. You can find them here http://www.fseso.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=9 Read the non-restricted first and then you can skip most of the restricted manual except for the very specific section. Saves you a lot of yawning. If you decide to take the actual course, I can loan you my manuals. I'd give them to an aspiring shooter, but I'm still hoping my wife will get into it :cool:
 
Thanks VanillaGorilla. That helps a lot.

I basically have no experience shooting anything other than a .22. I come from a family of hunters, but am more interested in going to the range.

I found a website (limited as to what I can view at work) that details the training. I think I'll be looking at the Firearms Safety Training and then moving on to the restricted training.
 
FiReSTaRT said:
If you're serious about it, you should take the courses and get both licenses. Even if you don't intend to shoot handguns or other restricted firearms. Go to guns.to That course is run by a couple of competitive shooters with lots of experience. They are good educators and they are very diligent about sending your test results to CFO (others drag their feet for months and that adds to your waiting period to get licensed). I recommend reading through the manuals before you take the course. You can find them here http://www.fseso.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=9 Read the non-restricted first and then you can skip most of the restricted manual except for the very specific section. Saves you a lot of yawning. If you decide to take the actual course, I can loan you my manuals. I'd give them to an aspiring shooter, but I'm still hoping my wife will get into it :cool:
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I definitely plan on taking the courses. A friend is lending me her manuals but thank you.

I have no practical knowledge of being able to PROVE or anything so I think the courses are the best option for me.
 
CrazyKell said:
I definitely plan on taking the courses. A friend is lending me her manuals but thank you.

I have no practical knowledge of being able to PROVE or anything so I think the courses are the best option for me.
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I did both courses for $275 all in.
agree with firestart, take them both. By the end of the 16 or 18 hours you will have a wealth of gun knowledge
as for myself, I have a new addiction, unfortunetly the PAL application can take 3-6 months from what I've heard.......so I sit and wait
and live vicariously through youtube videos :)
 
rmemedic said:
For pistols and handguns you need your RPAL (restricted possession and aquisition license) which is more intense than the pal for long guns.
To own a handgun you must belong to a club and the only time you can transport it is when you are going to the range directly or the gun smith.

To go out and shoot without a license you need to share a fire arm with a licensed operator and be within 3 meters of them.

Storing them is common sense. Mine have action locks and are in a safe. Ammunition is locked up in a separate room in the house. I think most people do it this way.

Enjoy your range time!
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You can purchase a handgun, get an ATT to take it home without ever belonging to a range. However once you do that you cant take it out of your house till you belong to a range and get an ATT to take it there.


OP you can download manuals here http://www.fsesoi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=9

Also check out canadiangunnutz.com, thats where all us crazy gun ppl hang out :)
 
Dohhh said:
You can purchase a handgun, get an ATT to take it home without ever belonging to a range. However once you do that you cant take it out of your house till you belong to a range and get an ATT to take it there.


OP you can download manuals here http://www.fsesoi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=9

Also check out canadiangunnutz.com, thats where all us crazy gun ppl hang out :)
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Thanks. I can't see the site at work but I'll check it out once I get home.

I asked my father if he wanted to take the courses with me and his first question was "what's your motive?" LOL!
 
Just bring your guns to my place, or come down and borrow mine. I have a spot I shoot with a nice hill as a backstop out at about 100 yds. Of course, if you're in London it's about 900 km round trip. :)
 
Thanks for the thread CrazyKell. I've been thinking about getting into shooting for a couple of years and have never gotten around to it. This thread has lots of great information.
 
Go to Jane/Finch ask the guy at the corner and he'll hook u up with a discount
 
Oh wow at first glance I read the title as "School me on how I can get into A shooting." lol

If you're seriously interested in joining a club and shooting get your PAL(few months to come in after you do the course and pass the test), then shop around to find a club that is right for you. If you have friends that are at different clubs ask if they can take you so you can get a feel for which one is right for you(location/hours/feeling).

After you've gotten your PAL you join a club and they will put you through their safety course. Not entirely sure if this is done at all clubs but with mine, you attend 10 times and you bring your own ammo and gear and you shoot the clubs guns(or other members guns if they are generous) and you fill out a form saying what rounds you've done each visit. Any time after the tenth visit you do the clubs test which is a written test and a shooting test and if you pass that you're in.

I went to York Region Firearms Academy for my restricted and non-restricted PAL and had a good experience. Everyone else I know that went there also had a good experience.
http://www.yrfirearms.com/
 
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Dohhh said:
You can purchase a handgun, get an ATT to take it home without ever belonging to a range. However once you do that you cant take it out of your house till you belong to a range and get an ATT to take it there.


OP you can download manuals here http://www.fsesoi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=9

Also check out canadiangunnutz.com, thats where all us crazy gun ppl hang out :)
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This is not entirely true. In Ontario there is no law writen that you must belong to a club in order to get an ATT, but some have challenged it and are still fighting for an ATT. Basically you will be given the run around until you join a club.

You can also not transport your restricted to a gun smith with your LTATT as mentioned above. At least not in Ontario. You will need to apply for a seperate short term ATT in order to do that.
In Quebec and a few other provinces you must be a member of a club before an LTATT will be issued. This is Provincial law. It seems like a lot but once you get through it, it is pretty simple and hassle free.

You can store your ammunition in the same room and even the same safe as your firearms. YOu will find like most that you will need another lockable cabinet or safe for your ammo as you will run out of room fast. I keep my magazines loaded in my safe with my hand guns.
 
By the way, note on http://www.guns.to - While they seem to be booked up solid for a couple of months, shoot'em an e-mail (pun not intended) anyway. Sometimes they have cancellations or no-shows. I got real lucky and got in within days.
 
bigguy1 said:
You can store your ammunition in the same room and even the same safe as your firearms. YOu will find like most that you will need another lockable cabinet or safe for your ammo as you will run out of room fast. I keep my magazines loaded in my safe with my hand guns.
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While you can store your ammunition in the same locked vault, safe or container, ammunition kept unsecured beside a locked safe, vault or container containing firearms is in violation of storage laws..........it must be stored separately from the firearms. Yes, it's stupid and doesn't make any sense, but what else is new. Depending on your circumstances, it may be advisable to keep your ammunition in a locked container to avoid being charged under Criminal Code section 86, Careless use, etc.
 
You can challenge the PAL and RPAL exams without taking the courses - it's pretty easy if you read the manuals. When you join a club, you will have to take a more comprehensive club level course in order to get a LTATT, which should enable you to transport a restricted firearm to and from any range in Ontario approved by the CFO for shooting restricted firearms. However, I have heard of a case where the LTATT was restricted to to and from the the range of the LTATT sponsoring club only. When you get your firearms license, the CFO may approve a transfer of a restricted firearm if you tell them it's for target practice and you are in the process of joining a club. Restricted firearms must remain at the home of the individual unless you have authorization from the CFO to transport it to some other authorized place. They can only be loaded and/or fired at a range approved by the CFO for use restricted firearms and are subject to strict storage and transport regulations specific to restricted firearms under the Firearms Act.
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