Firearms licensing - Part 1 complete!

"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-) 05/06/2017 at 19:01 • Filed to: GUNS

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Hey Oppo,

One of my more popular posts was concerning getting a firearms license here in Canada so I figured I’d give an update. Today, I completed my course on “non-restricted” firearms; I used quotes because there are still many, many restrictions. “Non-restricted” means long guns such as shotguns and rifles, while tomorrow I will be doing the second part of the course for “restricted” guns which are really just handguns and have even more restrictions.

Apart from an air rifle, I’ve never used an actual firearm. I nailed the written portion with 100% and got 98% on the practical - I lost two percent since I forgot to engage the safety on the one gun that had the cross-bolt safety (a .22LR bolt-action), since all the other guns had the safety on the rear of the action as a sliding switch you could engage with your thumb.

The course itself is pretty much common sense along with reviewing requirements for gun storage and transportation. We got some practice using deactivated firearms where firing pins have been removed and used only dummy ammo with no powder or primer. The act of loading and cycling the different actions was very, very pleasant - we used the bolt, pump, break, semi-auto and lever actions, all of which are pleasant in their own way.

The course material is pretty dry and the instructors did their best to make it somewhat entertaining, but the practical portion was the one I was looking forward to. It’s strange how quickly I got used to it - checking those five types of guns safety and loading them up feels very natural now. The only thing I wish was covered was disassembly/reassembly of guns, but I suppose that varies from gun to gun. It also would have been nice to actually shoot, but I guess the government is assuming that once you know all the safety and legal bits you can figure out how to point and shoot on your own.

I’m really stoked about all this and am looking forward to trying some (deactivated) handguns. I can’t wait to actually get my permits and starting buying/shooting for real.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/06/2017 at 19:08

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This sounds a lot like the hunter safety course I took in middle school. I’d been shooting and hunting for years before that, but it’s a definitely a good idea for anyone handling firearms.

My citroen won't start > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/06/2017 at 19:27

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Scary__goongala! > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/06/2017 at 19:30

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I’m always curious to hear from people what process they had to go through to acquire a firearm. Back in the states for me(Pennsylvania), all I had to do was hand in a form and pay $25 to get my concealed carry permit. Granted I know how to safely handle a weapon and shoot from the military, but not everyone is like that.

For Sweden > My citroen won't start 05/06/2017 at 19:32

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The Canadian government won’t save you from a huge wildfire; they certainly won’t save you from a home invasion.

My citroen won't start > For Sweden 05/06/2017 at 19:37

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Does that happen a lot in Canada?

XJDano > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/06/2017 at 19:46

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Thanks for an update. It is interesting to hear what others are going through to be able to use firearm that we in the US take for granted.

When my cousin (from Missouri, and quite a few years of hunting here) moved to Australia for a few years he said it wasn’t really worth the hassle and expense. When he got back to the states was also a bit of culture shock when walking into a Walmart and they hand him a gun over the counter to look at, inspect, and hold.

Same with another cousin who moved across state lines for school where they are required to get a special card to just hold a gun in a store or purchase ammo. Once he moved back to Missouri, changed his drivers license and bought a gun in a few hours . ( background checks included)   

Stay with the course, guns are fun. And it’s very rewarding to be hitting targets from a distance.

I’ll be out shooting next weekend. I think I may borrow my parents .50 cal black powder rifle. They gave me a 30-06 semi-auto that won’t fully eject shells to try & fix.

CB > My citroen won't start 05/06/2017 at 19:57

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In 2015, there were 159,338 break and entries , but it doesn’t specify which of those count as home invasions. So, to answer your question, don’t know, but it doesn’t seem like the biggest issue.

Wacko > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/06/2017 at 19:58

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I did that course when I was 14, way back in 1993.

I still never got my firearms possession and acquisition.

Got to get that done and then register my grandfather’s old 410.

whoarder is tellurium > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/06/2017 at 20:03

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Hope all goes well! If you should ever find yourself in SE Minnesota, lemme know and we can go chootin.

Concerning disassembly/assembly:

This is very important and you’re right, it’ll vary by the gun. Definitely read the owner’s manual and learn how to at least basic field strip for cleaning/maintenance.

As well, should anything happen and you have a malfunction while shooting... knowing the clearing procedure/takedown/disassembly is key to safely working through the issue (should it be caused by the ammo or a mechanical issue).

Concerning actually shooting:

This will take some time but I’d definitely recommend dry fire in a safe direction with no mag, empty chamber, and/or dummy rounds (if applicable) to get a feel for the trigger. Focus on where it “breaks” and where the pad of your finger tip is on the trigger bow.

When you do finally go live on a range, don’t let the recoil scare you. Do not rush or push it. It’s about managing the recoil and a proper follow through. Proper hand placement and sight alignment is key too. Squeeze the trigger, never force or jerk your pull of the trigger. In a sense, carefully squeeze the trigger until the trigger “break” surprises you and the gun fires.

Remember to focus on hitting the target too. Proper sight alignment is key and you should know that step before going live on the range.

Also, I’m not familiar with Canadian courses so some of this may be a repeat... but when you do finally get around to obtaining your own firearms just remember these 4 rules at all times:

> All guns are always loaded. (and treated as such**)

> Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

> Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target.

> Identify your target, and what is behind it.

All the best.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > My citroen won't start 05/06/2017 at 20:43

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Why not?

Clay shooting looks like a lot of fun which is why I took the course. I figured I’d just get the restricted license at the same time, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever buy a handgun.

I actually didn’t get it for any sort of self defense, it’s just for fun.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > whoarder is tellurium 05/06/2017 at 20:46

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A lot of what you mentioned was covered in the course, and it revolves around the principles of assuming all firearms are loaded, muzzle control, etc. I guess it was a pretty thorough course after all. 

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Scary__goongala! 05/06/2017 at 21:46

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A few of the older gents in the class said they used to be in the military. I’m not sure in what capacity, but I’m sure at some point they would’ve shot a gun and I find it funny that they need the same licensing as anyone else.

Concealed carry isn’t ever going to happen here since you need an additional permit just to transport a handgun legally. Even then it’s only to be taken from your home to the shooting range and then back home.

Scott > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/07/2017 at 08:14

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I grew up around guns. Earliest memory of a gun, was my dad, my older Brother and I going duck hunting. Actually my Dad going duck hunting, my brother and I tagging along. My dad let my brother shoot his shot gun, and I remember seeing the look of pain on his face from the kick. My dad offered to let me shoot my grandmothers shotgun, but I declined, fearing it was going to really hurt me since I was so much smaller. Later I learned her shot gun does not kick anywhere near like my Dads does.

Probably when I was about 11 we would go to a family friends Cabin for a week or two every summer. If I was not running around exploring with there dogs (An Irish Setter, and a German Sheppard) I would be out shooting gophers. $0.25 a tail. If my Dad was with me it was with his .22 rifle, other wise, I had to use my pellet gun, until I was a little older. Speaking of the pellet gun, I used to spend hours in the basement shooting at targets with it. A friend and I discovered we could ricochet a pellet of a door knob at the other end of the hall, and it would come back and hit us... So we would try to effectively, shoot ourselves.

The First gun I bought was an SKS, in response to the stupid so called ‘assault rifle’ ban. Sold that when I saw the law really just banned the names.

First Pistol I purchased was my Glock 40. When I went to purchase it, a colleague from Austria saw me in the parking lot of the sporting goods store. He joined me inside, and was shocked to be allowed to hold a gun... for his very first time. He was surprised how easy it was for me to go in, fill out the paper work, and leave with a gun.

A side from the training, I received from my dad, the only other training I had was going to a shooting range in Germany with a German friend of mine. He was in the process of getting a hunting license, and a requirement is to have a certain number of hours shooting on the firing range.

The range he would go to was run by a former German KSK (Special Forces) who not only ran his own shooting range, but had a business building shooting ranges all over the world. He had some moving targets, he taught me to go back and forth between the 2 moving targets. One was a target that would spin as it drops, the other was on a pendulum. You had to shoot a plate to start the first one moving, shoot the second plate, to start it moving, then go back and forth between the two moving targets. After about an hour of training. I was able to just about do as well as he did. I say just about, as he consistently got all his shots on target, I could only get all my shots on target about 1 out of 3 tries.

I must say, he had no criticism of my habits, so my dad must have taught me right. He did criticize me for owning a Glock. He is critical of the trigger safety, but since I mostly carry it when hiking in the woods, I wanted something light weight, but large caliber, that I could fire quickly. The Glock met those needs. And as long as you follow proper safety, keep your finger off the trigger until you are pointed at your target, and know what is beyond your target, and are ready to shoot, the trigger safety is not an issue.

I currently have 3 pistols, my Grandfathers Colt 1906, The Glock 40 I mentioned above, and a Springfield Armory XD .45ACP. Two shot guns, My Dads old Shot Gun, and my Grandmothers old Shotgun.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Scott 05/07/2017 at 18:26

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Your experience revolves around real firearms. I think my love for guns came about from just having fun and being a kid. I loved Nerf guns, cap guns, Super Soakers (the proper CPS ones that had real pressure, if you remember this kind of thing) and video games. My first actual projectile gun was a small Airsoft pistol and I could spent hours just plinking small targets in my basement. At the very least, it taught me how to test guns without shooting myself and taught me about ricochets since those pellets will bounce back after hitting targets or bare concrete. It’s funny how similar the process of loading up a magazine and gun is, so despite never having held a real firearm it all seemed familiar.

Video games taught me all the different ammo types - I think it was Counter-Strike that taught me, then modern shooters all followed suit (especially the Call of Duty games).

Anyways, I’m looking forward to a lifetime of gun ownership and I’ll be inviting friends of mine as much as possible to get them into it. Canada has some weird firearms regulations and the way I see it, the more people that are into it the less likely they are to really do something stupid to the regulations.