[RockLicker]

As far as the pal test, good advice above. Commit ACTS and PROVE to memory, and apply it rigorously in the handling portion of the test. A decent instructor should give a reasonable person all the guidance needed for the written portion, and if you handle the firearms comfortably and safely easy peasy.

As far as becoming a new firearm license holder, IMO not exactly great timing. I'm far from a gun nut, but the Federal govt seems to have a relationship to facts on the gun file that is similar to our provincial govt's relationship to facts on... every file? Their IMO mishandling of the file isn't going to keep me from voting Liberal if I can still find the stomach for it, but a lot of unilateral moves have been made clearly with polling being the primary concern, public safety a distant runner up. For example, that gsg mentioned above which is pretty much a plastic plinker is now banned from use and essentially characterized as a weapon of war. On top of that, anywhere within an hour or two of Calgary is now pretty unappealing as far as crown plinking type uses or a jealously guarded secret spot.The critical mass of trashy rednecks and new to guns disrespectful unsafe idiots wrecking every spot that was once acceptable has been reached. Further away is still okay, but a range membership is likely the better plan for city folks.

I grew up around guns generally used as tools, have a few firearms and still hunt a little bit, but if I didn't already, probably wouldn't bother getting a pal now unless I was pretty serious about getting into hunting. Just my 2 cents, I don't see the environment getting friendlier to PAL holders in the future.