Thread: Trial Firearm Licence Firearm Safety Programme

I've always thought a practical element is required and its in line with European countries licensing systems.

I would have appreciated being shown practical safe handling, basic marksmanship techniques, how the different actions work, what to do with jams/misfires and taking them apart etc when I first got my license.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

I've always thought a practical element is required and its in line with European countries licensing systems.

I would have appreciated being shown practical safe handling, basic marksmanship techniques, how the different actions work, what to do with jams/misfires and taking them apart etc when I first got my license.

Makes sense and makes for more confident and responsible firearm owners. One doesn't just provide theoretical training on how to operate cars, forklifts, lathes etc.

Originally Posted by Ryan

Makes sense and makes for more confident and responsible firearm owners. One doesn't just provide theoretical training on how to operate cars, forklifts, lathes etc.

How much real practical training will someone get in an hour or two? (Divided by the number of people on the course.)

As the instructors are usually dealing with people with little or no experience with guns, surely any practical training needs to be one on one?

A two hour course with 20 people equals six minutes each. Unless you have more instructors, less students or make people take a longer course.

I think any practical part will be pretty much the same as it is now: How to open the actions of different types of guns and check they are unloaded.

Originally Posted by systolic

How much real practical training will someone get in an hour or two? (Divided by the number of people on the course.)

As the instructors are usually dealing with people with little or no experience with guns, surely any practical training needs to be one on one?

A two hour course with 20 people equals six minutes each. Unless you have more instructors, less students or make people take a longer course.

I think any practical part will be pretty much the same as it is now: How to open the actions of different types of guns and check they are unloaded.

Most initial training prior to Toet training in the Army is only a 30-40 min lesson for a number of students that have never handled a firearm.

Certainly won't have the repetition the military has but I think it is achievable for a base understanding.

In fact I think only the military has the means to deliver the required police training with any consistency and efficiency, but that will never happen.


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Originally Posted by R93

Most initial training prior to Toet training in the Army is only a 30-40 min lesson for a number of students that have never handled a firearm.

Certainly won't have the repetition the military has but I think it is achievable for a base understanding.

In fact I think only the military has the means to deliver the required police training with any consistency and efficiency, but that will never happen.


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I would imagine the army students are all using the exact same type of gun?

That would make things a bit easier?

Originally Posted by systolic

How much real practical training will someone get in an hour or two? (Divided by the number of people on the course.)

As the instructors are usually dealing with people with little or no experience with guns, surely any practical training needs to be one on one?

A two hour course with 20 people equals six minutes each. Unless you have more instructors, less students or make people take a longer course.

I think any practical part will be pretty much the same as it is now: How to open the actions of different types of guns and check they are unloaded.

Certainly a valid point but without the specifics of the training program to hand, it's not possible for me to comment on how they intend achieving it or the standard set to achieve a pass. Interestingly, the practical aspect you mentioned was not covered at all when I sat my licence application which I found surprising.

It suggests that the former training content presented was inconsistent.