Resources

Boston / Brookline Residents

Taking the Test or Practice Sessions
Residents of Boston and Brookline are required to take, and pass, the Moon Island Range Test in order to complete their application for firearms licensing. We are certified to administer the Moon Island Test to Brookline residents, and test results are sent to the firearms licensing officer at the Brookline Police Department.

Students who live in Boston are required to take the test at the Boston Police Department outdoor range located on Moon Island. These students will be given an instruction sheet from their licensing officer and must schedule the test.

If the student has learned the Basics of pistol shooting, the Moon Island Range Test is not difficult.

Practice for the Moon Island Range Test.
The practice session includes a thorough review of the fundamentals of shooting a pistol, firearms safety rules and procedures, and the actual practice session using the requirements of the Moon Island Range Test. The fee is $250.00. This includes: range time, targets, ammunition, eye and ear protection, and firearm. The entire session is about 2 hours.

If you are taking the NRA Basic Pistol Course and want to practice the Moon Island Test (or in the case of Brookline residents) practice and then have the Test officially administered to you, there is an additional fee of $50.00.

If you are a Brookline resident and want us to administer the Moon Island Range Test to you without a practice session, the fee is $150.00. This includes: range time, target, ammunition, firearm, eye and ear protection, and a letter to the City of Brookline licensing officer. We keep the target as part of your permanent test record. The entire session is about 1 hour.

Click HERE to review all fees associated with the Moon Island Range Test.

Note on Test Administration
It is important to note that when administering the Moon Island Range Test, we leave our role as Instructor and assume the role of Test Examiner, offering no advice or help to the individual taking the test.

Below is INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS which is given to applicants by the Brookline Police Department. I have emphasized certain sections in blue.

Applicants for a License to Carry (and renewal) must have some prior experience with a handgun. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate safe handling and familiarity with a .38 caliber, 4-inch barrel revolver. The range personnel are examiners only; they are NOT instructors of civilian applicants.

The applicant will fire a total of 30 rounds at a modified 25-yard bullseye target with 10, 9 and 8 rings. Each round has a value of 10 points. A perfect score would be 300. (30 hits inside the 10 ring.) A hit inside the 9 ring is 9 points. A hit in the 8 ring is 8 points. Any hits outside of the 8 ring are counted as zero points. A minimum of 210 points (70% of 300 points) is required to pass the Range Test. Any applicant may be disqualified for not handling the revolver safely.

Applicants will fire the first 12 rounds from the seven-yard line, double action, with a one-hand hold. The remaining 18 rounds will be fired from the fifteen yard line, either single or double action, with either a one or two hand hold. The choice is made by the applicant.

The course of fire is not that difficult. Within reason, there is no time limit placed on the applicant. The emphasis is on safety. The revolver must be pointed down range at all times. Failure to pass the range test will result in being disqualified and the firearm application to be disapproved.

The range is outdoors; the applicant should dress appropriately for current weather conditions, although gloves may not be worn while shooting.