CFSC Proper Loading & Unloading Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When loading a bolt-action rifle, what is the correct sequence of steps?
- Ensure the firearm is pointed in a safe direction, engage the safety, open the bolt, place cartridges in the magazine, close the bolt to chamber a round (Correct answer)
- Chamber a round first, then insert the magazine
- Load with the safety off so the action can be cycled freely
- Insert all cartridges directly into the chamber simultaneously
Correct answer: Ensure the firearm is pointed in a safe direction, engage the safety, open the bolt, place cartridges in the magazine, close the bolt to chamber a round
The correct loading sequence for a bolt-action rifle is: safe direction, safety on, open bolt, load magazine, close bolt to chamber. The safety must be engaged during loading.
CFSC loading protocols for all firearms begin with pointing the muzzle in a safe direction and engaging the manual safety if available. For a bolt-action rifle, the bolt is opened, cartridges are placed into the magazine, and the bolt is closed to feed and chamber the first round. Loading is only done when the shooter is ready to shoot.
Question 2: What is the correct way to unload a pump-action shotgun?
- Point in a safe direction, engage safety, cycle the action to eject shells from the chamber and magazine tube, visually verify the chamber is empty (Correct answer)
- Remove the barrel and drain shells from the magazine tube
- Pull the trigger while pointing at the ground to discharge remaining shells
- Remove only the shell from the chamber since shells in the magazine tube do not need to be cleared
Correct answer: Point in a safe direction, engage safety, cycle the action to eject shells from the chamber and magazine tube, visually verify the chamber is empty
To unload a pump-action shotgun, point safely, engage the safety, cycle the action repeatedly until all shells are ejected from the chamber and magazine tube, then visually verify the chamber is empty.
A pump-action shotgun holds shells in a tubular magazine under the barrel. Unloading requires cycling the action multiple times until no more shells feed from the tube and the chamber is clear. Simply removing the shell from the chamber while leaving rounds in the magazine is incomplete and dangerous.
Question 3: What does it mean to make safe a firearm at the end of a shooting session at a Canadian range?
- Remove all ammunition from the firearm and magazine, open the action, and show clear to the range officer (Correct answer)
- Engage the manual safety and set the firearm on the bench
- Remove the magazine only since the chamber round may remain until the shooter leaves the range
- Cover the firearm with a case while still loaded
Correct answer: Remove all ammunition from the firearm and magazine, open the action, and show clear to the range officer
Making safe at the end of a session means removing all ammunition including from the chamber and magazine, opening the action, and presenting the firearm for inspection by the range officer.
Canadian range rules require that at the end of firing or when directed, shooters unload completely: remove the magazine, cycle the action to eject any chambered round, lock the action open, and visually confirm the chamber and feed path are empty.
Question 4: What is a double feed malfunction in a semi-automatic firearm and how is it cleared?
- A double feed occurs when a new round tries to chamber while a spent case is still in the chamber and is cleared by removing the magazine, cycling the action repeatedly, and reloading (Correct answer)
- A double feed means two bullets are fused together and must be cleared by a gunsmith
- A double feed occurs when the magazine is overfilled and is cleared by removing one round
- Double feeding only occurs with dirty ammunition and is prevented by keeping rounds clean
Correct answer: A double feed occurs when a new round tries to chamber while a spent case is still in the chamber and is cleared by removing the magazine, cycling the action repeatedly, and reloading
A double feed malfunction occurs when a new cartridge tries to enter a chamber already occupied by a spent case. It is cleared by removing the magazine and cycling the action multiple times to extract both rounds.
A double feed is one of the most common semi-automatic malfunctions where a spent case fails to eject fully and the action attempts to feed a fresh round, causing both to jam. The clearance procedure involves keeping the muzzle in a safe direction, removing the magazine, locking the bolt back, and cycling the action vigorously to extract both rounds.
Question 5: When is it appropriate to load a firearm during a hunting trip?
- Only when the hunter is in position and prepared to shoot, since firearms should be unloaded during transit and while crossing obstacles (Correct answer)
- As soon as the hunter enters the field at the start of the day
- Loading is done at the vehicle before entering the field and the firearm remains loaded all day
- Immediately when the hunter believes game may be nearby
Correct answer: Only when the hunter is in position and prepared to shoot, since firearms should be unloaded during transit and while crossing obstacles
Firearms should only be loaded when the hunter is in a shooting position and ready to fire. They must be unloaded during vehicle travel, crossing obstacles, and in camp.
CFSC and hunter education courses teach that a firearm should be loaded only at the moment the hunter is ready to shoot. During travel to and from the field, crossing fences or streams, entering vehicles, and returning to camp, the firearm must be unloaded.
Question 6: How should a semi-automatic pistol be unloaded safely?
- Remove the magazine first, then rack the slide to eject the chambered round, lock the slide back, and visually verify the chamber is empty (Correct answer)
- Pull the trigger to fire the last round, then remove the magazine
- Remove the barrel, then shake out the chambered round
- Simply remove the magazine since the chamber will clear automatically
Correct answer: Remove the magazine first, then rack the slide to eject the chambered round, lock the slide back, and visually verify the chamber is empty
For a semi-automatic pistol: remove the magazine to eliminate the ammunition source, rack the slide to eject the chambered round, lock the slide open, and visually confirm the chamber is empty.
This sequence is critical for safe semi-automatic pistol unloading. Many negligent discharges occur when the magazine is removed but the shooter forgets there is still a round in the chamber. By removing the magazine first, the ammunition supply is cut off. Then racking the slide ejects the live cartridge from the chamber.
CFSC Proper Loading & Unloading Techniques 2
When loading a bolt-action rifle, what is the correct sequence of steps?