CRFSC - Canadian Restricted and Non-Restricted Firearm Safety Operating Firearm Actions Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When operating a single-action revolver, what is the critical step that must be performed by the shooter before each shot can be fired?
- Manually cocking the hammer. (Correct answer)
- Engaging the slide release lever.
- Depressing the magazine release button.
- Pulling the trigger halfway to set the action.
Correct answer: Manually cocking the hammer.
In a single-action firearm, the trigger's only function is to release the hammer. Therefore, the shooter must manually pull the hammer back (cock it) before each shot. This is different from a double-action, where pulling the trigger performs both the cocking and releasing of the hammer.
Question 2: A shooter is at the range with a double-action semi-automatic pistol. After inserting a loaded magazine and chambering a round, the hammer is cocked. The shooter decides not to fire and wants to make the firearm safer. Which action is the most appropriate next step?
- Gently pull the trigger while holding the hammer to lower it.
- Remove the magazine immediately.
- Use the de-cocking lever or safety/de-cocking lever, if available. (Correct answer)
- Point the firearm upwards and pull the trigger to dry fire.
Correct answer: Use the de-cocking lever or safety/de-cocking lever, if available.
Modern double-action semi-automatic pistols are often equipped with a de-cocking lever or a combination safety/de-cocking lever. This mechanism is the safest way to lower the cocked hammer without pulling the trigger, which could cause an accidental discharge. Manually lowering the hammer while pulling the trigger is an advanced technique that carries a high risk of slipping and causing the gun to fire.
Question 3: Which of the following firearm actions requires the operator to slide the fore-end towards them and then away to eject a spent cartridge and chamber a new one?
- Lever-action
- Bolt-action
- Pump-action (Correct answer)
- Semi-automatic
Correct answer: Pump-action
The defining characteristic of a pump-action firearm (commonly shotguns and some rifles) is the moveable fore-end that is manually slid back and forth along the barrel to cycle the action.
Question 4: When performing the 'PROVE' procedure on a semi-automatic pistol, what is the correct sequence of actions after pointing the firearm in a safe direction?
- Observe the chamber, Verify the feeding path, Remove the magazine, Examine the bore.
- Remove the magazine, Lock the action open, Observe the chamber, Verify the feeding path, Examine the bore. (Correct answer)
- Examine the bore, Remove the magazine, Observe the chamber, Verify the feeding path.
- Verify the feeding path, Observe the chamber, Examine the bore, Remove the magazine.
Correct answer: Remove the magazine, Lock the action open, Observe the chamber, Verify the feeding path, Examine the bore.
The correct PROVE sequence for a semi-automatic pistol is: Point in a safe direction, Remove all ammunition (which starts with removing the magazine), Observe the chamber, Verify the feeding path, and Examine the bore. Removing the magazine first is a critical step to ensure no new cartridges can be fed into the chamber.
Question 5: In a double-action revolver, a single, continuous pull of the trigger will perform which two functions?
- Rotate the cylinder and engage the safety.
- Cock the hammer and release the cylinder.
- Cock the hammer and then release it to fire. (Correct answer)
- Eject the spent casing and load a new round.
Correct answer: Cock the hammer and then release it to fire.
The term 'double-action' refers to the trigger performing two actions: cocking the hammer and then releasing it to strike the primer and fire the cartridge. This allows the revolver to be fired without manually cocking the hammer first.
Question 6: You are handed a bolt-action rifle and need to PROVE it is unloaded. After pointing it in a safe direction, what is your first step in manipulating the action?
- Pull the trigger to see if it is cocked.
- Lift the bolt handle up and pull it to the rear.
- Push the safety to the 'fire' position.
- Remove the magazine, if it is detachable. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Remove the magazine, if it is detachable.
The second step of PROVE is to 'Remove all ammunition'. For a magazine-fed bolt-action rifle, this process begins by removing the detachable magazine to ensure no more cartridges can enter the action. If the rifle has a fixed magazine, the next step would be to operate the bolt.
