Operating Firearm Actions Flashcards
7 cards from real CRFSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Operating Firearm Actions flashcards as text
On a semi-automatic firearm, what is the result of firing a cartridge with the action 'out of battery'?
Answer: The unsupported case can rupture, causing a dangerous malfunction
Firing out of battery means the case is not fully supported by the chamber, risking a case rupture that can direct hot gas and fragments toward the shooter.
What is the correct procedure when a semi-automatic pistol experiences a failure to fire (trigger pulls but no discharge)?
Answer: Keep pointed downrange, wait 30 seconds, then tap the magazine, rack the slide, and reassess
The tap-rack-reassess drill — seating the magazine, cycling the slide to eject the suspect round — is the standard immediate action for a failure to fire, with a 30-second hangfire wait first.
How does the action of a lever-action rifle feed rounds from the magazine to the chamber?
Answer: Cycling the lever rotates a carrier that lifts a round into alignment with the chamber
Most lever-actions use a carrier block that rises on the upstroke of the lever, lifting the next cartridge to chamber level for the bolt to strip and push in.
What distinguishes a 'selective-fire' action from a standard semi-automatic action?
Answer: It can switch between semi-automatic and fully automatic fire
Selective-fire firearms can be switched between firing modes — typically semi-automatic and fully automatic — and are tightly restricted in Canada under the Firearms Act.
On a pump-action shotgun, what prevents the action from being cycled while the trigger is held rearward (during firing)?
Answer: The action slide lock, which releases only when the trigger resets
The action slide lock or 'action lock' holds the forend in place while the trigger is depressed, releasing only after the trigger is reset so the shooter can pump for the next shot.
When field-stripping a semi-automatic pistol for cleaning, why is it essential to verify the chamber is empty before disassembly?
Answer: A round in the chamber can be inadvertently fired during disassembly if the trigger is actuated
During disassembly steps that require pressing the trigger (common on many pistols), a loaded chamber creates a risk of an unintended discharge.
What is a 'slam fire' and which action type is most historically associated with this malfunction?
Answer: Uncontrolled automatic firing caused by a floating firing pin, most associated with open-bolt semi-automatics
Slam fire occurs when the firing pin or striker contacts the primer as the bolt closes, causing unintended ignition, and was a known risk with some early open-bolt designs converted to semi-automatic.