CRFSC Operating Firearm Actions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing an administrative unload of a bolt-action rifle, what should you verify after opening the bolt?
- That the chamber is visually and physically empty (Correct answer)
- That the trigger can still be pulled
- That the magazine spring tension feels correct
- That the safety lever moves freely
Correct answer: That the chamber is visually and physically empty
After opening the bolt, always visually inspect and physically check the chamber to confirm no round remains before declaring the firearm safe.
Question 2: On a semi-automatic rifle, the bolt carrier group fails to return fully to battery after firing. The most likely cause is:
- Fouling, weak recoil spring, or an oversized cartridge base (Correct answer)
- The magazine is empty
- The firing pin is broken
- The ejector is too long
Correct answer: Fouling, weak recoil spring, or an oversized cartridge base
Failure to return to battery is commonly caused by carbon fouling in the chamber, a worn recoil spring, or an out-of-spec cartridge preventing complete closing.
Question 3: What is the purpose of the ejector in a bolt-action rifle?
- To kick the extracted case clear of the action (Correct answer)
- To hold the cartridge in the magazine
- To engage the chamber during feeding
- To lock the bolt in the closed position
Correct answer: To kick the extracted case clear of the action
The ejector strikes or pushes the cartridge case as the bolt opens, throwing it clear of the receiver so the shooter can reload.
Question 4: How does a gas-operated semi-automatic action cycle?
- Propellant gas is tapped from the barrel to drive the bolt or piston rearward (Correct answer)
- Recoil from the bullet directly pushes the bolt back
- A motor winds the action spring after each shot
- The shooter manually racks the slide after each fire
Correct answer: Propellant gas is tapped from the barrel to drive the bolt or piston rearward
Gas-operated actions bleed propellant gas through a port in the barrel to push a piston or bolt carrier rearward, compressing the recoil spring and cycling the action.
Question 5: On a pump-action rifle, the action bar connects the forend to the:
- Bolt, transmitting the pump motion to cycle the action (Correct answer)
- Trigger group, to prevent firing during pumping
- Magazine tube, to assist feeding
- Barrel, to align the forend during cycling
Correct answer: Bolt, transmitting the pump motion to cycle the action
The action bars link the forend directly to the bolt so that pumping the forend rearward opens and ejects, and pumping forward feeds and closes the bolt.
Question 6: What is 'lock time' in the context of firearm actions?
- The elapsed time between trigger release and firing pin striking the primer (Correct answer)
- The time required to engage the manual safety
- How long it takes to lock the bolt after loading
- The delay before the action cycles after firing
Correct answer: The elapsed time between trigger release and firing pin striking the primer
Lock time is the brief interval from the moment the sear releases the hammer or striker until the firing pin impacts the primer, affecting accuracy.
Question 7: During a range session, a shooter notices the slide of their semi-automatic pistol is not locking back after the last round. The most likely cause is:
- The shooter's thumb is riding the slide stop lever down (Correct answer)
- The recoil spring is too light
- The barrel hood is worn
- The magazine follower is damaged but still holds the slide stop up
Correct answer: The shooter's thumb is riding the slide stop lever down
A thumb resting on or near the slide stop is the most common reason the slide fails to lock back on an empty magazine, as it prevents the follower from engaging the stop.
CRFSC Operating Firearm Actions 3
When performing an administrative unload of a bolt-action rifle, what should you verify after opening the bolt?