NRA Firearm Inspection & Testing Procedures Flashcards

What is the first step a gunsmith should take when receiving any firearm for service?

Answer: Verify that the firearm is unloaded and safe to handle before any inspection or work begins

Confirming the firearm is unloaded is the mandatory first step before any handling, inspection, or work to prevent accidental discharge.

What does a 'function check' (or function test) verify after a gunsmith completes work on a firearm?

Answer: That all mechanical functions — safety, trigger, feeding, ejection — operate correctly before returning the firearm to the customer

A function check systematically tests each mechanical operation of the firearm to confirm safe and reliable function before the customer receives it.

What is a 'proof test' and who typically performs it?

Answer: A test in which a firearm is fired with a specially loaded overpressure round to verify structural integrity — typically performed by proof houses or manufacturers

Proof testing uses cartridges generating significantly higher than maximum pressure to verify the firearm's structural integrity, performed under controlled conditions by certified proof houses.

What is 'drop testing' in the context of firearm safety evaluation?

Answer: Dropping a cocked firearm from a specified height to verify passive safeties prevent accidental discharge

Drop testing verifies that passive drop safeties (such as firing pin blocks) prevent the firearm from discharging if dropped in any orientation.

When inspecting a used firearm for purchase or service, which area of the barrel should be examined most carefully for erosion?

Answer: The throat (leade) area just forward of the chamber, where propellant gas and bullet passage cause the most wear

The throat and leade see the highest heat and pressure as the bullet engages the rifling, making this area most prone to erosion and the first to show significant wear.

What does checking for 'cylinder lockup' in a revolver assess?

Answer: Whether the cylinder indexes correctly and locks solidly in alignment with the barrel under firing conditions

Cylinder lockup checks that the cylinder rotates to full index and is firmly locked in alignment with the barrel and forcing cone, preventing off-axis bullet travel.