Firearms & Ammo – Exam I

When shooting in the field or at the range, it is important to prioritize safety. Safety glasses protect the eyes from any debris or particles that may be present, preventing potential eye injuries. Hearing protection is necessary to reduce the risk of hearing damage caused by the loud noise produced by firearms. Therefore, safety glasses and hearing protection are essential gear that should never be shot without.

Semi-automatic means that the firearm will automatically load live rounds from the magazine into the chamber, but it will only fire one round with each pull of the trigger. It does not fire continuously as long as the trigger is held back, nor does it fire twice with each pull of the trigger. It is also not limited to military, police, and home defense use only.

The first thing you should do when handed a firearm is to point it in a safe direction and verify that it is unloaded yourself. This is important for ensuring safety and preventing any accidental discharge of the firearm. By pointing it in a safe direction, you minimize the risk of any harm in case the firearm is loaded. Verifying that it is unloaded yourself adds an extra layer of caution and ensures that you have personal confirmation of its status before handling it further.

Eye dominance refers to the determination of which eye is more focused and more useful, similar to being right- or left-handed. It is not a serious condition that requires immediate attention from an optometrist. It is simply a natural variation in how our eyes function.

The Number One rule of Firearms Safety is to treat every firearm as if it is loaded. This means that even if you believe the firearm is unloaded, you should handle it with the same caution and respect as if it were loaded. By treating every firearm as if it is loaded, you are ensuring that you follow all safety protocols and avoid any accidents or mishaps. This rule emphasizes the importance of always practicing safe handling and storage of firearms.

The first step in cleaning any firearm is to visually inspect the gun to make sure it's unloaded. This is a crucial safety measure to ensure that there are no live rounds in the firearm before disassembling or handling it in any way. By visually inspecting the gun, one can check the chamber, magazine, and other parts to confirm that there are no bullets present. This step helps prevent accidental discharge and potential harm to oneself or others during the cleaning process.

The scale of measurement used for the weight of both the powder charge and bullets in metallic cartridges is grains. Grains is a unit of weight commonly used in firearms and ammunition. It is a small unit of measurement, with 1 grain being equal to approximately 0.0648 grams. This unit is commonly used because it allows for precise and accurate measurement of the weight of powder charges and bullets, ensuring consistency and safety in ammunition manufacturing and reloading.

The development of rifling in firearms provided the greatest improvement in accuracy. Rifling refers to the spiral grooves inside the barrel of a firearm, which causes the bullet to spin as it is fired. This spinning motion stabilizes the bullet's flight, resulting in increased accuracy and a straighter trajectory. Prior to the development of rifling, firearms were smoothbore, meaning the barrel had no grooves. This made them less accurate and prone to erratic flight paths. Rifling revolutionized firearms technology and remains a crucial component in modern firearms design.

The most important consideration in loading a muzzleloading rifle is seating the projectile firmly against the powder charge with no air space in between. This ensures that the projectile is in direct contact with the powder charge, allowing for proper ignition and efficient propulsion of the bullet. The length of the barrel and ramrod, the type of rifle system (flintlock, percussion, or modern primer), and the type of powder being used are all important factors to consider, but none of them are as crucial as ensuring a proper seal between the projectile and the powder charge.

The correct order for the most common shotgun gauge sizes in America is 28, 20, 16, 12, 10. This is because the gauge size is determined by the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel that would weigh one pound. So, a smaller gauge number indicates a larger barrel diameter. Therefore, 28 gauge is smaller than 20 gauge, which is smaller than 16 gauge, and so on.

The .30-06 is traditionally the most popular rifle cartridge in America based on ammunition and handloading supply sales. It has been widely used for over a century and is known for its versatility and effectiveness in a variety of hunting and shooting applications. Its popularity is also due to the fact that it can be used in a wide range of rifles, making it easily accessible and widely available.

Before settling into an elevated stand, it is important to lift your empty firearm with the action open from the ground on a secure rope, and then load it. This ensures that the firearm is safely transported and ready for use once settled in the stand. It is crucial to follow this step to prevent any accidents or mishandling of the firearm while climbing or setting up in the stand.

The “AR” in AR-15 stands for Armalite Rifle, named after the company Armalite that originally developed the rifle in the 1950s. It does not stand for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle,” which is a common misconception. The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle, and its design became the foundation for many modern sporting and military rifles. Armalite sold the design to Colt, which later popularized it.

The last number in the rifle scope designation 2.5-10X44mm indicates the size of the objective lens. In this case, the scope has a 44mm objective lens. The objective lens is the lens at the front of the scope that gathers the incoming light and helps to transmit it to the eyepiece. The size of the objective lens can affect the amount of light that enters the scope, which can impact the clarity and brightness of the image seen through the scope.

Shot sizes #5, #6, and #7 are most recommended for turkey hunting. These shot sizes are commonly used because they provide a good balance between pellet count and pellet size. #5, #6, and #7 shot sizes are large enough to deliver sufficient energy to take down a turkey, but also have enough pellets in the shell to increase the chances of hitting vital areas. Using shot sizes that are too large may result in fewer pellets in the shell, reducing the chances of hitting the target, while shot sizes that are too small may not have enough stopping power.

The .257 Wthby. Mag. cartridge has the flattest ballistic trajectory among the options given. This means that it experiences less drop over a given distance compared to the other cartridges. A flatter trajectory is desirable for long-range shooting as it allows for easier and more accurate aiming at various distances.

The correct answer is when there is no charge in the flash pan, or no percussion cap or primer in place. This means that the muzzleloader is considered unloaded for transportation if there is no ignition source in the flash pan (such as a charge or primer) that could cause the gun to fire. Even if there is powder and a bullet in the gun, as long as there is no charge in the flash pan, it is considered safe for transportation.

When hunting in a glass and stalk situation, it is recommended to load the magazine when leaving camp or vehicle. This ensures that the gun is ready for immediate use if a shot opportunity arises. However, it is advised to only chamber a round when you are ready to shoot. This additional step helps to prevent accidental discharge and ensures safety during the hunting expedition.

Lever-action rifles with tubular magazines should not use traditional spire points bullets. This is because the pointed tip of traditional spire points can cause the bullet in front to ignite when it comes into contact with the primer of the bullet behind it, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. Therefore, it is recommended to use other types of bullets such as round nosed, flat tip, or soft-tipped spire points that do not have a pointed tip to avoid this issue.

Highly frangible bullets that "explode" on impact are the most desirable characteristic for shooting thin-skinned varmints like prairie dogs and woodchucks. This is because these bullets break apart upon impact, causing maximum damage and effectively stopping the varmint. Consistent mushrooming and deep penetration may not be as effective against these small animals, while no deformation upon impact like full metal jacket military ammo may not deliver enough stopping power. All-lead cast bullets with no jacket at all may not have the same explosive effect as highly frangible bullets.