NRA Basic Rifle Certification Exam Questions & Answers |
Latest Update 2026 | Graded A+
The four major components of a rifle are:
A. receiver, barrel, action, and stock
B. sights, frame, barrel, and action
C. magazine, barrel, frame, and hammer
D. receiver, chamber, frame, and barrel - correct answerA
A magazine :
A. holds cartridges in a bolt-action, semi-automatic, lever-action or slide-action rifle
B. is composed of a body, a spring, a follower, and a floorplate
C. may be detachable or non-detachable
D. all of the above - correct answerb
The action is:
A. the group of moving parts used to load, fire, and unload the rifle
B. the part of a firearm in which a cartridge is contained at the instant of firing
C. the end of the barrel where the chamber is located
D. another term for the bolt of a semi-automatic rifle - correct answerA
The shooting fundamentals are:
A. aiming, breath control, hold control, trigger control, and follow-through
B. aiming, eye dominance, hold control, trigger control, and follow-through
C. comfort, aiming, trigger control
D. stance, hold control, aiming, trigger control - correct answera
When aiming a rifle, the eye can only focus on one object at a time; therefore, you
should focus on the ___________ so that it appears clear and sharp.
A. rear sight
B. target
C. front sight
D. bullseye - correct answer
There are three main ammunition malfunctions, consisting of:
A. misfire, hangfire, and squib loads
B. misfire, hangfire, doublefeed
C. stovepipe, hangfire, and squib loads
D. none of the above - correct answer
When a cartridge fails to fire immediately, you should:
A. put the safety on and put the rifle down
B. keep the rifle pointed in a safe direction and after waiting at least 30 seconds (as a
precaution in case of a hangfire), open the action and remove the cartridge
C. open the action immediately and inspect the cartridge to determine the malfunction
, D. none of the above - correct answerc
The best position to use for zeroing a rifle is the:
A. prone position
B. standing position
C. kneeling position
D. benchers position - correct answerd
Follow-through is important because:
A. it is a continuation of everything that was being done at the time the shot was fired.
B. it helps maintain your grip
C. it keeps the gun from recoiling excessively
D. none of the above - correct answera
Bolt-action rifles:
A. are generally the strongest type of rifle
B. have an external hammer
C. use gas pressure to work the action
D. have two or more barrels - correct answera
The four components of a rifle cartridge are:
A. primer, wad, case and bullet
B. hull, shot, slug and primer
C. bullet, hull, powder and wad
D. case, primer, powder charge and bullet - correct answerd
Proper ammunition is determined by:
A. asking a dealer
B. comparing with another firearm of like design
C. matching the markings on the gun, cartridge headstamp, and the cartridge box -
correct answerc
The standing shooting position:
A. is natural and intuitive to assume
B. has two main variations; the free arm and arm rest positions
C. is useful in many hunting and competition situations
D. all of the above - correct answerd
Before cleaning a rifle, be sure that:
A. you are in a cool dry room
B. the safety is engaged
C. no ammunition is present in the area - correct answerc
A ___________ occurs when a cartridge fails to fire after the primer has been struck by
the firing pin.
A. hangfire
Latest Update 2026 | Graded A+
The four major components of a rifle are:
A. receiver, barrel, action, and stock
B. sights, frame, barrel, and action
C. magazine, barrel, frame, and hammer
D. receiver, chamber, frame, and barrel - correct answerA
A magazine :
A. holds cartridges in a bolt-action, semi-automatic, lever-action or slide-action rifle
B. is composed of a body, a spring, a follower, and a floorplate
C. may be detachable or non-detachable
D. all of the above - correct answerb
The action is:
A. the group of moving parts used to load, fire, and unload the rifle
B. the part of a firearm in which a cartridge is contained at the instant of firing
C. the end of the barrel where the chamber is located
D. another term for the bolt of a semi-automatic rifle - correct answerA
The shooting fundamentals are:
A. aiming, breath control, hold control, trigger control, and follow-through
B. aiming, eye dominance, hold control, trigger control, and follow-through
C. comfort, aiming, trigger control
D. stance, hold control, aiming, trigger control - correct answera
When aiming a rifle, the eye can only focus on one object at a time; therefore, you
should focus on the ___________ so that it appears clear and sharp.
A. rear sight
B. target
C. front sight
D. bullseye - correct answer
There are three main ammunition malfunctions, consisting of:
A. misfire, hangfire, and squib loads
B. misfire, hangfire, doublefeed
C. stovepipe, hangfire, and squib loads
D. none of the above - correct answer
When a cartridge fails to fire immediately, you should:
A. put the safety on and put the rifle down
B. keep the rifle pointed in a safe direction and after waiting at least 30 seconds (as a
precaution in case of a hangfire), open the action and remove the cartridge
C. open the action immediately and inspect the cartridge to determine the malfunction
, D. none of the above - correct answerc
The best position to use for zeroing a rifle is the:
A. prone position
B. standing position
C. kneeling position
D. benchers position - correct answerd
Follow-through is important because:
A. it is a continuation of everything that was being done at the time the shot was fired.
B. it helps maintain your grip
C. it keeps the gun from recoiling excessively
D. none of the above - correct answera
Bolt-action rifles:
A. are generally the strongest type of rifle
B. have an external hammer
C. use gas pressure to work the action
D. have two or more barrels - correct answera
The four components of a rifle cartridge are:
A. primer, wad, case and bullet
B. hull, shot, slug and primer
C. bullet, hull, powder and wad
D. case, primer, powder charge and bullet - correct answerd
Proper ammunition is determined by:
A. asking a dealer
B. comparing with another firearm of like design
C. matching the markings on the gun, cartridge headstamp, and the cartridge box -
correct answerc
The standing shooting position:
A. is natural and intuitive to assume
B. has two main variations; the free arm and arm rest positions
C. is useful in many hunting and competition situations
D. all of the above - correct answerd
Before cleaning a rifle, be sure that:
A. you are in a cool dry room
B. the safety is engaged
C. no ammunition is present in the area - correct answerc
A ___________ occurs when a cartridge fails to fire after the primer has been struck by
the firing pin.
A. hangfire
