NRA BASIC PISTOL SHOOTING COURSE EXAM 50
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (2026
UPDATE)
Exam Board: National Rifle Association (NRA)
Course: Basic Pistol Shooting Course
Updated For: 2026 Testing Cycle
Total Questions: 50 Verified Questions & Answers
SECTION 1: PISTOL COMPONENTS & OPERATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1:
The three major components of a pistol are:
A) Barrel, trigger, magazine
B) Frame, barrel, action
C) Slide, cylinder, grip
D) Sights, hammer, safety
Answer: B
Rationale: The three major structural components of a pistol are the frame (the housing that
contains the action and magazine), the barrel (the metal tube through which the bullet travels),
and the action (the moving parts that load, fire, and unload the cartridge) .
Question 2:
Your finger may contact the trigger:
A) At any time while handling the pistol
B) Only when you are ready to shoot
C) When cleaning the pistol
D) When loading the pistol
Answer: B
,Rationale: Your finger should only contact the trigger when you are ready to shoot. This is one
of the fundamental safety rules known as "Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are
on the target" .
Question 3:
The trigger mechanism:
A) Holds the ammunition
B) Releases a spring-powered hammer or striker to fire the cartridge
C) Aims the pistol
D) Ejects the spent cartridge
Answer: B
Rationale: The trigger mechanism is the component that, when pulled, releases a
spring-powered hammer or striker to strike the primer and fire the cartridge .
Question 4:
What are the two elements or stages of aiming?
A) Front sight and rear sight
B) Sight alignment and sight picture
C) Focus and breath control
D) Target acquisition and trigger pull
Answer: B
Rationale: Aiming consists of two stages: sight alignment (the relationship between front and
rear sights) and sight picture (the placement of aligned sights on the target) .
Question 5:
When aiming a pistol, 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) Target
B) Rear sight
C) Front sight
D) Bullseye
, Answer: C
Rationale: When aiming, your focus must be on the front sight, making it appear clear and
sharp. The rear sight and target will appear somewhat blurry, but the front sight must be crisp .
Question 6:
Double-action refers to what type of action?
A) The hammer must be manually cocked before each shot
B) Pulling the trigger performs two tasks: cocking and releasing the hammer
C) The pistol fires automatically with each trigger pull
D) The action is operated by the slide's movement
Answer: B
Rationale: In a double-action pistol, pulling the trigger performs two tasks: cocking the hammer
(or striker) and then releasing it to fire the cartridge. This results in a longer, heavier trigger pull .
Question 7:
In a single-action semi-automatic pistol, the hammer must be ________ before the first shot.
A) Cocked manually or by the slide's rearward movement
B) Released automatically
C) Held in place by the safety
D) Removed
Answer: A
Rationale: In a single-action semi-automatic pistol, the hammer must be cocked manually or by
the rearward movement of the slide before the first shot can be fired. The trigger then simply
releases the hammer .
Question 8:
The frame of a pistol is:
A) The moving part that chambers cartridges
B) The part that holds the ammunition
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (2026
UPDATE)
Exam Board: National Rifle Association (NRA)
Course: Basic Pistol Shooting Course
Updated For: 2026 Testing Cycle
Total Questions: 50 Verified Questions & Answers
SECTION 1: PISTOL COMPONENTS & OPERATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1:
The three major components of a pistol are:
A) Barrel, trigger, magazine
B) Frame, barrel, action
C) Slide, cylinder, grip
D) Sights, hammer, safety
Answer: B
Rationale: The three major structural components of a pistol are the frame (the housing that
contains the action and magazine), the barrel (the metal tube through which the bullet travels),
and the action (the moving parts that load, fire, and unload the cartridge) .
Question 2:
Your finger may contact the trigger:
A) At any time while handling the pistol
B) Only when you are ready to shoot
C) When cleaning the pistol
D) When loading the pistol
Answer: B
,Rationale: Your finger should only contact the trigger when you are ready to shoot. This is one
of the fundamental safety rules known as "Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are
on the target" .
Question 3:
The trigger mechanism:
A) Holds the ammunition
B) Releases a spring-powered hammer or striker to fire the cartridge
C) Aims the pistol
D) Ejects the spent cartridge
Answer: B
Rationale: The trigger mechanism is the component that, when pulled, releases a
spring-powered hammer or striker to strike the primer and fire the cartridge .
Question 4:
What are the two elements or stages of aiming?
A) Front sight and rear sight
B) Sight alignment and sight picture
C) Focus and breath control
D) Target acquisition and trigger pull
Answer: B
Rationale: Aiming consists of two stages: sight alignment (the relationship between front and
rear sights) and sight picture (the placement of aligned sights on the target) .
Question 5:
When aiming a pistol, 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) Target
B) Rear sight
C) Front sight
D) Bullseye
, Answer: C
Rationale: When aiming, your focus must be on the front sight, making it appear clear and
sharp. The rear sight and target will appear somewhat blurry, but the front sight must be crisp .
Question 6:
Double-action refers to what type of action?
A) The hammer must be manually cocked before each shot
B) Pulling the trigger performs two tasks: cocking and releasing the hammer
C) The pistol fires automatically with each trigger pull
D) The action is operated by the slide's movement
Answer: B
Rationale: In a double-action pistol, pulling the trigger performs two tasks: cocking the hammer
(or striker) and then releasing it to fire the cartridge. This results in a longer, heavier trigger pull .
Question 7:
In a single-action semi-automatic pistol, the hammer must be ________ before the first shot.
A) Cocked manually or by the slide's rearward movement
B) Released automatically
C) Held in place by the safety
D) Removed
Answer: A
Rationale: In a single-action semi-automatic pistol, the hammer must be cocked manually or by
the rearward movement of the slide before the first shot can be fired. The trigger then simply
releases the hammer .
Question 8:
The frame of a pistol is:
A) The moving part that chambers cartridges
B) The part that holds the ammunition
