NRA Basic Pistol
Shooting Exam V1 (NEW
2025/ 2026 Update)
Questions & Answers|
Grade A| 100% Correct
(Verified Solutions)
1. The three major components of a pistol are:
A) Sight, trigger, magazine
B) Frame, barrel, action
C) Slide, grip, safety
D) Cylinder, hammer, stock
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Every pistol consists of a frame (the chassis), a barrel (the tube the
bullet travels through), and an action (the mechanism for firing). These are the
three structural and functional pillars.
,2. Your finger may contact the trigger:
A) At any time while handling the pistol
B) Only after the pistol is holstered
C) When you are ready to shoot
D) Only during cleaning
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: The NRA’s fundamental rule is to keep your finger off the trigger until
your sights are on target and you have made the decision to fire.
3. The trigger mechanism:
A) Holds the magazine in place
B) Releases a spring-powered hammer or striker to fire the cartridge
C) Ejects the spent casing
D) Loads the next round
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: The trigger releases stored mechanical energy (hammer/striker) to strike
the primer, igniting the powder.
4. Aiming consists of:
A) Grip and stance
B) Breath control and trigger pull
C) Sight alignment and sight picture
D) Follow-through and recoil management
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: Aiming is the combination of aligning the front and rear sights and then
placing that aligned sight on the target (sight picture).
,5. When aiming a pistol, the eye can only focus on one object at a time;
therefore, you should focus on the:
A) Target only
B) Rear sight only
C) Front sight
D) Muzzle
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: A sharp front sight is critical for accuracy. The target and rear sight will
be slightly blurry due to limited depth of focus.
6. To ensure you use the correct ammunition for your gun:
A) Check the information stamped on the barrel and/or slide
B) Check your owner’s manual
C) Check the cartridge box and cartridge headstamp
D) All of the above
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: D
Rationale: Multiple verification steps prevent dangerous ammunition mix-ups
(e.g., .380 in a 9mm).
7. When a cartridge fails to fire immediately, you should:
A) Open the action at once
B) Discard the round immediately
C) Keep pistol pointed in a safe direction and wait at least 30 seconds, then open
action and remove cartridge
D) Try firing it again without waiting
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: A “hangfire” (delayed ignition) can occur up to 30 seconds later.
Waiting protects you if the round fires late.
, 8. When gripping the pistol, you should:
A) Change grip depending on distance
B) Use the same grip each time
C) Grip with only the dominant hand
D) Keep the thumb behind the slide
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Consistency in grip creates repeatable accuracy and muscle memory.
9. Follow-through is important because it:
A) Only applies to reloading
B) Integrates, maintains, and continues all shooting fundamentals before, during,
and after the shot
C) Is only for slow fire
D) Prevents cleaning
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Follow-through ensures you don’t disrupt sight alignment before the
bullet exits the barrel.
10. The frame of a pistol is:
A) The barrel
B) The central component of most pistols
C) The magazine
D) The firing pin
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: The frame houses the action, trigger, magazine well, and grip.
Everything attaches to it.
Shooting Exam V1 (NEW
2025/ 2026 Update)
Questions & Answers|
Grade A| 100% Correct
(Verified Solutions)
1. The three major components of a pistol are:
A) Sight, trigger, magazine
B) Frame, barrel, action
C) Slide, grip, safety
D) Cylinder, hammer, stock
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Every pistol consists of a frame (the chassis), a barrel (the tube the
bullet travels through), and an action (the mechanism for firing). These are the
three structural and functional pillars.
,2. Your finger may contact the trigger:
A) At any time while handling the pistol
B) Only after the pistol is holstered
C) When you are ready to shoot
D) Only during cleaning
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: The NRA’s fundamental rule is to keep your finger off the trigger until
your sights are on target and you have made the decision to fire.
3. The trigger mechanism:
A) Holds the magazine in place
B) Releases a spring-powered hammer or striker to fire the cartridge
C) Ejects the spent casing
D) Loads the next round
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: The trigger releases stored mechanical energy (hammer/striker) to strike
the primer, igniting the powder.
4. Aiming consists of:
A) Grip and stance
B) Breath control and trigger pull
C) Sight alignment and sight picture
D) Follow-through and recoil management
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: Aiming is the combination of aligning the front and rear sights and then
placing that aligned sight on the target (sight picture).
,5. When aiming a pistol, the eye can only focus on one object at a time;
therefore, you should focus on the:
A) Target only
B) Rear sight only
C) Front sight
D) Muzzle
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: A sharp front sight is critical for accuracy. The target and rear sight will
be slightly blurry due to limited depth of focus.
6. To ensure you use the correct ammunition for your gun:
A) Check the information stamped on the barrel and/or slide
B) Check your owner’s manual
C) Check the cartridge box and cartridge headstamp
D) All of the above
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: D
Rationale: Multiple verification steps prevent dangerous ammunition mix-ups
(e.g., .380 in a 9mm).
7. When a cartridge fails to fire immediately, you should:
A) Open the action at once
B) Discard the round immediately
C) Keep pistol pointed in a safe direction and wait at least 30 seconds, then open
action and remove cartridge
D) Try firing it again without waiting
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: C
Rationale: A “hangfire” (delayed ignition) can occur up to 30 seconds later.
Waiting protects you if the round fires late.
, 8. When gripping the pistol, you should:
A) Change grip depending on distance
B) Use the same grip each time
C) Grip with only the dominant hand
D) Keep the thumb behind the slide
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Consistency in grip creates repeatable accuracy and muscle memory.
9. Follow-through is important because it:
A) Only applies to reloading
B) Integrates, maintains, and continues all shooting fundamentals before, during,
and after the shot
C) Is only for slow fire
D) Prevents cleaning
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Follow-through ensures you don’t disrupt sight alignment before the
bullet exits the barrel.
10. The frame of a pistol is:
A) The barrel
B) The central component of most pistols
C) The magazine
D) The firing pin
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: The frame houses the action, trigger, magazine well, and grip.
Everything attaches to it.
