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NRA BASIC RSO TEST KEY
COMPREHENSIVE ACTUAL EXAM |150
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS |LATEST 2026-2027 VERSION |
ALREADY A GRADED | NEW AND REVISED
1. The primary duty of a Range Safety Officer is to:
A. Teach marksmanship
B. Ensure safe conduct of all shooting activities
C. Repair firearms
D. Enforce competition rules only
Italicized rationale: The RSO’s foremost responsibility is
safety, not instruction or competition management.
2. Before live fire begins, an RSO must first verify:
A. Targets are scored
B. Shooters are experienced
C. The range is safe and properly controlled
D. Ammunition type
Italicized rationale: Safety verification precedes all other
range activities.
3. A “cease fire” command means:
A. Reload and wait
B. Immediately stop shooting and await instructions
C. Clear targets
D. Step back from the line
Italicized rationale: Cease fire requires immediate
stoppage and compliance.
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4. Eye and ear protection should be worn:
A. Only by shooters
B. Only during firing
C. By everyone on or near the firing line
D. At RSO discretion
Italicized rationale: Universal PPE reduces risk from
debris and noise.
5. The NRA rules for safe gun handling include keeping the
firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times because:
A. It improves accuracy
B. It minimizes injury if a discharge occurs
C. It saves ammunition
D. It prevents jams
Italicized rationale: Direction control mitigates
consequences of negligent discharge.
6. A cold range means:
A. Firearms are unloaded with actions open
B. No firearms may be handled while people are
downrange
C. Ammunition is prohibited
D. Only RSOs may shoot
Italicized rationale: Cold range procedures protect
downrange personnel.
7. Which condition requires immediate range shutdown?
A. Light rain
B. Shooter disagreement
C. Unsafe firearm handling
D. Target malfunction
Italicized rationale: Safety violations demand immediate
control.
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8. The RSO’s authority on the range is derived from:
A. Local shooters
B. Firearm manufacturers
C. Range SOPs and NRA standards
D. Competition rules
Italicized rationale: RSOs operate under established
standards and SOPs.
9. If a shooter experiences a misfire, the RSO should instruct
them to:
A. Open the action immediately
B. Hand the firearm to the RSO
C. Keep the firearm pointed downrange and wait
D. Reload instantly
Italicized rationale: Hang-fire precautions prevent injury.
10. Ammunition should be:
A. Shared freely
B. Modified as needed
C. Appropriate for the firearm and range
D. Reloaded on the firing line
Italicized rationale: Correct ammunition prevents firearm
damage and injury.
11. A safe backstop must be capable of:
A. Reflecting bullets
B. Stopping and containing projectiles
C. Improving visibility
D. Reducing noise
Italicized rationale: Containment prevents ricochet and
escape.
12. When calling shooters to the line, the RSO should:
A. Assume they know procedures
B. Clearly state commands and expectations
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C. Allow free movement
D. Delegate to shooters
Italicized rationale: Clear communication prevents
confusion.
13. The purpose of a range SOP is to:
A. Limit shooter freedom
B. Replace NRA rules
C. Provide consistent safety procedures
D. Enforce competition scoring
Italicized rationale: SOPs standardize safe operations.
14. An RSO should intervene when:
A. A shooter misses targets
B. Any unsafe act is observed
C. Ammunition runs low
D. Weather changes
Italicized rationale: Immediate correction prevents
accidents.
15. Which firearm condition is safest when shooters go
downrange?
A. Loaded, safety on
B. Chamber empty, action closed
C. Unloaded with action open
D. Magazine removed only
Italicized rationale: Visual confirmation of open actions
ensures safety.
16. The NRA RSO is expected to act:
A. As a law enforcement officer
B. As a competitor
C. As a neutral safety authority
D. As a firearms dealer
Italicized rationale: RSOs enforce safety impartially.
NRA BASIC RSO TEST KEY
COMPREHENSIVE ACTUAL EXAM |150
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS |LATEST 2026-2027 VERSION |
ALREADY A GRADED | NEW AND REVISED
1. The primary duty of a Range Safety Officer is to:
A. Teach marksmanship
B. Ensure safe conduct of all shooting activities
C. Repair firearms
D. Enforce competition rules only
Italicized rationale: The RSO’s foremost responsibility is
safety, not instruction or competition management.
2. Before live fire begins, an RSO must first verify:
A. Targets are scored
B. Shooters are experienced
C. The range is safe and properly controlled
D. Ammunition type
Italicized rationale: Safety verification precedes all other
range activities.
3. A “cease fire” command means:
A. Reload and wait
B. Immediately stop shooting and await instructions
C. Clear targets
D. Step back from the line
Italicized rationale: Cease fire requires immediate
stoppage and compliance.
,2|Page
4. Eye and ear protection should be worn:
A. Only by shooters
B. Only during firing
C. By everyone on or near the firing line
D. At RSO discretion
Italicized rationale: Universal PPE reduces risk from
debris and noise.
5. The NRA rules for safe gun handling include keeping the
firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times because:
A. It improves accuracy
B. It minimizes injury if a discharge occurs
C. It saves ammunition
D. It prevents jams
Italicized rationale: Direction control mitigates
consequences of negligent discharge.
6. A cold range means:
A. Firearms are unloaded with actions open
B. No firearms may be handled while people are
downrange
C. Ammunition is prohibited
D. Only RSOs may shoot
Italicized rationale: Cold range procedures protect
downrange personnel.
7. Which condition requires immediate range shutdown?
A. Light rain
B. Shooter disagreement
C. Unsafe firearm handling
D. Target malfunction
Italicized rationale: Safety violations demand immediate
control.
,3|Page
8. The RSO’s authority on the range is derived from:
A. Local shooters
B. Firearm manufacturers
C. Range SOPs and NRA standards
D. Competition rules
Italicized rationale: RSOs operate under established
standards and SOPs.
9. If a shooter experiences a misfire, the RSO should instruct
them to:
A. Open the action immediately
B. Hand the firearm to the RSO
C. Keep the firearm pointed downrange and wait
D. Reload instantly
Italicized rationale: Hang-fire precautions prevent injury.
10. Ammunition should be:
A. Shared freely
B. Modified as needed
C. Appropriate for the firearm and range
D. Reloaded on the firing line
Italicized rationale: Correct ammunition prevents firearm
damage and injury.
11. A safe backstop must be capable of:
A. Reflecting bullets
B. Stopping and containing projectiles
C. Improving visibility
D. Reducing noise
Italicized rationale: Containment prevents ricochet and
escape.
12. When calling shooters to the line, the RSO should:
A. Assume they know procedures
B. Clearly state commands and expectations
, 4|Page
C. Allow free movement
D. Delegate to shooters
Italicized rationale: Clear communication prevents
confusion.
13. The purpose of a range SOP is to:
A. Limit shooter freedom
B. Replace NRA rules
C. Provide consistent safety procedures
D. Enforce competition scoring
Italicized rationale: SOPs standardize safe operations.
14. An RSO should intervene when:
A. A shooter misses targets
B. Any unsafe act is observed
C. Ammunition runs low
D. Weather changes
Italicized rationale: Immediate correction prevents
accidents.
15. Which firearm condition is safest when shooters go
downrange?
A. Loaded, safety on
B. Chamber empty, action closed
C. Unloaded with action open
D. Magazine removed only
Italicized rationale: Visual confirmation of open actions
ensures safety.
16. The NRA RSO is expected to act:
A. As a law enforcement officer
B. As a competitor
C. As a neutral safety authority
D. As a firearms dealer
Italicized rationale: RSOs enforce safety impartially.
