NRA BASICS FINAL 2026 EXAM PAPER QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Non-jacketed - ✔✔Type of bullet made of lead alloy, without an outside metal jacket
✔✔ Cylinder, frame, barrel - ✔✔The 3 major components of a pistol
✔✔Cylinder - ✔✔The part of a revolver where cartridges are held in individual chambers
arranged in a circular pattern
✔✔Trigger mechanism - ✔✔The part that releases a spring-powered hammer or striker
to fire the cartridge
✔✔Sight alignment & sight picture - ✔✔The 2 steps in aiming a pistol
✔✔Front sight - ✔✔What one focuses on when shooting a pistol
✔✔Barrel or slide, owner's manual, cartridge box, cartridge headstamp - ✔✔What you
should check to ensure that you're using the correct ammunition
✔✔Keep gun pointed in safe direction, wait at least 30 seconds, open action & remove
cartridge - ✔✔What you should do when a cartridge fails to fire immediately
✔✔Grip consistency - ✔✔Essential for accurate shooting
✔✔Follow-through - ✔✔Integrates. maintains & continues all shooting fundamentals
before, during & after the shot
✔✔Frame - ✔✔The central component of most pistols
✔✔Case, primer, powder charge, bullet - ✔✔The components of a pistol cartridge
✔✔Single-action & double-action - ✔✔The 2 types of a revolver action
✔✔Double-action - ✔✔Pulling the trigger performs both cocking & releasing the
hammer
✔✔Steps before cleaning a pistol - ✔✔Make sure the pistol is unloaded, disassemble
according to the manual, no ammunition should be present
✔✔Misfire - ✔✔The pistol fails to fire after pulling the trigger
✔✔Safety - ✔✔A mechanical device that can fail
ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Non-jacketed - ✔✔Type of bullet made of lead alloy, without an outside metal jacket
✔✔ Cylinder, frame, barrel - ✔✔The 3 major components of a pistol
✔✔Cylinder - ✔✔The part of a revolver where cartridges are held in individual chambers
arranged in a circular pattern
✔✔Trigger mechanism - ✔✔The part that releases a spring-powered hammer or striker
to fire the cartridge
✔✔Sight alignment & sight picture - ✔✔The 2 steps in aiming a pistol
✔✔Front sight - ✔✔What one focuses on when shooting a pistol
✔✔Barrel or slide, owner's manual, cartridge box, cartridge headstamp - ✔✔What you
should check to ensure that you're using the correct ammunition
✔✔Keep gun pointed in safe direction, wait at least 30 seconds, open action & remove
cartridge - ✔✔What you should do when a cartridge fails to fire immediately
✔✔Grip consistency - ✔✔Essential for accurate shooting
✔✔Follow-through - ✔✔Integrates. maintains & continues all shooting fundamentals
before, during & after the shot
✔✔Frame - ✔✔The central component of most pistols
✔✔Case, primer, powder charge, bullet - ✔✔The components of a pistol cartridge
✔✔Single-action & double-action - ✔✔The 2 types of a revolver action
✔✔Double-action - ✔✔Pulling the trigger performs both cocking & releasing the
hammer
✔✔Steps before cleaning a pistol - ✔✔Make sure the pistol is unloaded, disassemble
according to the manual, no ammunition should be present
✔✔Misfire - ✔✔The pistol fails to fire after pulling the trigger
✔✔Safety - ✔✔A mechanical device that can fail
