Hunters Ed Exam A+ Pass 2025 New
Update
Firearm - Answer- A firearm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a
BURNING POWDER to force a projectile through and out of a metal tube.
Action - Answer- Action: The action is the heart of the firearm—the moving parts that
LOAD, FIRE, and EJECT the shells or cartridges. Several types of actions are used in
modern firearms. Muzzleloaders have LOCKS instead of actions.
Stock - Answer- Stock: The stock serves as the handle of the firearm. It can be
composed of one or two pieces and is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.
Barrel - Answer- Barrel: The barrel is the metal tube that the projectile travels through
(bullets travel through the barrels of rifles and handguns; shot travels through the barrel
of shotguns).
Bore - Answer- Inside of the firearm barrel through which the projectile travels when
fired
Breech - Answer- Rear end of the barrel
Firing Pin - Answer- A pin that strikes the primer of the cartridge, causing ignition
Receiver - Answer- Metal housing for the working parts of the action
Shotguns - Answer- Shotguns are another long-barreled firearm used by hunters. Most
common: pump action
Handguns - Answer- Handguns (revolver and pistols) are short-barreled firearms
sometimes used for hunting.
Cartridge - Answer- Ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing
primer, gunpowder, and a bullet. Single projectile bullet
Shotshell - Answer- Ammunition used in modern shotguns; a case containing primer,
gunpowder, wad, and a slug or shot (shot or pellets). Shotguns use a shotshell
containing either a single slug or a large number of small projectiles (shot or pellets).
Case - Answer- The container that holds all the other ammunition components together.
It's usually made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic.
,Primer - Answer- An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when
struck by a firing pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in
the center of the base of the case (centerfire).
Gunpowder - Answer- A chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an
expanding gas when ignited. Modern smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in
the open (outside of the case). Black powder is less stable and can be explosive when
impacted or ignited in the open.
Projectile - Answer- The object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a projectile,
usually containing lead, fired through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid
projectile, usually of lead, fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel,
tungsten alloy, or bismuth pellets fired through a shotgun barrel.
Wad - Answer- A seal and/or shot container made of paper or plastic separating the
powder from the slug or shot in a shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping
through the shot and holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel.
Pointed soft point - Answer- High velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path
(trajectory); excellent mushrooming
Rounded soft point - Answer- Popular for low-velocity calibers; recommended for
tubular magazines
Projected Tip - Answer- Highly accurate with excellent expansion
Full metal jacket - Answer- Maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets
are illegal for big game hunting in most states
Roundnose lead - Answer- Good penetration, little expansion
Full metal jacket (2) - Answer- High penetration, no expansion
Semi-wad cutter - Answer- Balances penetration and expansion
Hollowpoint - Answer- Designed for high expansion on impact
Wad cutter - Answer- Flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper
Centerfire ammunition - Answer- is used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type
of ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the casing base. Most centerfire
ammunition is reloadable.
Rimfire ammunition - Answer- has the primer contained in the rim of the ammunition
casing. Rimfire ammunition is limited to low-pressure loads. Rimfire cartridges are not
reloadable.
, Slug - Answer- A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, used for hunting big game
with a shotgun.
Shot - Answer- multiple pellets fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot size is adaptable to
the game being hunted. This type of projectile is used typically to hunt game birds and
small game animals.
Gauge - Answer- Term used to designate bore diameter of a shotgun; gauge is the
number of lead balls with diameters equal to the diameter of the bore that, when
combined, weigh one pound
The smaller the shot number - Answer- the larger the pellet diameter
Magnum - Answer- means the shell has more shot or more gunpowder than a regular
shell. Magnum and regular shotshells are interchangeable if the correct gauge and shell
length are used.
Shot sizes - Answer- Adaptable to the game that is being hunted. As pellet diameter
decreases, more shot can be placed in a standard shotshell load. The smaller the shot
number, the larger the shot size.
Basic process of shooting a gun - Answer- The same physical process is used to shoot
shotshells from shotguns or cartridges from rifles or handguns. Pulling the trigger
causes the firing pin to strike and explode the primer in the base of the cartridge or
shotshell. The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder, which burns rapidly and
converts to a gas. The gas rapidly expands and drives the projectile(s) through the
barrel with great force.
How the rifle and handgun fire - Answer- -A cartridge is inserted into the chamber
-The action is closed, and the firing pin is pushed back and held back under spring
tension.
-The trigger is squeezed, releasing the firing pin, which moves forward with great force.
The firing pin strikes the primer, causing it to explode.
-The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder. Gas converted from the burning
powder rapidly expands in the cartridge. The expanding gas forces the bullet out of the
cartridge and down the barrel with great speed. The rifling in the barrel causes the bullet
to spin as it travels out of the barrel. The bullet's speed and escaping gases produce a
"bang."
Riffling - Answer- The grooved pattern cut into the bore of a rifle or handgun. The riffling
in the barrel causes the bullet to spin as the bullet travels out of the barrel. This keeps it
point-first in flight, increasing accuracy and distance.
How the rifle fires - Answer- -A cartridge is inserted into the chamber
-The action is closed and the firing pin is pushed and held back under spring tension
Update
Firearm - Answer- A firearm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a
BURNING POWDER to force a projectile through and out of a metal tube.
Action - Answer- Action: The action is the heart of the firearm—the moving parts that
LOAD, FIRE, and EJECT the shells or cartridges. Several types of actions are used in
modern firearms. Muzzleloaders have LOCKS instead of actions.
Stock - Answer- Stock: The stock serves as the handle of the firearm. It can be
composed of one or two pieces and is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.
Barrel - Answer- Barrel: The barrel is the metal tube that the projectile travels through
(bullets travel through the barrels of rifles and handguns; shot travels through the barrel
of shotguns).
Bore - Answer- Inside of the firearm barrel through which the projectile travels when
fired
Breech - Answer- Rear end of the barrel
Firing Pin - Answer- A pin that strikes the primer of the cartridge, causing ignition
Receiver - Answer- Metal housing for the working parts of the action
Shotguns - Answer- Shotguns are another long-barreled firearm used by hunters. Most
common: pump action
Handguns - Answer- Handguns (revolver and pistols) are short-barreled firearms
sometimes used for hunting.
Cartridge - Answer- Ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing
primer, gunpowder, and a bullet. Single projectile bullet
Shotshell - Answer- Ammunition used in modern shotguns; a case containing primer,
gunpowder, wad, and a slug or shot (shot or pellets). Shotguns use a shotshell
containing either a single slug or a large number of small projectiles (shot or pellets).
Case - Answer- The container that holds all the other ammunition components together.
It's usually made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic.
,Primer - Answer- An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when
struck by a firing pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in
the center of the base of the case (centerfire).
Gunpowder - Answer- A chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an
expanding gas when ignited. Modern smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in
the open (outside of the case). Black powder is less stable and can be explosive when
impacted or ignited in the open.
Projectile - Answer- The object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a projectile,
usually containing lead, fired through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid
projectile, usually of lead, fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel,
tungsten alloy, or bismuth pellets fired through a shotgun barrel.
Wad - Answer- A seal and/or shot container made of paper or plastic separating the
powder from the slug or shot in a shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping
through the shot and holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel.
Pointed soft point - Answer- High velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path
(trajectory); excellent mushrooming
Rounded soft point - Answer- Popular for low-velocity calibers; recommended for
tubular magazines
Projected Tip - Answer- Highly accurate with excellent expansion
Full metal jacket - Answer- Maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets
are illegal for big game hunting in most states
Roundnose lead - Answer- Good penetration, little expansion
Full metal jacket (2) - Answer- High penetration, no expansion
Semi-wad cutter - Answer- Balances penetration and expansion
Hollowpoint - Answer- Designed for high expansion on impact
Wad cutter - Answer- Flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper
Centerfire ammunition - Answer- is used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type
of ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the casing base. Most centerfire
ammunition is reloadable.
Rimfire ammunition - Answer- has the primer contained in the rim of the ammunition
casing. Rimfire ammunition is limited to low-pressure loads. Rimfire cartridges are not
reloadable.
, Slug - Answer- A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, used for hunting big game
with a shotgun.
Shot - Answer- multiple pellets fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot size is adaptable to
the game being hunted. This type of projectile is used typically to hunt game birds and
small game animals.
Gauge - Answer- Term used to designate bore diameter of a shotgun; gauge is the
number of lead balls with diameters equal to the diameter of the bore that, when
combined, weigh one pound
The smaller the shot number - Answer- the larger the pellet diameter
Magnum - Answer- means the shell has more shot or more gunpowder than a regular
shell. Magnum and regular shotshells are interchangeable if the correct gauge and shell
length are used.
Shot sizes - Answer- Adaptable to the game that is being hunted. As pellet diameter
decreases, more shot can be placed in a standard shotshell load. The smaller the shot
number, the larger the shot size.
Basic process of shooting a gun - Answer- The same physical process is used to shoot
shotshells from shotguns or cartridges from rifles or handguns. Pulling the trigger
causes the firing pin to strike and explode the primer in the base of the cartridge or
shotshell. The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder, which burns rapidly and
converts to a gas. The gas rapidly expands and drives the projectile(s) through the
barrel with great force.
How the rifle and handgun fire - Answer- -A cartridge is inserted into the chamber
-The action is closed, and the firing pin is pushed back and held back under spring
tension.
-The trigger is squeezed, releasing the firing pin, which moves forward with great force.
The firing pin strikes the primer, causing it to explode.
-The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder. Gas converted from the burning
powder rapidly expands in the cartridge. The expanding gas forces the bullet out of the
cartridge and down the barrel with great speed. The rifling in the barrel causes the bullet
to spin as it travels out of the barrel. The bullet's speed and escaping gases produce a
"bang."
Riffling - Answer- The grooved pattern cut into the bore of a rifle or handgun. The riffling
in the barrel causes the bullet to spin as the bullet travels out of the barrel. This keeps it
point-first in flight, increasing accuracy and distance.
How the rifle fires - Answer- -A cartridge is inserted into the chamber
-The action is closed and the firing pin is pushed and held back under spring tension
