Washington State Hunters Ed Practice Exam

Which action type requires the shooter to cock the hammer before squeezing the trigger?

1. Single action

2. Double action

3. Revolver action

4. Automatic action

The correct answer is: Single action

The action type that requires the shooter to cock the hammer before squeezing the trigger is known as single action. In a single action mechanism, the trigger pull only performs one action: it releases the already cocked hammer. Therefore, before each shot, the shooter must manually cock the hammer back, either by pulling it back with their thumb or by cycling the action of the firearm, depending on the design. This is distinct from double action systems, where pulling the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer in one motion. Revolver actions refer broadly to the mechanism of revolvers, which can be either single or double action. Automatic actions denote semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms, which chamber a new round after each shot and often include both single and double action configurations. Understanding these differences is crucial for responsible firearm handling and operation.