California Firearms Safety Certificates (CAFSC) Practice Exam

What type of action does a firearm use if it requires rotating a handle to chamber a round?

1. Pump action

2. Lever action

3. Hinge action

4. Revolver action

The correct answer is: Lever action

A firearm that requires rotating a handle to chamber a round typically utilizes lever action. In lever-action firearms, a lever is engaged, usually located underneath the receiver, and when it is pulled down and then elevated, the action rotates and ejects the spent cartridge while simultaneously chambering a new round from the magazine. This rotation of the handle is a defining feature of lever-action mechanisms, distinguishing it from other types of firearm actions that operate through different means of cycling the chamber or feeding ammunition. The other options involve different mechanics; for example, pump action firearms require sliding a fore-end back and forth to cycle the action, while revolvers utilize a rotating cylinder to align cartridges with the barrel. Hinge action generally describes break-open firearms that pivot on a hinge point to expose the chamber for loading and unloading. Thus, lever action is correctly associated with the rotating handle function involved in the chambering process.