South Africa Firearm Competency - Manually Operated Rifle (US 119651) Exam

Under the South African Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, what is the minimum age to apply for a competency certificate under normal circumstances?

• A16 years
• B18 years
• C21 years
• D25 years

According to the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, within how many hours must a firearm owner report the loss, theft, or destruction of a firearm to the nearest police station?

• A12 hours
• B24 hours
• C48 hours
• D7 days

Under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, how many days prior to the expiry date of a firearm licence must the holder apply for renewal?

• AAt least 30 days
• BAt least 60 days
• CAt least 90 days
• DAt least 120 days

What is the maximum period of validity for a licence to possess a firearm for self-defence (Section 13) under the Firearms Control Act?

• A2 years
• B5 years
• C10 years
• DIndefinite

Under Section 15 of the Firearms Control Act, what is the maximum period of validity for a licence to possess a firearm for occasional hunting and sports-shooting?

• A3 years
• B5 years
• C10 years
• D15 years

Unless declared a dedicated hunter or sports-person, what is the maximum number of rounds of ammunition a licence holder may possess at any time per licensed firearm?

• A50 rounds
• B100 rounds
• C200 rounds
• D500 rounds

According to South African National Standards (SANS 953-1), how must a firearm safe weighing less than 150 kg be secured to the building?

• AIt must be placed in a locked wardrobe without bolting
• BIt must be bolted to a floor or brick/concrete wall using M10 expansion anchor bolts
• CIt must be welded to a metal table
• DNo anchoring is required if the safe has a double-bitted key lock

Under what condition may a licence holder permit another person to use their licensed manually operated rifle?

• AOnly if the other person is a family member
• BOnly under the direct supervision of the licence holder, or if the other person holds a v…
• CUnder any circumstances, provided they have written permission
• DOnly if the other person is over the age of 21

Within how many days must a licensed firearm owner notify the Registrar of any change in their physical address?

• A7 days
• B14 days
• C30 days
• D60 days

What does the term 'direct supervision' mean under the Firearms Control Act when a non-licence holder is handling a firearm?

• AThe licence holder is in the same building
• BThe licence holder is on the phone providing instructions
• CThe licence holder is in physical proximity and able to take immediate control of the fir…
• DThe licence holder has watched a video of the shooting session

Which of the following describes a 'manually operated rifle' as defined by the South African Firearms Control Act?

• AA rifle that fires one round per trigger pull and automatically chambers the next round
• BA rifle where the shooter must manually cycle the action (e.g., bolt, lever, or pump) to…
• CA rifle that fires continuously when the trigger is held down
• DA black-powder muzzleloader only

What is the legal requirement under the FCA when carrying a manually operated rifle in a public place?

• AIt must be carried slung over the shoulder with a round in the chamber
• BIt must be carried in a gun bag, case, or holder designed for that purpose, completely co…
• CIt must be carried openly in hand to show transparency
• DCarrying a rifle in public is strictly prohibited under all circumstances

What does the Firearms Control Act state regarding the handling of a firearm while under the influence of an intoxicating substance?

• AIt is allowed if you are on private property
• BIt is permitted if the safety catch is engaged
• CIt is a severe criminal offence to handle or be in possession of a loaded firearm while u…
• DIt is only an offence if an accident occurs

If a court declares a person 'unfit to possess a firearm,' what is the immediate legal consequence?

• AThey are fined but may keep their firearms
• BAll their firearm licences, permits, and authorisations are automatically cancelled, and…
• CThey must transfer their firearms to a family member within 6 months
• DThey are only barred from carrying firearms in public, but can keep them at home

Who is designated as the National Registrar of Firearms in South Africa?

• AThe Minister of Police
• BThe Chief Justice of South Africa
• CThe National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS)
• DThe Director of Public Prosecutions

What is the maximum number of firearms a person may licence under Section 15 (licence to possess a firearm for occasional hunting and sports-shooting)?

• AOnly 1 firearm
• BUp to 2 firearms
• CUp to 4 firearms (including no more than 1 handgun and 1 shotgun)
• DThere is no limit to the number of firearms

Under what section of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 can the police conduct an administrative inquiry to declare a person unfit to possess a firearm?

• ASection 49
• BSection 102
• CSection 103
• DSection 137

If you inherit a manually operated rifle from a deceased estate, which of the following is legally required before you can take possession of it?

• AYou can take possession immediately as long as you have the death certificate
• BYou must apply for and be granted a valid firearm licence and competency certificate befo…
• CYou can use the deceased person's licence indefinitely
• DYou only need written permission from the executor of the estate to use it

Which of the following is an offence under Section 120 of the Firearms Control Act regarding discharging a firearm?

• ADischarging a firearm on an approved shooting range
• BDischarging a firearm in a public place or built-up area without a lawful reason
• CDischarging a firearm for hunting purposes in an open area with permission
• DDischarging a firearm during a licensed private defence situation

What is the legal requirement regarding the storage of ammunition under the Firearms Control Act?

• AAmmunition must be stored in the safe with the rifle chamber loaded
• BAmmunition must be stored in a locked safe, strongroom, or a locked device, separate from…
• CAmmunition can be stored openly on a shelf
• DAmmunition must be stored at a local police station only

What is the primary golden rule of firearm safety?

• AKeep the safety catch engaged at all times
• BTreat every firearm as if it is loaded until you have personally verified it is clear
• CEnsure the ammunition matches the calibre of the rifle
• DAlways clean the barrel before shooting

What does the rule 'Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction' mean in practice?

• APoint it at the ground directly next to your feet
• BPoint the firearm in a direction where an accidental discharge would not cause injury, de…
• CPoint it straight up into the air under all circumstances
• DPoint it at the target only when the safety is off

When handling a bolt-action rifle, when should you place your finger inside the trigger guard?

• AAs soon as you pick up the rifle
• BWhile cycling the bolt to chamber a cartridge
• COnly when the rifle is aligned with the target and you have made the conscious decision t…
• DWhile adjusting the safety catch

What is the correct sequence of steps to 'make safe' (clear) a manually operated rifle?

• APull the trigger, open the bolt, remove the magazine, and inspect the chamber
• BPoint the muzzle in a safe direction, remove the magazine (if applicable), cycle the acti…
• CEngage the safety catch, look down the barrel from the muzzle, and close the action
• DRemove the magazine, close the bolt, pull the trigger, and store the rifle

When receiving a rifle from another person, what must you do before accepting it?

• AAssume it is unloaded if they are an experienced shooter
• BEnsure the action is open, and visually and physically inspect the chamber and magazine w…
• CWipe the stock to remove fingerprints
• DPull the trigger to test the firing pin

What is a 'misfire' when shooting a rifle?

• AThe bullet strikes a different target
• BA failure of the cartridge to fire after the firing pin strikes the primer
• CA double-feed malfunction in the magazine
• DThe bullet gets stuck inside the barrel

If you pull the trigger on a chambered round and hear a click but the rifle does not fire immediately, what is the safest procedure to follow?

• AImmediately open the bolt to inspect the cartridge
• BKeep the rifle pointed downrange in a safe direction, wait at least 30 seconds, and then…
• CLook down the barrel from the muzzle to check for blockage
• DShake the rifle to settle the gunpowder

What is a 'squib load' and what are its dangers?

• AA cartridge with double the powder charge, causing excessive recoil
• BA cartridge with insufficient or damp powder that fails to push the bullet out of the bar…
• CA round that fires automatically without pulling the trigger
• DA cartridge case that fails to extract from the chamber

What should you do if you experience weak recoil and a muffled muzzle report (a 'pop' instead of a 'bang') while firing a rifle?

• AQuickly chamber another round and fire to clear the barrel
• BStop shooting immediately, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, open the action,…
• CLook down the muzzle to see where the bullet is stuck
• DAssume it was a warning shot and continue firing

When crossing a fence, river, or obstacle while carrying a manually operated rifle, what is the safest procedure?

• ACarry it loaded with the safety engaged and climb over
• BUnload the rifle, open the action, place it flat on the ground on the other side of the o…
• CThrow the rifle over the fence to clear the path
• DSlide the rifle under the fence with a chambered round

What is the purpose of the safety catch on a manually operated rifle?

• ATo ensure the rifle never fires under any circumstances
• BTo serve as a mechanical device that blocks trigger or hammer movement, which must be bac…
• CTo adjust the pull weight of the trigger
• DTo lock the bolt in the open position for cleaning

How should a rifle be stored in a safe according to safety best practices?

• ALoaded with a chambered round and the safety engaged
• BUnloaded, with the action open or bolt removed, and with ammunition stored separately
• CFully loaded with a trigger lock attached
• DIn a soft gun bag, zipped shut with ammunition inside the bag

When at a shooting range, what is the first action you must take when the Range Officer calls 'Cease Fire'?

• AQuickly fire your remaining shots
• BImmediately stop shooting, keep the rifle pointed downrange, finger off the trigger, unlo…
• CPack your rifle into its bag immediately
• DTurn around to look at the Range Officer with the rifle in hand

Why is it critical to ensure that your target has a proper backstop when shooting a rifle?

• ATo make it easier to see where the bullet hit
• BTo stop the bullet from travelling beyond the target and causing injury or damage, as rif…
• CTo prevent the target from falling over
• DTo reduce the noise of the gunshot

What is the correct method for checking for barrel obstructions on a bolt-action rifle?

• ALook down the muzzle end of the barrel with the bolt closed
• BEnsure the rifle is unloaded, remove the bolt, and look through the barrel from the breec…
• CInsert a cleaning rod down the muzzle with a live round in the chamber
• DFire a blank round to blow out any dirt

If you are shooting with others and need to move forward to inspect or patch targets, what must be done with all firearms on the firing line?

• AThey must be left loaded with the safety engaged on the benches
• BThey must be unloaded, actions locked open, laid on the benches, and no one may touch the…
• CThey must be carried slung over the back while walking to the targets
• DThey must be placed in the trunks of vehicles

What is the danger of using ammunition that does not exactly match the calibre marking on the rifle's barrel?

• AThe bullet will shoot slightly higher
• BIt can cause chamber pressure spikes, casing ruptures, or catastrophic failure of the rif…
• CIt will make the rifle recoil less
• DIt is legal as long as the cartridge fits into the chamber

How should you react if a live cartridge falls onto the ground while loading your rifle at the range?

• ADive quickly to catch it before it hits the ground
• BKeep the rifle pointed downrange in a safe direction, and only retrieve the dropped cartr…
• CIgnore it and step on it to keep it out of the way
• DBend down to pick it up immediately while still aiming the rifle

What type of eye and ear protection is required when shooting a manually operated rifle?

• ASunglasses and cotton wool in the ears
• BANSI-rated safety glasses and hearing protectors (muffs or plugs)
• CNone, as manually operated rifles are quiet
• DAny standard prescription glasses are sufficient without hearing protection

What is the primary safety hazard of dry-firing a rifle?

• AIt always breaks the firing pin immediately
• BFailing to verify that the chamber is empty, leading to a negligent discharge
• CIt wears out the trigger spring
• DIt causes the barrel to overheat

What is the purpose of the rifling (helical lands and grooves) inside the bore of a rifle barrel?

• ATo slow down the bullet to make it safer
• BTo impart a spin on the bullet, providing gyroscopic stability and accuracy in flight
• CTo cut down the weight of the barrel
• DTo clean the bullet as it passes through

In a rifled barrel, what are the raised sections between the grooves called?

• APeaks
• BLands
• CTracks
• DCrowns

How is the 'calibre' of a rifled barrel measured?

• AThe total length of the barrel
• BThe distance between opposing lands inside the bore
• CThe weight of the bullet it fires
• DThe volume of the chamber

What are the four primary components of a modern centerfire rifle cartridge?

• ABullet, casing, gunpowder, and primer
• BLead, paper, flint, and powder
• CProjectile, wad, shot, and hull
• DNail, fuse, chemical, and tube

What is the difference between rimfire and centerfire ammunition?

• ARimfire can be reloaded, but centerfire cannot
• BRimfire has the primer compound located inside the hollow rim of the casing base, while c…
• CRimfire is only for high-calibre hunting rifles
• DCenterfire is obsolete and no longer manufactured

What is 'headspace' in a rifle?

• AThe volume of air inside the stock
• BThe distance from the breech face to the part of the chamber that stops forward cartridge…
• CThe space between the rear sight and the shooter's eye
• DThe length of the bolt handle

What are the potential dangers of firing a rifle with excessive headspace?

• AThe rifle will fire multiple rounds automatically
• BIt can cause case head separation, case rupture, and hot gas blowback into the receiver,…
• CThe bullet will travel significantly faster
• DIt will cause the safety catch to lock permanently

What is the primary function of the extractor on a bolt-action rifle?

• ATo push a new cartridge from the magazine into the chamber
• BTo pull the fired cartridge case out of the chamber as the bolt is opened
• CTo strike the primer of the cartridge
• DTo engage the manual safety lock