South Africa Firearm Competency - Self-Loading Rifle (US 119650) Exam

According to the South African Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, within what time frame must the loss or theft of a firearm be reported to the nearest police station?

• AWithin 12 hours
• BWithin 24 hours
• CWithin 48 hours
• DWithin 7 days

What is the legal requirement for storing a self-loading rifle when it is not in your direct physical control?

• ALocked in a wooden wardrobe or drawer with a padlocked lock
• BKept unloaded in a locked room with burglar bars on the windows
• CLocked in a safe or strongroom that complies with SABS 953-1 or SABS 953-2 standards
• DStored in a locked vehicle boot out of sight

How many days does a firearm license holder have to notify the Registrar of a permanent change of physical address?

• AWithin 7 days
• BWithin 14 days
• CWithin 30 days
• DWithin 60 days

Who is legally permitted to possess the keys or combination to the safe containing a licensed self-loading rifle?

• AAny member of the license holder's immediate family living in the same household
• BOnly the licensed holder of the firearm
• CThe license holder and their designated security company
• DAny person who has a valid competency certificate for a rifle

Under what condition may a licensed firearm owner hand over their self-loading rifle to an unlicensed person?

• AFor temporary safekeeping while the owner travels abroad
• BOnly under the direct, immediate supervision of the license holder on an approved shootin…
• CIf the unlicensed person is an employee of the license holder
• DUnder no circumstances whatsoever

What is the validity period of a license to possess a firearm for self-defense (Section 13) under the South African Firearms Control Act?

• A2 years
• B5 years
• C10 years
• DUntil the holder dies

What is the validity period of a license to possess a firearm for occasional hunting and sports-shooting (Section 15)?

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

What is the validity period of a license to possess a firearm for dedicated hunting and sports-shooting (Section 16)?

• A5 years
• B10 years
• C12 years
• DIndefinite, provided annual fees are paid

How does the South African Firearms Control Act define a 'self-loading' rifle or carbine?

• AA rifle that cocks and chambers a cartridge automatically, firing a continuous burst as l…
• BA rifle that requires the user to manually cycle a bolt or lever to chamber each subseque…
• CA rifle that automatically chambers a round and cocks itself after firing, but requires a…
• DA single-shot rifle that loads from a tubular magazine under the barrel

When transporting a licensed self-loading rifle in a motor vehicle, what is the legal requirement under the Firearms Control Act?

• AIt must be carried loaded and chambered on the passenger seat for quick access
• BIt must be completely unloaded, carried in a sturdy locked gun bag or case, and kept out…
• CIt must be disassembled into at least three separate parts and carried in different parts…
• DIt can be carried in any manner, provided the safety catch is switched to the 'on' positi…

Under what condition is it a criminal offence to point a firearm at another person in South Africa?

• AOnly if the firearm is loaded and the safety is off
• BOnly if the firearm is pointed with the intention to kill
• CIt is an offence to point any firearm, loaded or unloaded, at another person without good…
• DOnly if the person being pointed at is an off-duty police officer

Which of the following constitutes an offence regarding the discharge of a firearm under the Firearms Control Act?

• ADischarging a firearm in a public place or on any public road without a lawful reason
• BDischarging a firearm on a registered, approved shooting range
• CDischarging a firearm in a designated hunting area during open season
• DDischarging a firearm on private land with the owner's written permission, provided it is…

What does the Firearms Control Act state regarding the handling of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

• AIt is allowed if the alcohol level is below the legal driving limit
• BIt is allowed only on private property
• CIt is a serious criminal offence to handle or control a firearm while under the influence…
• DIt is allowed only if the firearm is unloaded

What is a potential legal consequence if a court finds a person guilty of negligently losing a licensed firearm?

• AA verbal warning from the police
• BThe person can be declared unfit to possess a firearm and face imprisonment or a fine
• CThe license is temporarily suspended for 3 months
• DNo legal action, provided a replacement firearm is purchased within 30 days

What must a firearm license holder do if a police official in uniform requests to inspect their firearm or license?

• ADecline, unless the police official has a written search warrant
• BProduce the firearm and license for inspection immediately or within a reasonable time
• CRequest the police official to accompany them to their attorney's office first
• DOnly produce the license, but refuse to hand over the firearm

What is the standard minimum age to apply for a firearm competency certificate in South Africa, under the Firearms Control Act?

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

How long is a Firearm Competency Certificate valid under the Firearms Control Act?

• AFor a fixed period of 5 years from date of issue
• BFor the same period of validity as the license for the firearm to which it relates
• CFor a fixed period of 10 years, after which it must be re-tested
• DIt is valid for the lifetime of the holder and never expires

Which of the following self-loading rifles is classified as a prohibited firearm under Section 4 of the Firearms Control Act?

• AA self-loading rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO
• BAny firearm modified to fire fully automatic, or manufactured as fully automatic
• CA self-loading rifle with a folding stock
• DA self-loading rifle with a magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds

What is the legal obligation of a license holder regarding carrying their firearm license when in possession of their rifle?

• AThey must have the original license or a certified copy on their person
• BThey can leave the license at home, provided they memorize the serial number
• CThey only need to show the license if they are involved in a shooting incident
• DA digital photo of the license on a mobile phone is always legally sufficient

When may a buyer legally take physical possession of a self-loading rifle purchased from a private seller or gun dealer?

• AImmediately upon paying the deposit or full purchase price
• BOnly after the buyer has been issued a valid firearm license for that specific firearm
• COnce the buyer has passed the competency test, while waiting for the license approval
• DIf the seller signs a temporary authorization letter allowing the buyer to transport it

What is the first and most critical rule of firearm safety when handling a self-loading rifle?

• AKeep the safety catch in the 'on' position at all times
• BAlways keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
• CEnsure the firearm is completely unloaded before cleaning
• DAlways wear eye and ear protection when touching a firearm

When holding a self-loading rifle but not actively aiming at a target to shoot, where must your trigger finger be placed?

• AResting lightly on the trigger
• BInside the trigger guard but not touching the trigger
• CStraight and flat along the receiver, outside the trigger guard
• DGripping the trigger guard for stability

How must you treat a self-loading rifle when picking it up, even if you are told it is unloaded?

• AAssume it is unloaded if the safety catch is engaged
• BPerform a dry-fire function test immediately to see if it click-fires
• CTreat it as loaded and immediately perform a complete physical and visual safety check
• DCycle the bolt once and immediately holster or carry it

On a 'cold range', what is the standard safe carry condition for a self-loading rifle when not actively shooting?

• AMagazine inserted, chamber empty, safety engaged, carried on a sling
• BMagazine removed, chamber empty, bolt locked to the rear (or action open with a chamber f…
• CLoaded and chambered, safety engaged, carried with muzzle pointing down
• DDisassembled in a gun case in the back of your vehicle

What is the correct procedure for handing over a self-loading rifle to another person?

• AToss it carefully or pass it with the muzzle pointing towards your own feet
• BHand it over loaded with the safety engaged so they can use it immediately
• CPoint muzzle in safe direction, remove magazine, open action, show clear, engage safety,…
• DHand it over closed, telling them that you checked it and it is clear

What does a visual and physical inspection of a self-loading rifle entail during a safety check?

• ALooking at the exterior of the rifle for scratches, then shaking it to hear if any rounds…
• BLooking inside the chamber and magazine well, and physically inserting a finger to feel t…
• CPulling the trigger to see if the hammer falls, then looking down the barrel from the muz…
• DChecking that the magazine release button works and the safety lever moves smoothly

What defines a 'safe direction' when pointing the muzzle of a self-loading rifle?

• AAny direction that points away from your own body
• BPointing at a brick wall or concrete floor, regardless of who is standing nearby
• CA direction where any accidental discharge will not cause injury to persons or damage to…
• DDirectly towards the sky at a 90-degree angle, regardless of the surroundings

Why must a shooter always know what lies behind and beyond their target before firing a self-loading rifle?

• ARifle bullets travel only short distances, so you need to check if you can recover the sp…
• BTo calculate the exact wind resistance acting on the bullet
• CRifle bullets carry high energy, can easily penetrate targets, and can travel several kil…
• DTo ensure that there are no camera crews or spectators taking photos behind the target

While firing your self-loading rifle, you hear a muffled report (pop) and feel significantly reduced recoil. What should you do immediately?

• AKeep pulling the trigger to clear the bad ammunition from the system
• BRapidly cycle the charging handle to chamber a fresh round and keep shooting
• CStop firing immediately, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, unload, and check the barre…
• DPour lubricating oil into the chamber to cool the barrel down

You pull the trigger of your self-loading rifle, the hammer falls with a click, but the rifle fails to fire. What is the correct immediate safety procedure?

• ATurn the rifle sideways to look directly into the ejection port to see what happened
• BKeep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction for at least 30 seconds to guard against a ha…
• CImmediately tap the bottom of the magazine and rack the charging handle
• DPut the rifle down on the shooting bench and walk away to find a range officer

Under what circumstance is it safe to fire your rifle at a rustling bush or an unidentified shape in low-light conditions?

• AIf you are hunting and are certain there are no other hunters in the area
• BIf you are defending your property and believe it is an intruder
• CNever; you must always positively identify your target and know what is behind it before…
• DIf your rifle is equipped with a high-powered optical scope

What is the correct safety sequence to clear a double-feed malfunction in a self-loading rifle?

• AKeep pulling the trigger until the jammed casings are forced out of the ejection port
• BLock the bolt back, remove the magazine, clear the jammed rounds from the receiver, inser…
• CHit the forward assist repeatedly to force the bolt forward into battery
• DUse a cleaning rod to ram the rounds back down the barrel from the muzzle

When moving with a slung self-loading rifle on a shooting range, where should the muzzle be pointed?

• AHorizontally to the side, pointing at adjacent shooting bays
• BPointed either straight down at the ground or straight up into the air, depending on rang…
• CCarried diagonally across the chest pointing at other shooters' faces
• DIt does not matter, as long as the safety catch is on

When moving between shooting positions during a course of fire on a range, where must your trigger finger be?

• ALightly touching the trigger to be ready to shoot quickly
• BInside the trigger guard, with the safety catch off
• CCompletely outside the trigger guard, flat along the receiver
• DResting on the safety selector lever

What is the primary physical hazard of firing a self-loading rifle with an obstruction (such as mud, snow, or a cleaning patch) in the barrel?

• AThe bullet will fly slightly off-target but the rifle will function normally
• BThe gas pressure will build up rapidly, causing the barrel to rupture or explode
• CThe rifle will convert to fully automatic fire
• DThe action will fail to eject the spent casing but cause no damage

What is the correct action to take if a self-loading rifle slips from your hands and starts to fall?

• ATry to catch it mid-air before it hits the ground
• BStick your foot out to cushion the impact on the stock
• CLet the rifle fall to the ground without attempting to catch it, keeping your hands clear
• DDive to the ground to catch the muzzle

What must you do immediately upon hearing the command 'Cease Fire' on a shooting range?

• AQuickly fire off any remaining rounds in your magazine, then stop
• BStop shooting immediately, take your finger off the trigger, point muzzle in a safe direc…
• CPack your rifle into its case immediately without clearing it
• DTurn around to face the range officer with the rifle in your hand to show you have stopped

How do you clear a 'stovepipe' malfunction (failure to eject, where the spent casing is caught in the ejection port)?

• APerform the 'Tap, Rack, Assess' drill: tap the magazine, rack the charging handle to ejec…
• BPush the casing back into the receiver with your finger to re-chamber it
• CDisassemble the rifle immediately on the shooting line
• DHit the barrel against a solid object to shake the casing free

When should the safety selector catch of a self-loading rifle be switched from the 'Safe' position to 'Fire'?

• AAs soon as you load the magazine into the rifle
• BWhen you are in the ready stance, before raising the rifle to aim
• COnly when the rifle is mounted, the sights are aligned on an identified target, and you h…
• DOnly after you have pulled the trigger once and nothing happened

What is the correct order of steps to safely unload a self-loading rifle?

• APull the charging handle back, inspect the chamber, remove the magazine, engage safety
• BEngage safety, remove the magazine first, pull the charging handle fully to the rear, loc…
• CPull the trigger to fire any chambered round, then drop the magazine
• DRemove the magazine, close the bolt, point in a safe direction, pull the trigger, then en…

How does a gas-piston operated self-loading rifle (such as an AK-47, LM5, or Galil) function?

• AHigh-pressure gas tapped from the barrel drives a piston rod, which pushes the bolt carri…
• BThe bolt is pushed rearward solely by the physical recoil force of the cartridge casing p…
• CA battery-powered motor cycles the bolt carrier assembly forward and backward
• DHigh-pressure gas is routed directly through a tube into the bolt carrier itself to cycle…

What is a defining characteristic of a direct impingement gas system in a self-loading rifle (such as a standard AR-15)?

• AA long metal rod connects the gas block directly to the trigger assembly
• BGas tapped from the barrel travels through a tube directly into the bolt carrier key, pus…
• CIt requires no lubrication whatsoever because gas cleans the parts during operation
• DIt uses a heavy counterweight in the stock to cycle the bolt without any gas pressure

What occurs during the 'extracting' phase of the self-loading rifle's cycle of operation?

• AThe firing pin strikes the primer, igniting the propellant
• BThe spent cartridge case is pulled out of the chamber by the extractor claw as the bolt m…
• CThe bolt strips a fresh cartridge from the magazine feed lips
• DThe ejector throws the spent casing out of the ejection port

What is the function of the ejector in a self-loading rifle?

• ATo hold the cartridge case firmly against the bolt face during firing
• BTo push or throw the extracted cartridge casing out of the receiver through the ejection…
• CTo pull the cartridge case out of the chamber after firing
• DTo catch the next round feeding from the magazine

Why must a self-loading rifle's bolt lock into the barrel extension or receiver before the cartridge is fired?

• ATo prevent the magazine from falling out of the magwell
• BTo seal the chamber and contain the high pressure of the expanding gases, ensuring they o…
• CTo engage the mechanical safety catch automatically
• DTo align the iron sights with the target

What is the purpose of the firing pin in a centerfire self-loading rifle?

• ATo guide the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber
• BTo push the spent case out of the ejection port
• CTo strike the primer cap in the base of the cartridge, initiating ignition of the propell…
• DTo lock the bolt carrier group to the rear when the magazine is empty

What is the primary cause of magazine-related feeding malfunctions in self-loading rifles?

• AUsing a magazine with a capacity of less than 5 rounds
• BWeak or damaged magazine springs, or bent feed lips
• CStoring magazines in a cool, dry place
• DLoading the magazine to its maximum capacity

When lubricating a self-loading rifle for standard range use, where should oil be applied?

• AInside the barrel and chamber to reduce bullet friction
• BCopiously over the entire exterior surface of the plastic handguards and stock
• COn high-friction metal-on-metal contact points, such as bolt carrier rails and cam pins
• DDirectly into the magazine spring and magazine body