Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) Practice Exam

The correct answer highlights an essential distinction between the components of a cartridge and the mechanisms involved in firing a weapon. A typical cartridge consists of four main components: the bullet or shot, the main powder charge, the primer, and the cartridge case that holds them all together.

The contained bullet or shot is the projectile that is expelled from the firearm when the cartridge is fired. The main powder charge provides the propellant necessary to launch the bullet at high speed. The primer serves as the ignition source, igniting the powder charge when struck by the firing pin.

The trigger mechanism, however, is not a part of the cartridge itself. It is a component of the firearm that activates the firing mechanism. When the trigger is pulled, it releases the firing pin to strike the primer, igniting the powder charge and propelling the bullet out of the barrel. Therefore, recognizing the distinction between the cartridge components and the firearm's firing mechanism is crucial in understanding the overall operation of a firearm.