Ace the Hunter-Ed Certification 2025 – Gear Up to Bag Success!

After the firing pin strikes the primer, the primer explodes and ignites the gunpowder. This is a crucial step in the firing sequence of a rifle. When the firing pin makes contact with the primer, it causes the primer to detonate. This detonation generates a small but significant amount of heat and gas, leading to the ignition of the gunpowder located in the cartridge.

Once the gunpowder is ignited, it rapidly burns and produces a large volume of gas that creates high pressure inside the cartridge casing. This pressure is what propels the bullet down the barrel and out of the firearm. The entire process must occur in the correct order for the rifle to function properly. As a result, the ignition of the gunpowder is the critical next step following the primer’s explosion, ensuring that the bullet is dislodged and sent down the barrel toward the target.

The other options describe events that do not occur immediately after firing. For instance, the trigger resetting happens after the shot is fired, rather than as part of the firing sequence. The safety mechanism engaging is a precautionary measure that would typically be addressed before handling or firing the firearm rather than an event that occurs after the rifle is fired.