Which statement correctly describes single-action operation?

• A. The trigger cocks the hammer automatically with every shot.
• B. It fires only double action.
• C. The hammer must be cocked before the weapon can be fired.
• D. It is always less accurate than double-action.

Answer: (C)

Single-action operation means the trigger’s job is only to release a hammer or striker that is already cocked. You must manually cock the hammer before you can fire; pulling the trigger on a single-action firearm does not cock the hammer, it simply releases it to strike the primer. This is why a gun in single-action is typically cocked first—by pulling back the hammer on a traditional revolver or by cycling the action on a semi-automatic—to prepare for firing.

The other ideas don’t fit because they describe different behaviors. In double-action, the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer in one motion, so the hammer doesn’t need to be cocked beforehand. Saying it fires only double action ignores that a single-action option can fire after the hammer is cocked. And accuracy isn’t determined by the action type alone; many factors influence shot precision, and single-action can offer a lighter, crisper trigger that some shooters prefer for accuracy.