Courses / Self-loading rifle / Lesson 2
Know your self-loading rifle
Its parts and how it works. Lesson 2 of 8 · about 7 minutes to watch.
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Know your self-loading rifle
Self-loading rifle, lesson 2 of 8: its parts and how it works
Last lesson was about the rules. This one is about the rifle itself: its main parts, what each does, and how it loads the next round on its own. You don't need to be a gunsmith. You need to know your rifle well enough to handle it safely and spot when something isn't right.
One shot for every press of the trigger
- Self-loading: fires once, then loads the next round
- Also called semi-automatic
- Fully automatic firearms are prohibited for private owners
A self-loading, or semi-automatic, rifle fires one shot each time you press the trigger. It then reloads itself, ready for the next press. A rifle that keeps firing while the trigger is held is fully automatic, and fully automatic firearms are prohibited for private owners under section 4 of the Act. If a self-loading rifle ever fires twice for one press, that's a serious fault. Stop, make it safe, and get it to a gunsmith.
The main parts and what they do
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Barrel | Guides the bullet; the chamber is at its rear end |
| Chamber | Holds the cartridge ready to fire |
| Bolt | Closes the chamber, then extracts and ejects the case |
| Receiver | The body that holds the working parts together |
| Magazine | Holds cartridges and feeds them up to the bolt |
| Trigger and safety catch | Fires the rifle; the safety blocks it as a back-up |
| Sights or optic | Let you aim |
| Stock | Fits into your shoulder so you can hold it steady |
Here are the parts you'll handle every time. The barrel guides the bullet, and at its back end is the chamber, where the cartridge sits when it's ready to fire. The bolt closes the chamber and, after a shot, pulls the empty case out and throws it clear. The receiver is the body everything fits into. The magazine holds the cartridges and pushes them up to the bolt. Then the trigger and safety catch, the sights or optic, and the stock. One legal point: the Act treats the barrel and the receiver as firearms in their own right, and the bolt as a firearm part, so none of them may be possessed without the right licence.
What happens after every shot
- 1FireThe cartridge fires
- 2UnlockThe bolt unlocks from the chamber
- 3ExtractThe empty case is pulled out
- 4EjectThe case is thrown clear
- 5CockThe firing mechanism is reset
- 6FeedA new round comes up from the magazine
- 7ChamberIt's pushed into the chamber
- 8LockThe bolt locks, ready to fire
This is the cycle of operation, and it happens in a fraction of a second. The cartridge fires. The bolt unlocks. The empty case is extracted from the chamber and ejected out of the side. The firing mechanism is cocked again. A new round is fed up from the magazine, pushed into the chamber, and the bolt locks behind it. The rifle is ready to fire again. Knowing these steps helps you understand the malfunctions in lesson 7: each one is a step that didn't happen.
Where the energy comes from
| System | How it works | Often found in |
|---|---|---|
| Gas-operated | Gas from the barrel pushes the bolt back | Most centrefire self-loading rifles |
| Blowback | The case pushes the bolt straight back | Many .22 rimfire self-loading rifles |
The rifle needs energy to work the bolt, and it takes it from the shot. In a gas-operated rifle, some of the gas behind the bullet is tapped off from the barrel and drives the bolt back. In a blowback rifle, the pressure of the case pushing backwards moves the bolt directly. Many .22 rimfire rifles work this way. Your rifle's manual tells you which system it uses, which matters for cleaning.
An open bolt is not proof of an empty rifle
- Many rifles hold the bolt open after the last round
- Not every model does
- Always look and feel in the chamber yourself
Many self-loading rifles lock the bolt open after the last round is fired, which tells you the magazine is empty. But not every model does this, and a round can be left behind. So an open bolt is a good sign, not proof. Every time, look into the chamber and feel it with a finger to be sure it's empty.
Read what's stamped on your rifle
- The calibre: match it to the cartridges you use
- The serial number: on the barrel and the receiver
- The maker's manual: for your model's controls
Your rifle tells you a lot about itself. The calibre is stamped on it, usually on the barrel, and every cartridge you use must match it. The serial number is stamped on the barrel and on the frame or receiver, as section 23 of the Act requires; it's the number on your licence. And the maker's manual explains your model's safety catch, magazine release and bolt release, which differ from rifle to rifle.
Which licence covers a self-loading rifle
| Purpose | Licence | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting or sport shooting | Section 16, with dedicated status | 10 years |
| Self-defence (restricted) | Section 14, only if a section 13 firearm isn't enough | 2 years |
| Occasional hunting or sport | Section 15 does not cover self-loading rifles | Not available |
| Fully automatic | Prohibited for private owners | Not available |
This is why Thandi is working towards dedicated status. A self-loading rifle for hunting or sport needs a section 16 licence, and that needs dedicated status from a SAPS-accredited association. For self-defence it's a restricted firearm under section 14, granted only if you can show a section 13 firearm wouldn't protect you enough, and that licence lasts two years. A section 15 licence for occasional hunting or sport doesn't cover self-loading rifles. And fully automatic firearms are prohibited.
Your turn
Before lesson 3
- Do the exercise: Name the part
- Answer four quick questions on this lesson
- Apply: find these parts in your rifle's manual
Match each job to the part that does it, then answer four quick questions. If you have access to a rifle's manual, find each of these parts in its diagram. Next lesson: loading and unloading, and the one step people get wrong.
Do: Name the part
Anel describes what a part does. Which part is it?
Check
Four quick questions. The reason shows as soon as you answer.
Apply
Where this shows up in your own life.
Find the barrel, chamber, bolt, magazine and safety catch in your rifle's manual.
Ridgeview Firearms Academy and its people are fictional. This is study material written from the Firearms Control Act and the SAQA unit standards. It isn't an accredited course or legal advice; your accredited training provider runs the official tests.