Page 32 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE

Figure 2: The feeding step of the cycle of operations.

• Feeding – The feeding step in the chamber. The magazine will continue to
cycle involves transferring a cartridge feed new cartridges until it is empty, at
from the breech of the firearm into the which point it will typically lock the ac-
chamber. This can be accomplished in tion open.
a few different ways. The cartridge can
Some action types and firearms equipped
be introduced manually, by inserting a
with a tubular magazine below the bar-
new round into the breech, then manu-
rel rely on a “lifter” or elevator to raise
ally manipulating the action, driving the
the new rounds up, into the chamber.
round into the chamber. Typically, the
The elevator will rise and fall as the ac-
bolt or breechblock will push the round
tion cycles. When a round has been fired,
through a guide or feed ramp, which
the elevator will fall to get out of the
makes the cartridge’s transition into the
way of the extracting/ejecting case. A
chamber much smoother.
new cartridge will land on the elevator
A firearm equipped with either a fixed and it will rise into the path of the bolt
or detachable magazine will store and or breechblock. The bolt will strip the
feed new cartridges. The bolt or slide will round off of the elevator and force it into
strip a new cartridge from the magazine the chamber.
and push it through the guide or feed
The feeding step of a revolver works on
ramp into the chamber. Once the round
the same basic principle, but happens
is fired, the firearm will cycle and feed a
much differently. After the cylinder is
new round from the magazine into the
loaded and closed, either the trigger is

28