Which stage comes directly after Firing?

• A. Chambering
• B. Ejecting
• C. Unlocking
• D. Extracting

Answer: (C)

After firing, the action must unlock the breech so the spent cartridge can be removed. In a locked-breech design, the slide’s rearward motion from the fired round causes the locking mechanism to disengage. Once unlocked, the extractor pulls the spent case from the chamber and the ejector throws it out as the slide continues rearward. Only after this does the slide return forward to chamber a new round. So unlocking is the step that comes directly after firing because it enables the subsequent extraction and ejection that clear the spent case and prepare for the next round.