Effective August 1, 2009, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in Indiana online course—the official hunter education course of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

How Ammunition is Fired

The firing sequence for handguns and shotguns is very similar to the firing sequence for a bolt-action rifle. Continue to see a more detailed cross-section diagram as well as step-by-step explanation of the firing sequence. The bolt moves forward, compressing the firing pin spring and inserting a cartridge into the chamber. The firing pin is held back under spring tension. When the trigger is squeezed, the firing pin moves forward, crushing and igniting the primer in the cartridge base. The primer ignites the gunpowder, generating gas pressure, which forces the bullet forward and out of the barrel.