So, let’s begin with my description of ejecting. In most cases ejecting is the process in which the cartridge that was just fired is expelling the used casing from the firearm. With semi-automatic firearms there will usually be some type of ejector bar that kicks the used casing off the bolt face but in break action type firearms it is very different. If the break action has an ejector, it usually comes in the form of a piece of metal that springs the used casings out once the break action is fully open.
Next, we have my definition of cocking. This works very differently in a lot of different firearms but to define what is occurring I would say that after firing and upon the return of the bolt, the mechanism that fires the gun is reset to a ready to fire position. This is not to say that every firearm has a bolt. For example, a single action revolver once fired does not have the ability to re-cock the mechanism but can be manually re-cocked by the user pulling back on the hammer. If we were to look at a semi-automatic AR-15 we would see something very different. The bolt carrier group recoiling backward pushes the hammer rearward enough to get it to catch on the rest of the fire control group thus resetting or cocking the firearm to a ready to fire position.
Feeding is an interesting one to discuss in my opinion. Not only is it a big part of the cycle of operation but it also needs to be one of the first things you do even before step one in the cycle. If the user has not fed the firearm with live cartridges first, then with the first trigger squeeze, there will be no cycle of operation. Feeding is the process in which the user or the firearm inserts live ammunition into the barrel of the firearm. In semi-automatic firearms this is usually done with some sort of box magazine. After the firearms bolt has recoiled rearward, the recoil spring sends the bolt forward again and it will strip the round from the magazine and feed it into the barrel. However, in pump action shotguns this feeding process works a little differently. Pump actions are tube fed usually and once the pump is pulled to the rear a lift bar is dropped, releasing one cartridge. When the pump is returned forward the leader or lift bar helps guide the round into the barrel.
Last, we have chambering to discuss. As the last step in the operation, it is important to note that if your firearm is out of ammunition, it will not chamber anything and will sometimes remain locked in an open position. Chambering is the process where the firearm takes its ammunition and locks it into the throat of the barrel in preparation to fire the next cartridge. Chambering in a semi-automatic AR-15 usually includes the bolt face, turning and locking the ammunition into the barrel were in a break action, the user must place a round back into the barrel and close the action. A lot of my definitions are kind of broad because not every firearm performs these actions the same. Thanks for your time.
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