Hunter-Ed Certification Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep Guide

The correct answer is powder because it serves as the propellant in firearms. When the trigger of a firearm is pulled, the firing pin strikes the primer of the cartridge, igniting the gunpowder inside. This ignition creates rapidly expanding gases due to the combustion of the powder, which generates significant pressure within the cartridge. This pressure pushes the bullet or shot down the barrel and out of the firearm.

Other materials listed, such as rust, oil, and plastic, do not function as propellants. Rust can obstruct the mechanisms of the firearm, oil is used for lubrication and maintenance but doesn’t create pressure, and plastic is typically found in components like wads in shotgun shells or casing but does not generate the explosive force needed to propel a projectile. Thus, powder is the crucial element that enables the firearm to discharge a bullet or shot effectively.