Break (or Hinge) Action

The break-action firearm operates on the same principle as a door hinge. Simple to load and unload, a hinge action is often chosen as a hunter’s first firearm.

To open the action, point the barrel(s) at the ground. A release is pressed, and the stock drops downward. This allows the cartridges to eject or to be removed manually if the firearm is loaded.

Break-action rifles are the slowest rifle on the market to reload because reloading them is a manual process, and all shells must be manually loaded. This makes them great rifles for first-time shooters because they are simple to operate and clean.