Which statement about a firearm's maximum projectile range is true?

• A. When you know a firearm's range, you know how far the bullet or shot can travel and still cause injury.
• B. The range is unlimited for all firearms.
• C. You can know the range only after firing it.
• D. The range applies only to rifles.

Answer: (A)

Maximum projectile range is the farthest distance a fired bullet or shot can travel and still pose a risk of injury. This matters because, once you know the range for a given firearm and ammunition, you know the size of the danger zone you must manage to keep people safe. Bullets don’t travel forever; gravity and air resistance slow and pull them down, so every firearm has a finite maximum range. You don’t have to fire a shot to know this distance—the range can be found in manufacturer data or ballistic charts and will vary by weapon and ammo. And it isn’t limited to rifles—the same idea applies to handguns and shotguns, though their maximum ranges differ.