Which of the following actions is a characteristic of a lever-action firearm?

A lever-action firearm is specifically designed to utilize a lever mechanism for cycling cartridges, which is what makes option B the correct choice. This lever, usually located beneath the receiver, allows the shooter to load a round from the magazine into the chamber by moving the lever up and down, which both ejects a spent cartridge and chambers a new round for firing.

This cycling action is integral to the operation of lever-action firearms, providing a smooth and relatively quick way to repeat shots without having to remove the firearm from the shooter’s shoulder. Lever-action rifles are historically popular for hunting and sport shooting due to their unique operating mechanism and aesthetic appeal.

The other options highlight features common to different types of firearms but do not pertain to the lever-action design. For example, rotating bolts are associated with bolt-action firearms, while manual loading is characteristic of single-shot firearms. Automatic ejection is a feature more commonly seen in fully automatic or semi-automatic firearms. Understanding these mechanisms helps clarify what makes a lever-action firearm distinct in its operation and design.