What does the Cocking step involve in the firing cycle?

The Cocking step in the firing cycle pertains specifically to resetting the firing mechanism to make the firearm ready to fire again. During this phase, the firing pin is drawn back and held under tension, which prepares the gun for the next shot. This step is crucial as it ensures that when the trigger is pulled, the firing mechanism is fully engaged and ready to release the firing pin to strike the primer of the cartridge, initiating the firing process.

The other options pertain to different critical actions involved in handling a firearm but do not correctly represent the Cocking step. Charging the firearm involves loading a round into the chamber, loading ammunition pertains to placing cartridges in the magazine, and discharging the firearm safely refers to the act of firing the weapon itself. While each of these actions is important in the overall context of using a firearm, they do not specifically describe the function of the Cocking step in the firing cycle.