True or False: The basic parts of a rifle or shotgun include the barrel, action, and safety.

The statement is, in fact, true. The basic parts of a rifle or shotgun include the barrel, action, and safety. Each of these components plays a crucial role in the operation and safety of the firearm.

The barrel is where the bullet or shot travels when fired. The action refers to the mechanism that loads, fires, and ejects the cartridges, which is essential for the functioning of the firearm. Lastly, the safety is a critical feature designed to prevent accidental discharges, thereby ensuring the firearm can be handled safely when not in use.

While additional features, such as scopes or specific types of actions (like bolt action), can be present in certain firearms, they do not change the fact that the barrel, action, and safety are considered the foundational components essential to any rifle or shotgun.