Aim High for the M9 Service Pistol Test 2026 – Sharpen Your Skills and Hit the Bullseye!

The correct answer is that the decocking/safety lever should be in the 'Safe' position, which is also referred to as 'down.' This is critical because having the decocking/safety lever in the Safe position prevents the firing mechanism from being activated when the slide is returned fully forward.

In the Safe position, the pistol's firing pin is decocked, and the internal mechanisms are disengaged, ensuring that the gun cannot accidentally discharge. This is particularly important during handling and when manipulating the slide, as it safeguards against unintentional discharges that could occur if the pistol were to be in the Fire position.

When the decocking/safety lever is in the Fire position, or up, the pistol is ready to fire, which creates potential safety hazards when handling the firearm. The other options, such as Neutral and Locked, do not apply in this context, as the Neutral position does not ensure the necessary safety during slide manipulation, and the Locked position might hinder necessary operations or handling of the firearm. Thus, keeping the decocking/safety lever in the Safe position is essential for maintaining safe firearm handling procedures.