Abstract: An automatic tissue sampling apparatus for use with a biopsy needle set having an inner needle and an outer cannula is provided. The apparatus includes a slidably disposed, spring-biased carrier for each of the inner needle and cannula A cocking mechanism is operable to sequentially move the first carrier to its cocked position and the second carrier to its cocked position. The cocking mechanism includes a manually operated cocking lever positioned outside the housing for single handed manipulation while holding the housing. A force transmission mechanism is operably coupled between the cocking lever and the carriers and configured so that the force required to manually depress the cocking lever to force the springs to the cocked positions does not increase as the springs are compressed.