A biopsy apparatus, comprising: a housing having a cavity and configured to define a longitudinal axis; a cannula assembly movably coupled to the housing, the cannula assembly having a cannula hub affixed to a cutting cannula, the cutting cannula having a lumen arranged on the longitudinal axis; a stylet assembly movably coupled to the housing, the stylet assembly having a stylet hub and a stylet, the stylet being coaxial with the cutting cannula, the stylet having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being affixed to the stylet hub, the distal portion having a distal tip and a sample notch proximal to the distal tip, the stylet hub configured to be axially and rotationally movable relative to the longitudinal axis; a firing mechanism having a latch and a firing spring, the firing spring and the cannula hub being positioned in the cavity of the housing, the latch configured to engage the cannula hub to hold the cutting cannula in a first axial position; an operator mechanism configured to effect axial movement of the stylet hub and the cannula hub, the operator mechanism having a head portion and an arm member, wherein the arm member extends distally from the head portion, the head portion configured to releasably engage the stylet hub and the arm member configured to releasably engage the cannula hub, the stylet hub configured to be rotationally movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the stylet hub is releasably connected to the head portion of the operator mechanism, and when the stylet hub is in the disengaged position, the stylet hub is disconnected from the head portion of the operator mechanism to facilitate axial movement of the stylet assembly in a proximal direction independent of the operator mechanism. a housing having a cavity and configured to define a longitudinal axis; a cannula assembly movably coupled to the housing, the cannula assembly having a cannula hub affixed to a cutting cannula, the cutting cannula having a lumen arranged on the longitudinal axis; a stylet assembly movably coupled to the housing, the stylet assembly having a stylet hub and a stylet, the stylet being coaxial with the cutting cannula, the stylet having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being affixed to the stylet hub, the distal portion having a distal tip and a sample notch proximal to the distal tip, the stylet hub configured to be axially and rotationally movable relative to the longitudinal axis; a firing mechanism having a latch and a firing spring, the firing spring and the cannula hub being positioned in the cavity of the housing, the latch configured to engage the cannula hub to hold the cutting cannula in a first axial position; an operator mechanism configured to effect axial movement of the stylet hub and the cannula hub, the operator mechanism having a head portion and an arm member, wherein the arm member extends distally from the head portion, the head portion configured to releasably engage the stylet hub and the arm member configured to releasably engage the cannula hub, the stylet hub configured to be rotationally movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the stylet hub is releasably connected to the head portion of the operator mechanism, and when the stylet hub is in the disengaged position, the stylet hub is disconnected from the head portion of the operator mechanism to facilitate axial movement of the stylet assembly in a proximal direction independent of the operator mechanism.