Firearms Characteristics

Determined by the number of lead balls (each having the same diameter as the bore) what weigh one pound.

Gauge

the metal tube through which the bullet or shot travels when the gun is fired.

barrel assembly

Most shotguns have only a front sight called a __________.

bead

Center-fire ammunition that is characterized by a raised ridge belt around the base of the cartridge.

belted ammunition

Certain center-fire ammunition may also be classified as _______ or _________.

belted or rimless

Most guns have some type of action release mechanism, except for what type of firearm?

bolt action

In this type of ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the case bottom. The firing pin strikes the primer, exploding the priming compound and igniting the powder charge.

center-fire ammunition

the narrowing found at the muzzle end of most shotgun barrels is called a ________

choke

What is one of the most important factors in determining the killing power of ammunition?

energy upon impact

this action will insert, fire, and eject all cartridges in its magazine with a single, continuous trigger pull

full automatic action

These bullets usually have a soft or hollow point. They are designed to expand or flatten upon impact, thus expending all their energy upon entry.

game or hunting bullets

The ridges of metal between the grooves are called _______

lands

In order to fire, what position should the safety be on?

off

What type of sight does a handgun usually have?

open

What are the three basic types of sights?

open aperture scope

This type of sight requires time to aim accurately and may be used with success when speed is not a factor.

open sight

The choke of a shotgun barrel controls the spread of the shot. The shot spread is called the _____________

pattern

one of the four basic components of ammunition-a chemical compound which when burned, forms gases which propel the bullet or shot through the barrel

powder charge

the fore-end of the stock is pumped back and forth in order to open and close the action. This firearm is sometimes called a "slide" or "trombone" action.

pump action

Rifle and pistol barrels have a series of ___________ grooves that twist through the "bore" or center of the barrel.

spiral

When shooting with an open sight: To aim, the shooter must line up the front bead with the open sight and with the ________.

target

These bullets often have solid points which make a small hole because they do not expand

target bullets

In the shotgun shell, there is a fifth part called a _________. _used to separate the powder from the shot and also hold the loose shot together as it travels through the barrel.

wad

What is the 5th component that only a shotgun has?

wad

What controls the shot pattern and determines at what distance the shotgun will be most effective?

choke

What gives the bullet greater accuracy?

rifling

-the heart of the firearm -contains the moving parts which load the gun -fire the ammunition and extract the empty shell case

action

opens or "breaks" in the center similar to the movement of a door hinge. To open the action, the release handle is pushed to one side and the barrel or barrels are pressed downward.

hinge action

has a metal handle which is located just behind the trigger. to open the action, the handle is pulled downward away from the stock

lever action

Where is the safety located?

near the trigger

The handle of the firearm -usually made of wood or synthetic material -

stock

Calibers vary all the way from ______ to ________ caliber.

.17 to .600

There are five basic types of firearm classifications:

1-bolt-action 2-pump action 3-lever action 4-hinge action 5-semi-automatic action

Ammunition for rifles and handguns is made up of four basic components. shotguns have 5

1-bullet 2-case 3-powder charge 4-primer 5-SHOTGUN ONLY-- wad

What are the main sections of a gun?

1-the stock 2-action 3-barrel

________________ is usually expressed in hundredths of an inch or millimeters.

Caliber

Classified by gauge instead of caliber.

Shotgun barrels

one of the four basic components of ammunition -a container in which all other ammunition parts are assembled. -is commonly made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic

case

Before handling any gun, know where its __________ release is located.

action

Generally, firearms are classified by their type of ____________

action

What type of sight does a rifle have?

any of the three; open, aperture, and scope

Called a "peep" sight because it has a small hole you peep through to aim at the target.

aperture sight

This sight is more accurate than an open sight because the eye is naturally drawn to where the light is brightest which is through the "peep"

aperture sight

operates on a lift, pull, and push sequence similar to a door bolt and even looks very similar

bolt action

one of the basic components of ammunition -the projectile that is shot from a rifle or handgun. Is made of lead and may have a jacket of a harder metal such as copper.

bullet

The .410 shotgun is measure in _____________

caliber

The __________ of rifles and pistols is the inside diameter of the barrel before the rifling has been cut.

caliber

one of the four basic components of ammunition -a chemical mixture which explodes when hit. -the flame of the _________ explosion ignites the powder charge.

primer

easy to identify by its round cylinder. The cylinder is also the magazine which acts as the chamber when properly aligned with the barrel.

revolving action

The lands and grooves together make up the _________

rifling

What makes the bullet spin as it leaves the gun so it will be more stable in flight?

rifling

In rimfire ammunition::: The ______ must be soft enough to allow the firing-pin of the gun to dent the rim when it strikes. This crushes the priming compound, which then explodes, igniting the powder.

rim

In this type of ammunition, the priming chemical is around the inside bottom rim of the cartridge case.

rimfire ammunition

What are the two basic types of modern ammunition?

rimfire and centerfire

The ____________ on a firearm locks the trigger and blocks the gun's action so it cannot be fired.

safety

A mini-telescope mounted on the rifle. It simplifies sighting because the shooter needs to focus on only one object-- the target

scope sight

helps the hunter see the target better because it magnifies, making the target appear larger and closer. It is designed to gather light so the shooter can identify a target even under dim light conditions.

scope sight

opened by pulling back a handle. Most models will stay open when empty, others must be held open

semi-automatic action

the projectile fired from a shotgun. may be a single piece of lead or a number of lead pellets combined in one charge.

shot

A device used to aim the firearm

sight