Unit 2: Know Your Firearm Equipment

sight

(double action revolver) device used for aiming usually by aligning a front and rear sight

grip

(double action revolver) handle of the handgun

ejector rod

(double action revolver) metal rod used to help with removal of cartridges

barrel

(double action revolver) metal tube through which the projectile travels

hammer

(double action revolver) part that strikes the primer to cause ignition

trigger guard

(double action revolver) piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being accidentally squeezed or bumped

trigger

(double action revolver) small lever that is pulled or squeezed to start the firing process

cylinder

(double action revolver) storage for ammunition in a revolver; the cylinder rotates as the action is cocked

muzzle

(double action revolver) the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits

rib

(pump action shotgun) a raised surface along the top of the barrel which serves as a sighting plane

bead

(pump action shotgun) a visual indicator for pointing the shotgun

action bar

(pump action shotgun) attaches the moveable forestock to the cocking/loading mechanism

magazine (tubular)

(pump action shotgun) container on a repeating firearm that holds ammunition before it's loaded into the chamber; usually tubes or boxes attached to the receiver

safety

(pump action shotgun) mechanical device that blocks the trigger or hammer to help prevent accidental firing

safety alternate position

(pump action shotgun) mechanical device that blocks the trigger or hammer to help prevent accidental firing

barrel

(pump action shotgun) metal tube through which the projectile travels

forestock (or fore end)

(pump action shotgun) on a pump (or slide) action, sliding the forestock back ejects the shotshell and cocks the action. Sliding it forward loads a fresh shell into the chamber

muzzle

(pump action shotgun) the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits

magazine

(semi-automatic pistol) detachable container on a repeating firearm that holds ammunition before it is loaded into the chamber

sight

(semi-automatic pistol) device used for aiming by aligning a front and rear sight

grip

(semi-automatic pistol) handle of the handgun

barrel

(semi-automatic pistol) metal tube inside the slide through which the projectile travels

slide

(semi-automatic pistol) part that moves back to load cartridges

hammer

(semi-automatic pistol) part that strikes the primer to cause ignition

trigger guard

(semi-automatic pistol) piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being squeezed or bumped accidentally

trigger

(semi-automatic pistol) small lever that is squeezed to start the firing process

muzzle

(semi-automatic pistol) the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet) exits

the correct gauge and shell length are used.

Magnum and regular shotshells are interchangeable if

safety

Sometimes persons alter or modify their guns to disable the

- action - stock - barrel

all modern firearms have three basic groups of parts

bore

inside of the firearm barrel through which the projectile travels when fired

detachable magazines

magazine that allow you to remove extra ammunition from the firearm simply by removing the magazine

fixed magazines

magazines that require the ammunition to be removed manually from the gun itself. These include tubular, hinged-floorplate, and revolving magazines

safety

mechanical device that blocks the trigger or hammer to help prevent accidental firing (bolt action rifle)

receiver

metal housing for the working parts of the action

bolt

movable metal block that seals a cartridge into the chamber on some actions (bolt action rifle)

shot

multiple pellets fired through a shotgun barrel

double action

pulling the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. This revolver typically also can be hammer-cocked like a single-action revolver

breech

rear end of the barrel

- bolt-action - lever-action - pump-action - semi-automatic

repeating rifle types

handguns (revolvers and pistols)

short-barreled firearms sometimes used for hunting

steel

shot of this material produces a tighter pattern than lead shot

- pump action - semi-automatic action - bolt action

shotgun action types

choke

shotgun barrels have this to control the shot string

2.5 in. 2.75 in. 3 in. 3.5 in. (their length after it has been fired)

shotguns can be chambered into shells length

magnum

shotshell marked this means the shell has more shot or more gunpowder than a regular shell

- single-shot rifles - bolt actions

single shot rifle types

trigger

small lever that is squeezed to start the firing process (bolt action rifle)

2/3s as much as lead

steel is harder and weighs this much in comparison to lead

gauge

the number of lead balls with diameters equal to the diameter of the bore that, when combined, weigh one pound

Then clean each part separately

when cleaning your gun, field strip the firearm as directed in the firearm owner's manual.

semi-automatic action / autoloading action

with this firearm, as each shot is fired manually, the case of the cartridge or shotshell is ejected automatically and the chamber is reloaded automatically

- the year (1906) it became the official ammunition of the U.S. military - a holdover from the days when the cartridge took 30 grains of powder ex. .30-06 ; .30-30

caliber designations sometimes have a second number which refers to

hundredths of an inch, thousandths of an inch, or millimeters

caliber is expressed din

land to opposite land

caliber usually is measured as the diameter of the bore from

handgun barrel

gun barrel that is the shortest because the gun is designed to be shot while being held with one or two hands, rather than being placed against the shooter's shoulder. Has rifling

handguns and rifles

guns that can have rifling

single-action

hammer-cocking revolver

- revolvers (that fire from a revolving cylinder) - pistols (all other types, including auto-loading and single-shot handguns)

handguns fall into 2 basic types

bolt handle

handle used to open a bolt action (bolt action rifle)

Full Metal Jacket

high penetration, no expansion

is bigger than your approved shell length stamped on the barrel of your shotgun

never load a shotshell that

binoculars

never use the scope on your telescopic sight as a set of

Roundnose Lead

good penetration, little expansion

rifling

grooved pattern that increases accuracy and distance

half-cock/hammer safety

- safety common on firearms with exposed hammers - positions the trigger at half-cock, away from the firing pin - engaged by placing the trigger at half-cock; some firearms automatically rebound to the half-cock position after the trigger is released - while not a true safety, it sometimes is described as a mechanical safety device by firearm manufacturers

pivot safety

- safety common on handguns and bolt-action rifles - a pivoting lever or tab that blocks the trigger or firing pin - located on the frame (blocks trigger) or on the bolt or slide (blocks firing pin)

cross-bolt safety

- safety common on pump and semi-automatic firearms - a simple, push-button action that blocks the trigger or hammer - usually located at the trigger guard or ahead of the hammer

slide/tang safety

- safety common on some rifles and break-action shotguns - a sliding bar or button that blocks the firing action - located on the tang (a metal strip behind the receiver) of break-action firearms or on the side of the receiver on some rifles

fixed magazines

- tubular - hinged-floorplate - revolving magazines are what type of magazines

between the lands and has a larger bore diameter than a .223-caliber rifle

.270-caliber rifle bore measures 270/1000ths of an inch in diameter

more shot can be placed in a standard shotshell.

As pellet diameter decreases

1. Pulling the trigger causes the firing pin to strike and explode the primer in the base of the cartridge or shotshell. 2. The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder, which burns rapidly and converts to a gas. 3. The gas rapidly expands and drives the projectile(s) through the barrel with great force.

How a gun works

one to two sizes larger than the lead shot you would select and choose a less constrictive choke.

If using steel shot for hunting, choose a steel shot size

you should decrease the diameter of the shot you use.

In general, as the size of your target decreases

sport shooting

LAW: The fully-automatic firearm may not be used for hunting or

it just controls how tight or spread out the pellets will be at a specific distance.

That is, the choke does not alter the shotgun's power

the larger the pellet diameter

The smaller the shot "number,"

This allows the cartridges or shotshells to eject or to be removed manually if the firearm is loaded.

To open the action of a break action firearm, point the barrel(s) at the ground. A release is pressed, and the stock drops downward.

on a handgun

Where To Use a Brush, Cleaning Rod, and Cleaning Cable

on a rifle

Where To Use a Brush, Cleaning Rod, and Cleaning Cable

gunpowder

a chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an expanding gas when ignited. Modern smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in the open (outside of the case). Black powder is less stable and can be explosive when impacted or ignited in the open

shotgun

a long-barreled firearm

firearm

a mechanical device that uses pressure from a burning powder to force a projectile through and out of a metal tube

firing pin

a pin that strikes the primer of the cartridge, causing ignition

wad

a seal and/or shot container made of paper or plastic separating the powder from the slug or shot in a shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping through the shot and holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel

a slug

a solid projectile, usually of lead, used for hunting big game with a shotgun

rimfire ammunition

ammunition cartridges that are not reloadable

- away from flammables - in a cool, dry place

ammunition should be stored

rimfire ammunition

ammunition that is limited to low-pressure loads and has the primer contained in the rim of the ammunition casing

centerfire ammunition

ammunition that is reloadable

centerfire ammunition

ammunition used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns

cartridge

ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, and a bullet

shotshell

ammunition used in modern shotguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug or shot as the projectile

centerfire ammunition

ammunition where the primer is located in the center of the casing base and is mostly reloadable

primer

an explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the base of the case (centerfire)

Semi-Wad Cutter

balances penetration and expansion

chamber

base of the barrel used to hold the cartridge or shotshell ready for shooting (bolt action rifle)

soft or hollow points

bullet used for hunting may have these designed to expand (mushroom/explode) upon impact

- copper or - brass or - another metal

bullets in rifles and handgun cartridges are usually made of lead with a jacket made of

make smaller holes

bullets used for target shooting usually have solid points that

- designs - sizes - weights

bullets used in rifle and handgun cartridges come in various

cylinder choke

choke of an unconstricted barrel. The shot string spreads quickly

improved cylinder choke

choke that has a slight constriction. It allows the shot string to spread fairly quickly. This is a good choice for quail, rabbits, and other upland game at relatively close ranges

modified choke

choke that has moderate constriction. The pellets stay together longer, making the shot string denser and more useful at longer ranges. This choke is used often when dove hunting and when using steel shot to hunt for ducks or geese

full choke

choke that has tight constriction. The shot string holds together even longer, making this choke good for squirrels, turkey, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer ranges. Turkey hunters sometimes use Extra Full or Turkey choke for even denser patterns at long range

open sight

combination of a bead or post front sight and a notched rear sight. Simple and inexpensive. These sights allow quick sighting. To aim, you center the top of the bead or post within the notch of the rear sight and line up on the target. These sights can be fixed or adjustable

aperture / peep sight

combination of a bead or post front sight and a round hole set on the rifle's receiver close to the shooter's eye. To aim, you center the target in the rear peep or aperture sight and then bring the front sight into the center of the hole. This sight lets you aim more accurately and is adjusted more easily than an open sight

10 gauge 12 gauge 16 gauge 20 gauge 28 gauge

common shotgun gauges *the smaller the number, the larger the shotgun bore

- Roundness Lead - Full Metal Jacket - Semi-Wad Cutter - Hollowpoint - Wad Cutter

common types of handgun bullets

- Pointed Soft Point - Rounded Soft Point - Protected Tip - Full Metal Jacket

common types of rifle bullets

- Assorted rod tips—brushes, mop tips, slotted tips, jag tips - Bore light - Clean cloths - Cleaning rods - Cotton swabs - Dental mirror - Gun grease - Gun oil - Gunsmith screwdrivers - Patches appropriate for the caliber or gauge of the firearm - Pipe cleaners - Solvent - Stand to hold the firearm securely in a horizontal position - Toothbrush

components of a gun cleaning kit

magazine

container on a repeating firearm that holds ammunition before it's loaded into the chamber; usually tubes or boxes attached to the receiver (bolt action rifle)

Hollowpoint

designed for high expansion on impact

sight

device used for aiming by aligning a front and rear sight (bolt action rifle)

rifle barrel

gun barrel that is long and has thick walls with spiraling grooves cut into the bore. The grooved pattern is called rifling

shotgun barrel

gun barrel that is long and made of fairly thin steel that is very smooth on the inside to allow the shot and wad to glide down the barrel without friction

action type

fire arms can be classified by their

single-shot

firearms must be reloaded each time the firearm is fired

- unloaded - in a locked location - separate from ammunition - horizontally - with the muzzle pointing down

firearms must be stored

repeating firearms

firearms that have extra cartridges or shotshells ready in a magazine, cylinder, or extra barrel

single action

fires only after the hammer has been cocked manually

Wad Cutter

flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper

forestock

front portion of the stock extending under the barrel in front of the receiver; usually held by the non-trigger hand to help support the firearm (bolt action rifle)

after every use

how often should you clean your gun

which is the distance between the grooves

in some cases, the caliber is given as the diameter of the bullet

rounded or blunt tips

only use these types of types in tubular magazines because the bullet tip of one cartridge rests directly on the primer of the cartridge immediately ahead

slide action / trombone action

other names for sum action firearms

trigger guard

piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being squeezed or bumped accidentally (bolt action rifle)

clockwise or counterclockwise

revolving cylinders may rotate in which directions

Rounded Soft Point

rifle bullet popular for low-velocity calibers; recommended for tubular magazines

Pointed Soft Point

rifle bullet with High velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path (trajectory); excellent mushrooming

Protected Tip

rifle bullet with highly accurate with excellent expansion

Full Metal Jacket

rifle bullet with maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets are illegal for big game hunting in most states

Full Metal Jacket

rifle bullets that are illegal for big fame hunting in most states

bead sight

round bead set into the top of the barrel near the muzzle of a shotgun. Some shotguns have a second, smaller bead about halfway back on the barrel. The shooter uses the shotgun to "point" at and follow a moving object. The bead is used only for a reference as the shotgun is pointed and moved to follow flying or running targets

1: Clean barrel and metal parts with good commercial solvent. 2: Bore should be cleaned through breech end where possible. 3: Clean bore until dry patch comes through as clean as possible. 4: Run oily patch through barrel. 5: All metal parts should get light coat of oil. 6: Store in horizontal position, or with muzzle pointing down. 7: After storage, run a clean patch through bore before firing. 8: Remove all excess grease and oil.

steps for cleaning a firearm

single shot OR repeating shot

styles of actions

caliber

term used to describe the size of a rifle or handgun bore and the size of cartridges designed for different bores

gauge

term used to designate bore diameter of a shotgun; the number of lead balls with diameters equal to the diameter of the bore that, when combined, weigh one pound

"single action" or "double action."

the actions of a revolving firearm are referred to as either

load

the amount of gunpowder in the cartridge or shotshell together with the weight of the bullet or shot charge

case

the container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It's usually made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic

choke

the degree of narrowing at the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel

muzzle

the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits

stock

the handle of the firearm, he part of a gun which is held, or braced, against the shooter's body

action

the heart of the firearm—the moving parts that load, fire, and eject the shells or cartridges

- barrels and - type of ammunition used

the main differences between rifles, shotguns, and handguns are their

barrel

the metal tube that the projectile travels through

projectile

the object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a projectile, usually containing lead, fired through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth pellets fired through a shotgun barrel

.410 bore shotgun actually has a bore diameter of 410/1000ths of an inch = 67½ gauge

the only exception to the gauge designation for shotguns

butt

the part of the stock that you hold against your shoulder when shooting (bolt action rifle)

the magazine

the place that stores the ammunition that has not been fired

lands

the ridges of metal between the grooves in a rifled bore

gauge and shell length

the shotshells must match exactly the manufacturer's

grooves

the spiral cuts in a rifled bore

shot pattern

the spread of shot pellets after they hit a non-moving target

one or two pieces

the stock of a firearm can be composed of how many pieces

shot string

the three-dimensional spread of shot pellets after they leave the barrel, speed of a shot cluster when it is projected

typical locations of safeties

these are located around the receiver of the firearm and are usually easy to spot

hinge action / break action

these firearms have a separate barrel for each shot rather than a magazine. Most models have one or two barrels, but some have up to four

muzzleloaders

these guns have locks instead of actions

rifles and handguns

these guns use a cartridge containing a single projectile (bullet)

shotshells

these have an additional component called wad

explosion

this could happen if you match the shotshell to your shotgun

distance from your target

this determines the choke you need

lever-action firearm

this firearm has a large metal lever located behind the trigger that usually forms the trigger guard as well

pump action firearm / slide action / trombone action

this firearm is fast and smooth and allows the shooter to re-cock the firearm without taking his or her eye off the target

bolt-action firearm

this firearm operates like opening and closing a door bolt, solidly locking into the breech

break action / hinge action

this firearm operates on the same principle as a door hinge. Simple to load and unload, this firearm is often chosen as a hunter's first firearm

revolving action

this firearm takes it name from a revolving cylinder containing a number of cartridge chambers. One chamber at a time lines up with the barrel as the firearm is fired

pump-action firearm

this firearm will open only after it's fired or if a release lever is pressed and the forestock is pulled to the rear

shotgun

this gun uses a shotshell containing either a single slug or a large number of small projectiles (shot or pellets)

hang fires

this happens when the firing pin has struck the primer and there is a delay before the gun fires

misfire

this happens when the primer fails to ignite the powder

action of a firearm

this part of a firearm is made up of parts that load, unload, fire, and eject the shotshell or cartridge

exposed hammer

this part of lever action firearms makes most models dangerous

maximum projectile range

this tells you at what distances your firearm's projectile could cause injury or damage to persons, animals, or objects

non-toxic shot

this type of shot is required throughout the U.S. for waterfowl hunting

compare the data stamp on the barrel of the firearm against the description on the ammunition box and the stamp on each cartridge

to choose the correct cartridge for your rifle or handgun

double-action

trigger-cocking revolver

shot

type of projectile is used typically to hunt game birds and small game animals

- cylinder choke - improved cylinder choke - modified choke - full choke

types of choke

- revolvers - pistols

types of handguns

- detachable magazines - fixed magazines

types of magazines

- cross-bolt safety - pivot safety - slide/tang safety - half-cock/hammer safety

types of safeties

- bead - open - aperture / peep - dot sight - telescopic / scope sight

types of sights

wood or a synthetic material

typical material of stock of a firearm