Hunters Ed

How the rifle and hnadgun fire

A cart ridge is inserted into the chamber. The action is close, and the firing pin is pushed back and held back under spring tension. The trigger is squeezed, releasing the firing pin, which moves forward with great force. The firing pin strikes the primer, causing it to explode. The spark from the primer ignites the gun powder. Gas converted from the burning powder rapidly expands in the cartridge. The explanding gas forces the bullet out of the cartridge and down the barrel with great speed. The rifling in the barrel causes The bullet to spin as it travels out of the barrel. The bullet speed and escaping gas is produced a bang.

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 impactedmor ignited in the open.

Defining a fire arm

A firearm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a burning powder to force a project tile through and out of a metal tube. To appreciate fully the importance of firearm safety, you first must understand how firearms work. This includes knowing the parts of the fire arm, the types of ammunition, how ammunition is fired, and the ranges of the various fire arms used for hunting.

Foring Pin

A pin that striked 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 in and holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel.

Introduction to Firearm Actions

All types of firearms habw actions and sights, and they may have safeties or magazines.

Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during shooting.

Also avoid mind, or behavior, altering medicines or drugs.

Cartridge

Ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns - a case containing primer, gun powder, and a bullet.

Shotshell

Ammunition used in modern shotshells - a case containing primer, gun powder, wad, and a slug or shot.

Primer

An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gun powder 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-Automatic (or Autoloading) Action

As each slot is fired manually, the case of the cart ridge or shotshell is ejected automatically and the chamber is reloaded automatically.

Point fire arm only at something you intend to shoot.

Avoid all horse play with a gun.

Chamber

Base of the barrel ised to hold the cartridge or shotshell ready for shooting.

Rifle and Handgun Cartridges

Bullets used in rifle and handgun cartridges come in various designs, sizes, and weights. The bullet usually ismadeof lead and often has a cooper jacket. Bullets used for hunting game may have soft or hollow points designed to expand (mushroom) upon impact. Bullets used for target shooting usually have solid points that make smaller holes.

Magazine

Container on a repeating firearm that holds ammunition before its loaded into the chamber; usually tubes or boxes attached to the receiver.

Guage term used to

Designate bore diameter of a shotgun; gauge is the number of lead balls with diameters equal to the diameter of the bore that, when combined, weigh one pound.

Sight

Device used for aiming usually by aligning a front and rear sight.

The federal aid in wildlife restoration act, or pit man - Robertson at pays for

Improving wildlife habitats.

Responsible hunters

Follow safety rules and guidelines.

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.

Stock

Handle of firearm.

Bolt handle

Handle used to open a bolt action.

Bore

Inside of the firearm barrel through which the projectile travels when fired.

Treat every fire arm with the respect due a loaded gun.

It might be, even if you think it is it.

Watch the muzzle

Keep it pointed in a safe direction at all times.

Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it.

Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. Make sure you have an adequate backstop, don't shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.

Unload firearms when not in use.

Leave actions open, and carry far arms in cases and unloaded to and from the shooting area.

Check your barrel and ammunition.

Make sure the barrel in action are clear of obstructions, and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm.

Safety

Mechanical device that blocks the trigger or hammer to prevent accidental firing.

Receiver

Metal housing for the working parts of the action.

Defining ammunition

Modern ammunition varies depending on the type of firearm. Rifles and handguns use a cartridge containing a single projectile bullet. Shotguns use a shot shell containing either a single slug or a large number of small projectiles shot or pellets. However, the basic components of cartridges and shotshells are similar.

Bolt

Movable metal block that seals a cartridge into the chamber on some actions.

Trigger Guard

Piece that surrounds the trigger to protect ot from being squeezed or bumped accidentally.

Rimfire ammunition has the

Primer contained in the rim of the ammunition casing. Rimfire ammunition is limited to low-pressure loads. Rimfire cartridges are not reloadable.

Double action

Pulling the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. A double action revolver typically also can be hammer cocked like a single action revolver.

Breech

Rear end of the barrel.

Non-toxic shot is

Required throughout the U.S. for waterfowl hunting. Studies showed that many waterfowl died each year because of lead poisoning. Lead pellet from traditional Short sales were picked up and I just did my waterfowl. The toxic if it spread to other birds, such as the bald eagle, who consume the poisoned waterfowl.

Animation: Parts of a Bolt-Action Rifle

Rifles, shotguns, and handguns have many similar parts. Shown here are the parts of a commonly used rifle- the bolt- action rifle.

Centerfire ammunition is used for

Rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type of ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the casing base. Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable.

Common Actions on Shotguns

Shotguns use many of the same actions as rifles - the pump action, semi automatic action, and bolt action. They also use a break action as either a single barrel or double barrels. Double barrels can be arranged horizontally side by side or vertically over under.

Common Actions on Rifles

Single shot rifles are usually break or bolt actions. Repeating rifles include the bolt- action, lever action, pump action, and semi automatic types. Operating the lever, bolts, or forestock ejects the empty cartridge case, chambers a new round of ammunition and cocks the gun.

Trigger

Small lever that is squeezed to start the firing process.

Store firearms and ammunition separately in safely.

Store each in secured locations beyond the reach of children in careless adults.

Basic parts of a fire arm

The action is the heart of the firearm - the moving parts that load, fire, and eject the shells or cartridges. Several types of actions are used in modern firearms. Muzzleloaders have locks instead of actions.

Barrel

The barrel is the metal tube that the projectile travels through (bullets travel through the barrels of rifles and handguns; shot travels through he barrel of shotguns).

Basic components of ammunition

The basic components of ammunition are the case, primer, powder, and projectiles. Shotshells have an additional component called wad.

Break (or Hinge) Action

The break action firearm operate on the same principle as a door hinge. Simple to load and unload, hinge action is often chosen as a hunters first fire arm.

Case

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

Muzzle

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

Projectile

The objects expelled from the barrel. Able is a projectile, usually containing lid, fire three rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid projectile usually of lead, fire through a shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth lellets fired through a shotgun barrel.is

Butt

The part of the stock that you hold against the shoulder when shooting.

Stock

The stock seeves as the handle of firearm. It can be composed of one or two pieces and is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.

Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge.

Don't run, jump, or climb with a loaded firearm.

Unload a firearm before you climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch.Pull a fire arm toward you by the butt, not the muzzle

Single action

Will fire only after the hammer has been cocked manually.