Hunters Ed (Chapter 2)

Defining a Firearm

A fire arm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a burning powder to force a projectile 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 firearm used for hunting.

Type of Safeties

Half-Cocked or Hammer 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

Shot Sizes

Shot size is adaptable to the game being hunted. As pellet diameter decreases, more shot can be placed in a standard shotshell load. The smaller the shot number, the larger the shot size.

Common Action 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. The double barrels can be arranged horizontally side-by-side or vertically over under.

Bolt Action

A bolt action firearm operates like opening and closing a door bolt. The bolt solidly locks into the breech, making it accurate and dependable.

Safety Mechanisms

A safety is a device that blocks the action to prevent the firearm from shooting until the safety is released or pushed to the off position. The safety is intended to prevent the fire arm from being fired accidentally. However safeties should never be relied on totally it to protect against accidental shooting. Safety are mechanical devices and subject to mechanical failure from wear and other factors, and can't fail when least expected. Also safeties can be bumped from the safe position unknowingly as your firearm is being handled or as it catches on clothing or tree branches.

Introduction to Sights

A sight is a device used to line up the Muzzle with the shooters eye so that he or she can hit the target. Sights are more critical on a firearm that fires a single projectile (rifle and handgun) than on a firearm that shoots a pattern of shot (shotgun). Shotguns usually have a simple pointing bead. Rifles typically have an open, aperture (peep), or telescopic sight. Most handguns have an open sight, although some specialize handguns have a dot or a telescopic sight.

Shotshell

Ammunition use in modern shot guns - a case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug or shot.

Sights- Bead and Open

Bead site is simple round beads it 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 flying or running targets. Open sight combination of a bead or post front sight and a notched rear sight. These sights are simple and inexpensive. Open 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. Open sights can be fixed or adjustable.

Types of Safeties

Cross-Bolt 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

Pump Action

The pump action fire alarm is fast and smooth. It'll lousy shooter to re-caulk the firearm without taking his or her eye off the target. The pump action also is referred to as "slide action" or "trombone action."

Lands

The ridges of metal between the grooves in a rifled bore.

The Basic Process

The same physical process is used to shoot shot shells from shotguns or cartridges from rifles or handguns. Pulling the trigger causes the firing pin to strike and explode the primer in the base of the cartridge or shotshell. The spark from the primer ignites the gun powder, which burns rapidly and converts to a gas. The gas rapidly expands and drives the projectiles through the barrel with great force.

Grooves

The spiral cuts in a rifled bore.

Cartridge

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

Semi-Automatic (or Autoloading) Action

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

Rifle and Handgun Cartridges

Bullets used in rifle and handgun cartridges come in various designs, sizes, and weights. The bullet usually is made of lead and often has a copper 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.

Sights- Aperture (Peep)

Combination of a bead or post front sight in a round hole set on the rifle receiver close to the shooters 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. And aperture sight provides a better view of the target and is adjusted more easily than an open sight.

Common Actions on Handguns

Handguns fall into two basic types: revolvers (that fire from a revolving cylinder), and pistols (all other types, including auto-loding and single-shot handguns. Single action means that the gun must be manually cocked for each shot (revolvers) or for the first shot (autoloaders), usually by pulling back the hammer or cycling the slide. Double Action means that trigger movement cocks the action as the trigger is pulled during firing, but the gun can also be manually cocked like a single action. A gun which can be cocked only by trigger action (no manual cocking) is known by the term double action only.

Magazines

Magazines are designed with a spring and follower the push against the cartridges to move them into the action. May be detachable or fixed.

Defining Ammunition

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

Non-Toxic Shot

Nontoxic shot is required throughout the US for waterfowl hunting. Studies showed that many waterfowl died each year because of lead poisoning. Lead pellets from traditional shot shells were picked up and digested by waterfowl. The toxic effects spread to other birds, such as the bald eagle, who consumed the poisoned waterfowl. To reduce this problem, conservationist worked with shotshell manufacturers to produce effective alternatives to lead shot - steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth shot.

Common Types of Handgun Bullets

Roundnose Lead are good penetration, little expansion. Full Metal Jacket has high penetration, no expansion. Semi-Wad Cutter balances penetration and expansion. Hollowpoint are designed for high expansion on impact. Wad Cutter are flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper.

Revolving Action

Single Action will fire only after the hammer has been cocked manually. 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.

Common Actions on Rifles

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

What You Learned

Still shot is slightly lighter than lead shot of the same size, is harder than lead, and is non-toxic. It is critical that you match the proper ammunition to your firearm correctly. Cleaning your fire arms regularly keeps them in top condition. To clean a firearm, point the muzzle in a safe direction and make sure the gun is unloaded. Then follow the instructions in the owners manual and the cleaning kit. Fire arms must be stored unloaded and in a lot location, separate from ammunition. Store them horizontally or with the muzzle pointed down. The storage area should be cool, clean, and dry

Sights- Dot and Telescopic (Scope)

Telescopic Sight (Scope): Small telescope mounted on your firearm. A scope gathers light, brightening the image and magnifying the target, and is away with aligning rear and front sight. The aiming device inside the scope is called the "reticle." To aim you simply look through the scope and line up the crosshairs, post, or dot with your target. Telescopic sights give the best view of the target, which makes them popular for hunting. Dot Sight: small device mounted on your firearm. A dot sight uses electronics or optical fibers to project a glowing dot or other mark on a lens in front of the shooters eye. Some dot sights also magnify like telescopic sights.

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 operates on the same principle as a door hinge. Simple to load and unload, a hinge action is often chosen as a hunters first firearm.

Lever Action

The lever action firearms has a large metal lever located behind the trigger. This handle usually forms the trigger guard as well.

Differences Between Rifles, Shotguns, and Handguns

The main difference between rifles, shotguns, and handguns are their barrels and the type of ammunition used.

Basic Parts of a Firearm (Stock)

The stocks serves as the handle of the fire arm. It can be composed of one or two pieces and is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.

What You Learned

To be a responsible hunter, you should know how your firearm works and how to use it safely. A fire arm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a burning powder to force a projectile threw an out of a metal tube. All modern far arms have three basic groups of parts - the action, they stock, and the barrel. Before using a firearm, you should become familiar with its parts. The bolt - action rifle and the pump action shotgun are commonly used firearms. Handguns sometimes are used for hunting. They can be either revolvers or pistols. The basic Components of ammunition are the case, primer, powder, and projectiles.

Shotgun Choke and Shot String

When a shot shell is fired from a shotgun, the pellets leave the barrel and begin to spread or shatter. The further the pellets travel, the greater the spread of the group of pellets (shot) both in length and diameter. This spread is called the shot string. To control the shot string, shotgun barrels have a choke that will affect the shot pattern the shot string hits the target.

Basic Parts of a Firearm (Barrel)

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

How the Rifle and Handgun 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 primary ignites the gun powder. Gas converted from the burning powder rapidly expands in the cartridger. The expanding 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 bullets speed and escaping gases produce a "bang."

How the Shotgun Shoots

A shot shell is inserted into the chamber. Closing the action pushes the firing pin back and hold it under spring tension. Pulling the trigger releases the firing pin. The firing pin strikes the primer producing Sparks. Heat and sparks from the primer ignite the gun powder. Gas converted from the burning powder expands in the shell. The expanding gas forces the wad and shot out of the plastic body of the shell. The escaping gases produce a bang as the wad and shot leave the barrel. The wad quickly opens and falls away. The shot cluster spreads. This spread is called the shot string.

Typical Locations of Safeties

All safeties are located around the receiver of the firearm and are usually easy to spot. The red outlines indicate were safeties typically are located on rifles, shotguns, and handguns.

Animation: How a Cartridge is Fired

Cartridge is ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing primer, gun powder, and a bullet. Chamber is the part of the barrel that holds the cartridge or shotshell ready for firing. Barrel is the metal tube through which the projectile travels. Firing Pin is a pan that strikes the primer of the cart ridge, causing ignition. When the trigger is pulled, the firing pin is released and moves forward with great force, crushing and igniting the primer in the park ridge base. Primer is an explosive chemical compound that sparks and ignites the gun powder when struck by firing pin. Cartridge is ammunition use in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, and a bullet. Rifling is the groove pattern cut into the bore of a rifle or handgun. The rifling in the barrel causes the bullet to spin as the bullet travels out of the barrel. This keeps it. - First in flight, increasing accuracy and distance.

Basic Components of Ammunition

Case is the container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It is usually made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic. Primer is 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). Gunpowder is 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. Projectile is the objects 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. Wad is a seal and/or shot container made of paper or plastic separating the powder from the slug or shot and a shot shell. The wad prevents gas from escaping through the shot and holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel.

Centerfire and Rimfire Ammunition

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. 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.

Animation: Parts of a Double-Action Revolver

Hammer is the part that strikes the primer to cause ignition. Grip is the handle of the handgun. Trigger is the small lever that is pulled or squeezed to start the firing process. Trigger Guard is the piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being accidentally squeezed or bumped Cylinder is the storage for ammunition inna revolver; the cylinder rotates as the action is cocked. Ejector Rod is the metal rod used to help with removal of cartridges. Muzzle is the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits. Sight is the device used for aiming usually by aligning a front and rear sight. Barrel is the metal tube through which the projectiles travel.

Types of Safeties

Pivot Safety Common on handguns and bolt action rifle's 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)

Common Types of Rifle Bullets

Pointed Soft Point are hi velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path (trajectory); excellent mushrooming. Rounded Soft Point are popular for low velocity calibers; recommended for tubular magazines. Protected Tip is highly accurate with excellent expansion. Full Metal Jacket is maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets are ILLEGAL FOR BIG GAME HUNTING IN MOST STATES.

Shotshells

Shotgun shells (shotshells) use a slug or shot as the projectile. A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, use for hunting big game with a shotgun. Shot are multiple pellets fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot size is adaptable to the game being hunted. This type of projectile is used typically to hunt game birds and small game animals. Gauge 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 1 pound.

Animation: Parts of a Semi-Automatic Pistol

Sights is the device used for aiming usually by aligning a front and rear sight. Barrel is the metal tube through which the projectile travels. (Inside the slide) Hammer is the part that strikes the primer to cause ignition. Grip is the handle of the handgun. Trigger is the small lever that is pulled or squeezed to start the firing process. Trigger Guard is the piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being accidentally squeezedl or bumped. Slide is the part that moves back to loaf cartridges. Muzzle is the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits. Magazine (detachable) is the container on a repeating fire arm that holds ammunition before it is loaded into the chamber; usually tubes or boxes attached to the receiver.

Types of Safeties

Slide or Tang Safety Common on some rifles and break action shotgun's A sliding bar or butt in 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.

Animation: Parts of a Bolt-Action Rifle

Stock is the handle of firearm. Safety is the mechanical decice that blocks the trigger or hammer to prevent accidental firing. Bolt Handle is unsed to open a bolt action. Bolt is the movable metal block that seal an cartridge into the chamber on some actions. Chamber is the base of the barrel used to hold the cartridge or shotshell ready for shooting. Sight is the device used for aiming usually by aligning a front and rear sight. Butt is the part of the stock that you hold against the shoulder when shooting. Trigger Guard is the piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being squeezed or bumped accidentally. Trigger is the small lever that is squeezed to start the firing process. Magazine is the container on a repeating firearm that holds ammunition before it is loaded into the chamber; usually tubes or boxes attached to the receiver. Forestock is the 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. Barrel is the metal tube through which the projectiles travel. Muzzle is the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits.

Animation: Parts of a Pump-Action Shotgun

Stock is the part of a gun which is held, or braced, against the shooters body. Butt is the part of the stock that you hold against the shoulder when shooting. Safety is the mechanical device that blocks the trigger or hammer to prevent accidental firing. Trigger Guard is the piece that surrounds the trigger to protect it from being accidentally squeezed or bumped. Trigger is the small lever that is pulled or squeeze to start the firing process. Action Bar attaches the movable for stock to the cocking/loading mechanism. Magazine (or fore end) is the container on a repeating firearm that holds ammunition before it is loaded into the chamber, usually tubes or boxes attached to the receiver. Rib is a raised surface along the top of the barrel which serves as a sighting plane. Barrel is a metal tube through which the projectile travels. Bead is a visual indicator for pointing the shotgun. Muzzle is the end of the barrel through which the projectile (bullet or shot) exits.

Basic Parts of a Firearm (Action)

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