Glossary
A
Action:
The parts of a firearm which load, fire, and unload the gun.
Ammunition:
Modern shells or cartridges are comprised of a shell (or case) containing primer, gun powder and projectile.
AK:
As in AK47, abbreviation for an automatic assault rifle designed for the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947 (Avtomat Kalashnikov)
AR:
An abbreviation devired from Arma Lite, the first manufacturer of that style of gun.
Autoloader:
Also called a self-loader or semi-automatic; firearm action type which fires, ejects empty cases, and loads a fresh cartridge with each pull of the trigger.
B
Backstop:
Impact area for archery and firearm projectiles.
Black powder
: A gun powder mixture made from charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate used in firearms prior to 20th century.
Bolt action:
A manual firearm action type. After firing, operating the bolt ejects an empty case and loads a fresh cartridge from the magazine.
Break Action:
A manual firearm action that opens the barrel for manual removal of an empty case and manual reloading of a fresh cartridge.
Bolt lock:
A button or lever on firearms which must be depressed in order to open the action once the firearm is cocked.
Bore:
The interior diameter of a gun barrel.
Bullet:
A single projectile fired from a handgun or rifle. It is one part of a cartridge.
C
Caliber:
Measurement of the diameter of the bore or bullet for rifles and handguns. The measurement can be in hundredths or thousandths of an inch, or the metric system.
Cap lock:
Percussion ignition muzzle loading firearm; uses a small metal percussion cap, which is struck by the hammer, creating a flash which ignites powder.
Carrying positions:
Ways in which a firearm can be carried so that the mussel is pointed in a safe direction. Various carrying positions are used when in a group.
Carbine:
A shorter version (shorter barrel length) of a rifle which uses the same ammunition as the full scale rifle.
Cartridge:
Ammunition; round; shell; tube containing a complete charge for a firearm.
Case:
Holds the components to form a round of ammunition; also called a “shell”.
Center fire:
A of cartridge which holds primer in the rear center of the cartridge head.
Chamber:
The part of a firearm which holds and supports a round of ammunition for firing.
Choke:
The constriction at the end of a shotgun barrel which controls the spread of the pellets shot.
Cylinder choke:
One type of shotgun choke.
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D
Discharge:
Firing a gun.
Double action:
Type of handgun action which cocks and releases the hammer with one pull of the trigger.
Dry-fire:
Pulling the trigger on an unloaded firearm, often used as a training technique.
F
Firearm:
Gun, including muzzle loading, shotguns, rifles, and handguns.
Flintlock:
A type of muzzle loading firearm which uses flint and steel to create a shower of sparks to ignite the powder.
Forearm (or Forend):
The forward section of the stock.
Full choke:
One type of shotgun choke which is very tight for longer range shooting.
Fuel:
Something that burns.
G
Gauge:
Measurement of shotgun barrels, as in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, etc.
Grooves:
Spiral cuts inside the bore of rifled barrels.
Gun:
Firearm; including muzzle loading, shotguns, rifles, and handguns.
H
Hammer:
Part of a firearm action that causes ammunition to discharge by a striking the primer.
Handgun:
Any type of hand-held firearm, including a revolver, semi-automatic pistol, a bolt action, or a break action pistol which is intended to be held and fired using one hand.
Hang fire:
A dangerous condition in which the trigger is pulled but the firearm does not discharge immediately and will discharge at a later time.
Hull:
A shot gun shell case.
Hunt:
Chase; pursue; track; trail; all hunters must possess a hunting license.
Hunter orange:
A bright florescent color commonly incorporated into high visibility safety clothing, such as hunting gear and traffic safety vests.
I
Ignite:
To set on fire.
L
Lever action:
A manual firearm action type; after firing, operating the lever ejects an empty case and loads a fresh cartridge from the magazine and cocks the action.
Lock:
The firing mechanism of a muzzle loading firearm.
M
Magazine:
That part of a firearm which stores extra rounds of ammunition.
Muzzle:
The end of a firearm barrel through which bullets or shot exit.
Muzzle loader:
A traditional firearm which is loaded from the muzzle.
N
Nipple:
A small metal tube on a cap lock muzzle loading firearm. A metal percussion cap fits over the nipple to create a flash to ignite powder.
O
Obstruction:
Obstacle; barrier.
Open sight:
Uses a rear sight and a front sight.
P
Peep sight:
A rear sight with a small aperture, or peephole, through which the shooter looks at the front sight.
Pellets (shot):
Projectiles fired in shot shells, various sizes are available.
Pistol:
A semi-automatic handgun.
Powder flask:
A container made of brass, copper, leather to hold a supply of gun powder.
Powder measure:
Very small container designed to hold enough powder for one shot only.
Primer:
A small metal cup containing an explosive compound used to ignite powder. Sometimes called a cap.
Pump action:
A manual firearm action type. After firing, operating the pump ejects an empty case, moves a fresh cartridge from the magazine and cocks the action.
R
Ramrod:
A rod used on muzzle loading firearms to seat projectiles firmly. Ramrods are also used to clean firearms.
Revolver:
A handgun that uses a revolving magazine.
Rifling:
Spiral grooves in a firearm’s bore; rifling aids in accuracy.
Rim fire:
A of cartridge which holds primer in the rear rim of the cartridge head. This is most commonly used for a .22-caliber.
S
Safety:
A mechanical device designed to prevent the discharge of a firearm.
Shot:
Pellets used in shot shells. Sizes range from 12 (small) to F and T (very large).
Shot shell:
Ammunition used in shotguns.
Single action:
A type of handgun action which requires the hammer to be cocked by hand every time the gun is fired.
Slug:
Heavy projectile for shotgun ammunition used for hunting certain big game species. Think of it as a “bullet” the size of the shot gun gauge.
Smokeless powder:
Also known as progressive burning powder, this is the gun powder used in all modern firearms, but not in any muzzle loading firearm.
Smoothbore:
A type of shot gun barrel which has no rifling. Smooth bore barrels are used to fire pellets.
Stock:
The part of a firearm that is used to hold and aim the gun.
T
Telescopic sight:
A sighting system on firearms which magnifies the size of the target.
Trigger:
The lever on a firearm that is squeezed to discharge the gun.
Trigger guard:
The loop of metal that surrounds the trigger to help prevent accidental firing.
W
Wad:
Paper, fiber, or plastic insert used in shot shells to seal gasses from the gun powder and assist in evenly projecting pellets through the barrel.
Z
Zone-of-fire:
The area in which your shot may be effective.
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