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SHOOTER13
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FIREARM GLOSSARY
...a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions. Please feel free to add to this list as it grows:
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A thru B
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ACP
Abbreviation for automatic colt pistol.
Action
A firearm's working mechanism (typically the receiver or frame and breech bolt) that facilitates its firing and loading/unloading. There are a variety of types of actions from single to automatic.
Action Shooting
A competitive event where participants draw holstered pistols and fire at various-shaped, small targets. The winner is the most accurate shooter or fastest shooter.
Air-gun
Refers to any gun that fires projectiles (BBs, pellets) by C02 or compressed air.
Ammunition/Ammo
A complete assembly consisting of a case, a charge (gunpowder) and a projectile. Also known as fixed ammunition.
Antique
Refers to any firearm, made before 1899, that is not designed to fire fixed ammunition or for which ammunition is unavailable.
Armor-Piercing Ammunition
The U.S. Government defines it as projectiles that are used in handguns and which consist (entirely or primarily) of beryllium copper, brass, bronze, depleted uranium, iron, steel or tungsten alloys.
Arsenal
A government facility that makes, repairs and, stores ammunition and firearms.
Artillery
Typically refers to firearms with bore diameters of 3 or more inches. Generally they fire explosive projectiles and must be operated by a crew.
Assault Rifle
A selective-fire rifle designed to rapidly fire intermediate power cartridges through selective and automatic fire. This type of firearm originated in early 1940s Germany. Their "storm rifle" was made to spray bullets to maximize the weapon's ability to wound and kill during combat.
Assault Weapon
Technically any weapon used in an assault, but usually refers to firearms that are compatible for efficient attacks. See "Weapon."
Auto(matic) Loading
See "Semi-Automatic."
Automatic
Firearm that continuously feeds cartridges, fires their bullets and ejects their empty cases.
Automatic Pistol
Popular term that is a misnomer. See "Semi-Automatic Pistol."
Backstrap
The part of a pistol that is exposed at the rear of the grip.
Ball
Typically refers to a cylinder-shaped bullet with either a rounded or pointed nose and is typically used with muzzle-loaded firearms.
Ballistics
The study of projectile motion and effects. In the case of guns, it refers to all factors that affect the bullet, including the velocity, trajectory, size of load, rifling, and more. Each weapon has its own unique "ballistic signature," which leaves markings on the bullets. This allows police laboratories to determine whether two bullets were fired from the same weapon.
Barrel
The rifled or smooth tube that a projectile travels after it's been fired.
Barrel Band
A fixed or adjustable band that holds a gun's barrel and stock together.
Barrel liner
A liner made of special material that is inserted into a bore to either protect the bore, correct bore erosion or to alter the bore so that it can fire smaller caliber ammo.
Barrel Locks
Devices inserted into a firearm's barrel or through the barrel and chamber to prevent discharge.
Barrel Selector
Component that determines the firing order in a double barrel gun.
Base Wad
A paper filling that is found in the shotgun shell's powder charge.
Battery
The flintlock component that, when struck, creates sparks that ignites the powder.
Bayonet Lug
A mounting on a firearm for attaching a bayonet or accessory.
Bedding
The point to which a firearm's barrel is fitted.
Beavertail Forend
A wide-styled forend.
Benchrest (Shooting)
A competition where participants fire from a fixed shooting position in an attempt to place consecutive shots into the smallest possible grouping on a paper target. Typically it involves groups of at least 10 shots and at different target distances.
Berdan Primer
See "Primer."
Bird Shot
Refers to shotgun projectiles that have a diameter less than .24".
Blackpowder
The earliest form of firearm propellant. Except for its use in antique guns, it has been replaced by higher pressure, smokeless powder.
Blank Cartridge
A cartridge containing a charge but no projectile. It is used for starter's guns or for special uses such as in movies or theatre productions.
Blind box magazine
A magazine that is inserted into a firearm handle and has a permanent closed bottom.
Bluing
A gun's blue or black metal finish that is the result of an acid bath. The coloration and protectant applied to barrels and other exposed metal parts on guns.
Brass
The generic term for spent cartridges, even through they're often made of bronze or aluminum. Commonly used in the context of "pick up your brass after you shoot."
Breaking
Some shotguns are designed with a hinge that lets the barrel pivot away from the stock so that you can slide in a shell. Opening it this was is called "breaking" the gun.
Boat-tail
A bullet with a tapered end to improve its long-range efficiency.
Body Armor
Vest type jacket worn by law enforcement or military personnel. It is usually made of light-weight, bullet resistive material such as Kevlar. Bullet-Proof Jacket or Vest is a misnomer.
Bolt-Action
A firearm with an assembly that requires a user to manually lock a cartridge into firing position in its barrel or chamber.
Bore
The interior of a firearm's barrel excluding the chamber. The hole through the center of the barrel, through which the bullet travels. The bore may be smooth (shotguns and muskets) or rifled (rifles and handguns).
Box magazine
An ammunition holder where the cartridges are vertically stacked.
Brass
A slang term for a spent case. It's used because a case is most commonly made out of brass.
Breech
The rear part of a gun's bore.
Breechblock
A movable piece of metal used to open and close a gun's breech.
Buck Shot
Refers to shotgun projectiles that have a diameter 24" or greater.
Buckhorn Sight
An open, metallic rear sight with sides that curl similarly to a buck's horns.
Bull Barrel
A heavier, thicker than normal barrel with little or no taper.
Bullet
The projectile expelled from a gun, which is distinct from a cartridge. Bullets come in a variety of types and are usually composed of lead or lead that is shielded with a harder metal.
Butt
Describes the bottom part of a pistol grip and the rear or shoulder portion of a rifle or shotgun.
Butt plate
A covering that protects the butt of a firearm. The cover may be metal, plastic, rubber or some other material.
===================================================================
...a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions. Please feel free to add to this list as it grows:
===================================================================
A thru B
===================================================================
ACP
Abbreviation for automatic colt pistol.
Action
A firearm's working mechanism (typically the receiver or frame and breech bolt) that facilitates its firing and loading/unloading. There are a variety of types of actions from single to automatic.
Action Shooting
A competitive event where participants draw holstered pistols and fire at various-shaped, small targets. The winner is the most accurate shooter or fastest shooter.
Air-gun
Refers to any gun that fires projectiles (BBs, pellets) by C02 or compressed air.
Ammunition/Ammo
A complete assembly consisting of a case, a charge (gunpowder) and a projectile. Also known as fixed ammunition.
Antique
Refers to any firearm, made before 1899, that is not designed to fire fixed ammunition or for which ammunition is unavailable.
Armor-Piercing Ammunition
The U.S. Government defines it as projectiles that are used in handguns and which consist (entirely or primarily) of beryllium copper, brass, bronze, depleted uranium, iron, steel or tungsten alloys.
Arsenal
A government facility that makes, repairs and, stores ammunition and firearms.
Artillery
Typically refers to firearms with bore diameters of 3 or more inches. Generally they fire explosive projectiles and must be operated by a crew.
Assault Rifle
A selective-fire rifle designed to rapidly fire intermediate power cartridges through selective and automatic fire. This type of firearm originated in early 1940s Germany. Their "storm rifle" was made to spray bullets to maximize the weapon's ability to wound and kill during combat.
Assault Weapon
Technically any weapon used in an assault, but usually refers to firearms that are compatible for efficient attacks. See "Weapon."
Auto(matic) Loading
See "Semi-Automatic."
Automatic
Firearm that continuously feeds cartridges, fires their bullets and ejects their empty cases.
Automatic Pistol
Popular term that is a misnomer. See "Semi-Automatic Pistol."
Backstrap
The part of a pistol that is exposed at the rear of the grip.
Ball
Typically refers to a cylinder-shaped bullet with either a rounded or pointed nose and is typically used with muzzle-loaded firearms.
Ballistics
The study of projectile motion and effects. In the case of guns, it refers to all factors that affect the bullet, including the velocity, trajectory, size of load, rifling, and more. Each weapon has its own unique "ballistic signature," which leaves markings on the bullets. This allows police laboratories to determine whether two bullets were fired from the same weapon.
Barrel
The rifled or smooth tube that a projectile travels after it's been fired.
Barrel Band
A fixed or adjustable band that holds a gun's barrel and stock together.
Barrel liner
A liner made of special material that is inserted into a bore to either protect the bore, correct bore erosion or to alter the bore so that it can fire smaller caliber ammo.
Barrel Locks
Devices inserted into a firearm's barrel or through the barrel and chamber to prevent discharge.
Barrel Selector
Component that determines the firing order in a double barrel gun.
Base Wad
A paper filling that is found in the shotgun shell's powder charge.
Battery
The flintlock component that, when struck, creates sparks that ignites the powder.
Bayonet Lug
A mounting on a firearm for attaching a bayonet or accessory.
Bedding
The point to which a firearm's barrel is fitted.
Beavertail Forend
A wide-styled forend.
Benchrest (Shooting)
A competition where participants fire from a fixed shooting position in an attempt to place consecutive shots into the smallest possible grouping on a paper target. Typically it involves groups of at least 10 shots and at different target distances.
Berdan Primer
See "Primer."
Bird Shot
Refers to shotgun projectiles that have a diameter less than .24".
Blackpowder
The earliest form of firearm propellant. Except for its use in antique guns, it has been replaced by higher pressure, smokeless powder.
Blank Cartridge
A cartridge containing a charge but no projectile. It is used for starter's guns or for special uses such as in movies or theatre productions.
Blind box magazine
A magazine that is inserted into a firearm handle and has a permanent closed bottom.
Bluing
A gun's blue or black metal finish that is the result of an acid bath. The coloration and protectant applied to barrels and other exposed metal parts on guns.
Brass
The generic term for spent cartridges, even through they're often made of bronze or aluminum. Commonly used in the context of "pick up your brass after you shoot."
Breaking
Some shotguns are designed with a hinge that lets the barrel pivot away from the stock so that you can slide in a shell. Opening it this was is called "breaking" the gun.
Boat-tail
A bullet with a tapered end to improve its long-range efficiency.
Body Armor
Vest type jacket worn by law enforcement or military personnel. It is usually made of light-weight, bullet resistive material such as Kevlar. Bullet-Proof Jacket or Vest is a misnomer.
Bolt-Action
A firearm with an assembly that requires a user to manually lock a cartridge into firing position in its barrel or chamber.
Bore
The interior of a firearm's barrel excluding the chamber. The hole through the center of the barrel, through which the bullet travels. The bore may be smooth (shotguns and muskets) or rifled (rifles and handguns).
Box magazine
An ammunition holder where the cartridges are vertically stacked.
Brass
A slang term for a spent case. It's used because a case is most commonly made out of brass.
Breech
The rear part of a gun's bore.
Breechblock
A movable piece of metal used to open and close a gun's breech.
Buck Shot
Refers to shotgun projectiles that have a diameter 24" or greater.
Buckhorn Sight
An open, metallic rear sight with sides that curl similarly to a buck's horns.
Bull Barrel
A heavier, thicker than normal barrel with little or no taper.
Bullet
The projectile expelled from a gun, which is distinct from a cartridge. Bullets come in a variety of types and are usually composed of lead or lead that is shielded with a harder metal.
Butt
Describes the bottom part of a pistol grip and the rear or shoulder portion of a rifle or shotgun.
Butt plate
A covering that protects the butt of a firearm. The cover may be metal, plastic, rubber or some other material.
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