Questions and Answers
What is a firearm?
What is the function of the action in a firearm?
The action loads, fires, and ejects the shells or cartridges.
What does the stock of a firearm do?
It serves as the handle of the firearm.
What is the barrel of a firearm?
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What is the bore of a firearm?
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What is the breech of a firearm?
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What is the firing pin?
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What is a receiver in a firearm?
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What type of firearm is most commonly pump action?
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What are handguns commonly used for?
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What is a cartridge?
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What is the function of a shotshell?
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What is the purpose of a case in ammunition?
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What does a primer do in a firearm?
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What is gunpowder?
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What is a projectile in the context of firearms?
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What does a wad do in a shotshell?
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What is a hollowpoint bullet designed for?
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What characteristic do full metal jacket bullets have?
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What is centerfire ammunition?
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What is rimfire ammunition?
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Study Notes
Firearm Basics
- A firearm is a device using burning powder to propel a projectile through a metal tube.
- The action encompasses the moving parts that load, fire, and eject cartridges; muzzleloaders use locks instead.
- The stock acts as the handle, typically made from wood or synthetic materials.
- The barrel is the metal tube through which projectiles travel; its design varies between rifles, handguns, and shotguns.
Ammunition Components
- The bore is the interior of the barrel where the projectile travels when fired.
- The breech refers to the rear end of the barrel.
- The firing pin strikes the primer to initiate ignition of the cartridge.
- The receiver houses the action’s working parts.
Types of Firearms
- Shotguns are long-barreled firearms, primarily using pump action.
- Handguns include revolvers and pistols, generally short-barreled and versatile for hunting.
Ammunition Types
- Cartridges comprise primer, gunpowder, and a bullet; used in rifles and handguns.
- Shotshells are for shotguns, containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and either slugs or shot.
- The cartridge case holds all components and is made from materials like brass, steel, or plastic.
Ignition and Propellant
- Primer is an explosive compound igniting gunpowder upon impact from the firing pin; it can be rimfire or centerfire.
- Gunpowder is a rapidly burning chemical mixture, with modern smokeless powder being less volatile than black powder.
Projectiles
- Projectiles are objects expelled from barrels; types include bullets for rifles and solid slugs or pellets for shotguns.
- Wads are used in shotshells to separate powder from slugs or shot, preventing gas escape and keeping the shot together.
Bullet Types and Characteristics
- Pointed soft point bullets achieve high velocity and mushroom on impact.
- Rounded soft point bullets are suited for low-velocity calibers and tubular magazines.
- Projected tip bullets are accurate and expand well upon impact.
- Full metal jacket bullets offer maximum penetration with no expansion, often illegal for big game hunting.
- Roundnose lead promotes good penetration with minimal expansion.
- Semi-wad cutters balance between penetration and expansion.
- Hollow points are designed for significant expansion on impact.
- Wad cutters create clean holes in paper, ideal for target shooting.
Ammunition Classification
- Centerfire ammunition has a primer located at the casing's center, generally reloadable and used in various firearms.
- Rimfire ammunition contains the primer in the casing's rim, limited to low-pressure loads and not reloadable.
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Test your knowledge of firearm terminology with these flashcards. Each card presents a word related to firearms and its definition, helping you prepare for hunting and firearm safety. Perfect for students in Hunters Ed classes or anyone interested in learning more about guns.