Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a firearm in simplest terms?
A firearm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a burning powder to force a projectile through and out of a metal tube.
What are the three basic groups of parts in modern firearms?
Action, Stock, Barrel
What is the action on a firearm?
The action is the heart of the firearm. It is the moving parts that load, fire, and eject the empty shells or cartridges.
What is the stock on a firearm?
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What is the barrel on a firearm?
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What is the chamber of a firearm used for?
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What is the bore on a firearm?
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What is the firing pin on a firearm?
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What is the receiver on a firearm?
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Rifles and handguns use a __________, containing a single projectile, called a bullet.
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Shotguns use a __________, containing either a single shot or a large number of small projectiles, called shot.
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The basic components of ammunition are __________.
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What is the 'case' on ammunition?
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What is 'primer' used for on ammunition?
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What does 'gunpowder' do in ammunition?
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What does the 'projectile' in ammunition do?
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What are the general types of 'projectiles' used on various firearms?
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What does a wad do in shotgun ammunition?
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Bullets used for hunting may have soft or hollow points, designed to __________ upon impact.
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Bullets used for target shooting usually have __________ that make small holes.
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What are some common types of rifle bullets?
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What are some common types of handgun bullets?
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A __________ is an ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns. It includes a case containing primer, gunpowder, and a bullet.
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__________ is ammunition that is used in modern shotguns. It includes a case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug or shot.
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What is Centerfire ammunition?
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What is Rimfire ammunition?
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__________ is the term used to designate bore diameter of a shotgun.
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Shotshells must exactly match the __________ and __________ specified by the manufacturer.
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What are the shell lengths that shotguns may be chambered for?
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Shotshell marked as __________ means the shell has more shot or more gunpowder than a regular shell.
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The smaller the shot number, the __________ the shot size.
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Pulling the trigger of a firearm causes the firing pin to strike and explode the __________ in the base of the cartridge or shotshell.
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What happens when the spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder?
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Singleshot rifles are usually __________, or __________ actions.
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What types of repeating rifles are there?
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What does operating the lever, bolt, or forestock do on a rifle?
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What is the difference between a gun that is 'Single-action' and one that is 'Double-action'?
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What is a firearm's 'Caliber' used for?
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Every rifle or handgun is designed for a specific cartridge. The ammunition must match the __________ on the firearm.
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On rifle and handgun calibers, the same bore size __________ different cartridges are interchangeable.
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What is a 'hang fire', and when does one happen?
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When does a 'misfire' happen?
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Shotguns are classified by __________, which is a measure related to the diameter of the smooth shotgun bore and the size of the shot-shell designed for that bore.
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The smaller the gauge number, the __________ the shotgun bore.
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Where is the gauge of a shotgun marked?
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Study Notes
Firearm Basics
- A firearm utilizes pressure from burning powder to propel a projectile through a metal tube.
- Modern firearms consist of three main components: action, stock, and barrel.
Action
- The action is the central mechanism of a firearm, responsible for loading, firing, and ejecting cartridges.
- Muzzleloaders feature locks instead of traditional actions.
Stock
- The stock serves as the firearm's handle and is typically made from wood or synthetic materials.
Barrel
- The barrel is the metal tube where the projectile travels; rifle and handgun barrels use bullets, while shotguns use shot.
Chamber and Bore
- The chamber holds the cartridge or shotshell until firing, while the bore is the interior of the barrel through which the projectile passes.
Firing Pin and Receiver
- The firing pin strikes the cartridge's primer to ignite it.
- The receiver houses the operational pieces of the action.
Ammunition Components
- Cartridges contain a case, primer, gunpowder, and projectile; shotshells include these plus a wad.
Case and Primer
- The case holds all ammunition components and is often made of materials like brass or plastic.
- Primers are explosive compounds that ignite the gunpowder, differentiating between rimfire (located in the rim) and centerfire (located centrally).
Gunpowder Functionality
- Gunpowder burns rapidly to create expanding gas, propelling the projectile. Modern smokeless powder is safer than black powder.
Projectiles
- Projectiles include bullets (for rifles and handguns), slugs (for shotguns), and shot (small pellets fired from shotguns).
- Wad is used in shot-shells to separate powder from shot, preventing gas loss.
Bullet Types
- Hunting bullets may have soft or hollow points designed to expand upon impact.
- Target bullets are often solid points, creating small holes.
Rifle and Handgun Bullets
- Common rifle bullets include pointed soft point, rounded soft point, protected tip, and full metal jacket.
- Handgun bullet types include round-nose lead, full metal jacket, semi-wadcutter, hollow point, and wadcutter.
Types of Ammunition
- Cartridges are for rifles and handguns; shotshells are for shotguns, both containing necessary components for firing.
- Centerfire ammunition features primers in the case center, reloadable, while rimfire has them at the rim, limited to low pressure, and non-reloadable.
Gauge and Shell Length
- Gauge denotes the bore diameter of shotguns, determined by how many lead balls of equal diameter weigh one pound.
- Shotgun shells can vary in length, commonly 2 ¾ inch, 3 inch, or 3 ½ inch.
Magnum Shells and Shot Sizes
- "Magnum" shells contain more shot or gunpowder than regular shells.
- Shot size is inversely related to the numbered size; smaller shot numbers indicate larger size.
Trigger Functionality
- Pulling the trigger activates the firing pin to strike the primer, igniting gunpowder, generating gas rapidly that forces the projectile out of the barrel.
Firearm Operations
- Operating the lever, bolt, or forend ejects spent cartridges, chambers new rounds, and cocks the firearm.
Single-action vs Double-action
- Single-action firearms require manual cocking of the hammer to fire, while double-action firearms cock and release the hammer with a single trigger pull.
Caliber
- Caliber specifies the size of a firearm's bore and associated cartridges; measured by diameter from land to opposite land.
Matching Ammunition and Firearms
- Each firearm is designed for specific cartridges; ammunition must match the firearm's data stamp. Bore sizes of the same caliber are not interchangeable.
Hang Fires and Misfires
- Hang fires involve a delay in firing after the firing pin strikes, often due to faulty components.
- Misfires occur when the primer fails to ignite the powder.
Shotgun Classification
- Shotguns are classified by gauge, which relates to bore diameter and shot-shell sizing; smaller gauge numbers indicate larger bores.
Marking and Identification
- Shotgun gauge is marked on both the barrel and shell packaging for identification.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the fundamentals of firearms with these flashcards. Learn about the basic parts of modern firearms and their definitions. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts looking to solidify their understanding of gun mechanics.