For more information please contact the clubs Secretary via e-mail cdrpc@btconnect.com Made with Xara WEB content and updates by
Copyright © 2024 Chesterfield And District Rifle And Pistol Club Nick Rhodes
ACTION
The combined parts of a firearm that determine how a firearm is loaded, discharged
and unloaded. Most handguns are referred to as "single-action" or "double-action." A
single-action firearm requires the user to manually pull back the hammer before the
firearm allows the user to either manually cock the hammer or simply pull the trigger
and allow the firearm to cock and release the hammer on its own.
ACTION, AUTOMATIC
A firearm that loads, fires, and ejects cartridges as long as the trigger is depressed
and there are cartridges available in the feeding system (i.e. magazine or other such
mechanism). Automatic action firearms are machine guns. Note: Since 1934 it has
been unlawful to sell or possess an automatic firearm without special permission and
licensing from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in addition to other measures.
ACTION, BOLT
A firearm, typically a rifle, that is manually loaded, cocked, and unloaded by pulling a
bolt mechanism up and back to eject a spent cartridge and load another. Bolt action
firearms are popular for hunting, target shooting, and biathlon events. A bolt action
rifle allows the shooter maximum accuracy, but may be too slow or cumbersome for
some shooting sports.
ACTION, LEVER
A firearm, typically a rifle, that is loaded, cocked, and unloaded by an external lever
usually located below the receiver. Note: The type of rifle used in most Western
movies is a lever-action.
ACTION, PUMP
A firearm that features a movable forearm that is manually actuated to chamber a
round, eject the casing, and put another round in position to fire.
ACTION, SEMI-AUTOMATIC
A firearm in which each pull of the trigger results in a complete firing cycle, from
discharge through reloading. It is necessary that the trigger be released and pulled
for each cycle. These firearms are also called "autoloaders" or "self-loaders." The
discharge and chambering of a round is either blowback operated, recoil operated,
or gas operated. Note: An automatic action firearm loads, discharges, and reloads
as long as ammunition is available and the trigger is depressed. A semi-automatic
firearm only discharges one cartridge with each squeeze of the trigger.
AMMUNITION
A loaded cartridge consisting of a primed case, propellant, and a projectile. Among
the many types of ammunition are centerfire rifle and pistol, rimfire, shotshells, and
reloads.
AMMUNITION, SMALL ARMS
A military term used to describe ammunition for firearms with bores (the interior of
the barrel) not larger than one inch in diameter.
ARMS, SMALL
Any firearm capable of being carried by a person and fired without additional
mechanical support.
ARMOR PIERCING
See BULLET, ARMOR PIERCING
BALLISTICS
The science of studying projectiles. Ballistics can be "interior" (inside the gun),
"exterior" (in the air), or "terminal" (at the point of impact). Ballistic comparison is the
attempt to microscopically match a bullet or fired cartridge case to a particular
firearm.
BARREL
That part of a firearm through which a projectile travels. The barrel may be rifled (i.e.,
with spiral grooves on the interior of the barrel) or smooth bore (i.e., a smooth
interior barrel with no grooves).
BB
Spherical shot having a diameter of .180" used in shotshell loads. The term is also
used to designate steel or lead air rifle shot of .175" diameter.
BENCHREST
A table specifically designed to eliminate as much human error as possible by
supporting a rifle for competitive shooting or sighting-in purposes.
BIG BORE
In America , any firearm using a centerfire cartridge with a bullet .30" in diameter or
larger.
BIRDSHOT
Small lead or steel pellets used in shotshells ranging in size from #12 (less than the
diameter of a pencil point) to #4 (about .10" in diameter) used for short-range bird
and small game hunting.
BORE
The interior barrel forward of the chamber.
BORE DIAMETER
On rifled barrels, the interior diameter of the barrel from the tops of the lands (the
highest point of the grooves). On a smooth barrel, the interior dimension of the barrel
forward of the chamber (not including the chose on the shotgun barrels).
BUCKSHOT
Large lead pellets ranging in size from .20" to .36" diameter normally loaded in
shotshells used for deer hunting.
BULLET
A non spherical projectile for use in a rifled barrel.
BULLET, ARMOR PIERCING
A projectile or projectile core that may be used in a handgun intended to pierce steel
armor that is constructed entirely, or has a core constructed, from one or a
combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, depleted
uranium, or a fully jacketed projectile larger than 22 caliber intended for use in a
handgun whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of
the projectile. The term does not include shotgun shot or projectiles intended for
sporting purposes. Note: The Gun Control Act of 1968 (18 U.S.C. Sec. 922 (a) (7))
prohibits the manufacture of sale of armor piercing ammunition, except for use by
law enforcement and the military.
BULLET, DUMDUM
A British military bullet developed in India 's Dum-Dum Arsenal in 1897-98. It was a
jacketed .303 caliber rifle bullet with the jacket most left open to expose the lead
core in hopes of greater effectiveness. Further development of the bullet was not
pursued because the Hague Convention of 1899 outlawed and such bullets for
warfare.
BULLET ENGRAVING
The grooves cut into a bullet by barrel rifling. Note: When a bullet travels down the
barrel, the grooves (or rifling) leave an imprint on the bullet. The matching of the
marks on a bullet to the rifling of a particular firearm is an important tool for law
enforcement in determining whether a bullet was fired from a particular firearm.
BULLET, FULL METAL JACKET
A projectile in which the bullet jacket (a metallic cover over the core of a bullet)
encloses most of the core with the exception of the base. They are used mostly for
target shooting and military use.
BULLET, HOLLOW POINT
A bullet with a cavity in the nose, exposing the lead core, to facilitate expansion upon
impact. Hollow point cartridges are used for hunting, self-defense, police use, and
other situations to avoid over penetration.
BULLET, WADCUTTER
A generally cylindrical bullet design having a sharp shouldered nose intended to cut
paper targets cleanly to facilitate easy and accurate shooting.
BUTT
On handguns, it is the bottom part of the grip. On long guns, it is the rear or shoulder
end of the stock.
CALIBER
A term used to designate the specific cartridges for which a firearm is chambered. It
is the approximate diameter of the circle formed by the tops of the lands of a rifled
barrel. It is the numerical term included in the cartridge name to indicate a rough
approximation of the bullet diameter (i.e. .30 caliber- .308" diameter bullet).
CARBINE
A rifle of short length and light weight originally designed for horse-mounted troops.
CARTRIDGE
A single round of ammunition consisting of the case, primer, propellant, powder, and
one or more projectiles.
CARTRIDGE, CENTERFIRE
Any cartridge intended for use in rifle, pistols, and revolvers that it has its primer
central to the axis at the head of the case. Note: Most cartridges, including
shotshells, are centerfire with the exception of 22 caliber rimfire ammunition. If you
were to look at the bottom of a centerfire cartridge, you would see a small circle in
the middle of the base, hence, "centerfire." There are a few rimfire ammunition
calibers besides the 22, but they are rare and not widely available.
CARTRIDGE, MAGNUM
Any cartridge or shotshell that is larger, contains more shot, or produces a high 46
velocity than standard cartridges or shotshells of a given caliber or gauge.
CARTRIDGE, RIMFIRE
A cartridge containing the priming mixture in the rim of the base, usually a 22.
CARTRIDGE, SMALL BORE
A general term that refers to rimfire cartridges. Normally 22 caliber ammunition used
for target shooting, plinking, and small game hunting.
CHAMBER
In a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, it is the part of a barrel that accepts the ammunition. In a
revolver, it refers to the holes in the cylinder where the cartridges are loaded.
CHOKE
An interior tube at the end of a shotgun barrel that controls shot dispersion. Chokes
typically come in cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improve modified, and full.
Note: A cylinder choke produces a very wide shot dispersion, whereas a full chose
will provide a much tighter shot pattern. Different chokes are used for skeet, trap,
and sporting clays. In hunting, the type of game and conditions will determine choke
type.
CLIP
See MAGAZINE.
COCK
To place the hammer, or striker, in position for firing by pulling it back fully.
CYLINDER
The round, rotatable part of a revolver that contains the cartridge chambers.
DERRINGER
A generic term referring to many variations of pocket-sized pistols. The name comes
from the pistol's original designer, Henry Derringer. Note: According to the American
Derringer Company, Henry Deringer's name is spelled with one 'R.' The proper
spelling of Derringer firearms is with two 'R's.
DISCHARGE
To cause a firearm to fire.
DOUBLE BARREL
Two barrels on a firearm mounted to one frame. The barrels can be vertically (over-
under) or horizontally (side-by-side) aligned.
DUMDUM
See BULLET; DUMDUM
FIREARM
An assembly of a barrel and action from which is projectile is propelled as a result of
combustion.
FIRING PIN
The part of a firearm that strikes the primer cartridge to start the ignition of the
primer.
FLASH SUPPRESSOR
An attachment to the muzzle designed to reduce muzzle flash. Note: A flash
suppressor is not a silencer.
FULL COCK
The position of the hammer when the firearm is ready to fire.
GAUGE
A term used to identify most shotgun bores, with the exception of the .410 shotgun. It
relates to the number of bore diameter lead balls weighing one pound. Note: the
.410 shotgun is a caliber. The .410 refers to the diameter of the barrel.
10 gauge - .775 inch
12 gauge - .730 inch
16 gauge - .670 inch
20 gauge - .615 inch
28 gauge - .550 inch
67 gauge - .410 inch
GROUP
A series of shots fired at the target used to adjust the sights or determine the
accuracy of a firearm.
HALF COCK
The position of the hammer about half retracted and intended to prevent release of
the hammer by a normal pull of the trigger.
HAMMER
The part of the firing mechanism that strikes the firing pin, which, in turn, strikes the
primer.
HAMMERLESS
A firearm having an internal hammer or striker.
JACKET
The envelope enclosing the lead core of a bullet.
JAM
A malfunction that prevents the action from operating. Jams may be caused by faulty
or altered parts, ammunition, poor maintenance of the firearm, or improper use of
the firearm.
JUMP
The upward and rearward recoil of a firearm when it is fired. It is commonly called
recoil or "kick."
LANDS
The uncut surface of the bore of a rifled barrel.
LOAD
The combination of components used to assemble a cartridge or shotshell. The term
also refers to the act of putting ammunition into a firearm
MACHINE GUN
See ACTION, AUTOMATIC.
MAGAZINE
A receptacle on a firearm that holds several cartridges or shells for feeding into the
chamber. Magazines take many forms, such as box, drum, rotary, or tubular and
may be fixed or removable. Note: The 1994 crime bill banned the manufacture and
importation of magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds.
MAGNUM
See CARTRIDGE, MAGNUM
MISFIRE
A failure of the cartridge to fire after the primer has been struck by the firing pin.
MUZZLE
The front end of a firearm barrel from which the bullet or shot emerges.
MUZZLE FLASH
The illumination (flash) resulting from the expanding gases from the burning
propellant particles emerging from the barrel behind the projectile and uniting with
oxygen in the air.
MUZZLE LOADER
Any firearm loaded through the muzzle. Also called "black powder" firearms. They
may be antique, replica, or of modern design.
NOSE
The point or tip of a bullet.
OVER AND UNDER
A firearm with two barrels, one above the other.
PATTERN
The distribution of shot fired from a shotgun. Generally measured as a percentage of
pellets striking in a 30 inch circle at 40 yards.
PISTOL
A term for a one-hand held firearm with a single chamber. ( A revolver has at least
five chambers.)
PISTOL, AUTOMATIC
The common but improperly used term to describe semi-automatic pistols. See
ACTION, SEMI-AUTOMATIC for a description of how these pistols operate.
PISTOL, DOUBLE ACTION
A pistol mechanism in which a single pull of the trigger cocks and releases the
hammer.
PISTOL, SINGLE ACTION
A pistol mechanism that requires the manual cocking of the hammer before the
trigger releases the firing mechanism.
PLINKING
The informal shooting at inanimate objects at indefinite points. Note: Plinking
typically refers to casual shooting at pine cones, tin cans, or other such objects for
fun and practice.
POWDER
Commonly used term for the propellant in a cartridge or shotshell. See also
PROPELLANT.
POWDER, BLACK
The earliest type of propellant, allegedly made by the Chinese or Hindus. First used
for firearms in the 13th century, it is a mechanical mixture of potassium or sodium
nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. It makes a large cloud of smoke when fired.
POWDER, SMOKELESS
A modern propellant containing mainly nitrocellulose or both nitrocellulose and
nitroglycerin. Relatively little smoke is created when fired.
PRESSURE
The force developed by the expanding gases generated by the combustion of the
propellant.
PRIMER
The ignition component consisting of brass or gilding metal cup, priming mixture,
anvil, and foiling disc. It creates a spark when hit by a firing pin, igniting the
propellant powder.
PROPELLANT
The chemical composition which, when ignited by a primer, generate gas. The gas
propels the projectile. See also POWDER
RECEIVER
The basic unit of a firearm which houses the firing mechanism and to which the
barrel and stock are assembled. In revolvers, pistols and break-open firearms, it is
called the frame.
RECOIL
The rearward movement of a firearm resulting from firing a cartridge or shell.
RECOIL PAD
A butt plate, usually made of rubber, to reduce the recoil or "kick" of shoulder
firearms.
RELOAD
A round of ammunition that has been assembled using fired cases. Note: Reloading
is very popular among recreational target shooters, competitive shooters, and
hunters. In addition to being cost-effective, reloading enables shooters to develop
ammunition specifically designed for particular shooting disciplines or games.
REVOLVER
A firearm with a cylinder having several chambers so arranged as to rotate around
an axis and be discharged successively by the same firing mechanism. A semi-
automatic pistol is not a revolver because it does not have a revolving cylinder.
RIFLE
A firearm having spiral grooves in the bore and designed to be fired from the
shoulder. By law, rifle barrels must be at least 16" long. Handguns usually have rifled
barrels as well.
RIFLING
Grooves formed in the bore of a firearm barrel to impart rotary motion to a projectile.
ROUND
One complete small arms cartridge.
SAFETY
A device on a firearm designed to provide protection against accidental or
unintentional discharge under normal usage when properly engaged.
SEMI-AUTOMATIC
Firearm which fires, extracts, ejects, and reloads only once for each pull and release
of the trigger.
SHOTGUN
A smooth bore shoulder firearm designed to fire shells containing numerous pellets
or a single slug.
SHOTSHELL
A round of ammunition containing multiple pellets for use in a shotgun. The multiple
pellets in a shotshell are called SHELL.
SILENCER
A device attached to the muzzle of a firearm to reduce the noise of discharge.
Silencers are virtually prohibited for civilian ownership and use.
SKEET
A clay target shooting sport with a shotgun. Shooters fire at clay targets crossing in
front of them.
SKEET GUN
A shotgun with an open choke specifically designed for clay target skeet shooting or
close range hunting.
SPORTING CLAYS
Often called "golf with a shotgun," it is a sport in which shooters, using shotguns, fire
at clay targets from different stations on a course laid out over varying terrain.
STOCK
The wood, fiberglass, wood laminate or plastic component to which the barrel and
receiver are attached.
TARGET, CLAY
A circular, domed frangible disc used as an aerial target for shotgun shooting games.
Originally formed out of clay, modern targets are combination of pitch and limestone.
Dimensions and weights are regulated by trap and skeet shooting associations.
They are often called "clay pigeons."
TRAJECTORY
The path of a bullet through the air.
TRAP
A clay target throwing device, either power or hand-operated.
TRAP SHOOTING
A clay target shooting sport with a shotgun. Shooters fire at clay targets flying away
from them. Shooters stand behind the trap at a distance from 16 to 27 yards.
TRIGGER, HAIR
A slang term for a trigger requiring very low force to actuate. Note: Hair triggers are
frequently used on a competitive target rifles and pistols for increased accuracy. The
reduced force needed to pull the trigger allows the shooter's firearm to remain
steady.
TRIGGER LOCK
An accessory for blocking a firearm from unauthorized use. Most trigger lock
manufacturers advise against the use of a trigger lock on a loaded firearm, as
shifting the lock against the trigger could fire the gun.
TRIGGER PULL
The average force which must be applied to the trigger to cause the firearm to fire.
Note: Typically, non-target mode-firearms have a minimum trigger pull of 3 pounds.
Double action revolvers often have a long, heavy trigger pull of around 10 pounds.
UNLOAD
The complete removal of all unfired ammunition from a firearm.
VELOCITY
The speed of a projectile at any point along its trajectory, usually listed in "feet per
second."
WAD
A space device in a shotshell, usually a cup-formed plastic or paper discs, that
separates the propellant powder from the shot.
WEAPON
An instrument used in combat. The term is never used in referring to sporting
firearms.
Shooting A to Z