bore the inside portion and diameter of the barrel, extending from the breech to the muzzle. Also known as the gauge.
box magazine a rectangular or square magazine.
brass catcher a firearm attachment that catches spent cartridges ejected from an automatic or semiautomatic rifle.
breech the rear portion of a gun, behind the bore.
buck and ball a cartridge having a round ball and three buckshot.
buckshot large shotgun pellets used for large game.
bullet, cannelured an elongated, grooved bullet.
bullet, elongated a long bullet, as distinguished from a round one.
bullet, flat-point a bullet having a flat nose.
bullet, hollow-point a bullet having a hollow nose; it produces a wider area of damage on impact.
bullet, metal-case a bullet in which a metal jacket covers the nose.
bullet, soft-point a bullet having a lead tip; it produces a wider area of damage on impact.
bullet, wad-cutter a cylindrical, flat-topped bullet noted for making clean holes, used for target practice.
bullpup a firearm in which a magazine is inserted in the buttstock, behind the trigger mechanism.
butt the bottom of the grip on a pistol; the portion of a rifle placed against the shoulder when firing. Also known as the buttstock.
caliber the diameter of the barrel hole.
carbine a rifle having a barrel less than 22 inches in length.
cartridge the container holding the explosive charge.
centerfire cartridge a cartridge having its primer in the center of its base.
chamber the rear portion of the barrel; it receives the shell or cartridge.
choke a device that alters a shotgun muzzle to achieve a desired shot pattern.
clip a receptable used to hold several cartridges that are loaded simultaneously.
cock a hammer.
cylinder a revolving cylinder containing several cartridge chambers.
derringer a single-shot, pocket-sized pistol having a short barrel, the ultimate firearm for concealment.
double-action of a revolver capable of firing successive shots simply by pulling the trigger without having to first cock the hammer.
drift deviation laterally of a bullet's trajectory.
drum a round, spring-loaded magazine.
duckbill choke a muzzle attachment on a combat rifle used to spread shot in a wide line to hit more than one advancing target.
ejector a device that ejects a cartridge case.
firing pin the projection on the firing mechanism that strikes the primer or cap to detonate the powder charge.
flash hider a muzzle attachment used to conceal the flash of firing, especially at night.
flechette a finned projectile used in a combat shotgun to produce greater wound penetration.
gauge the interior diameter of a shotgun barrel. Also known as the bore.
grip the handle on a pistol.
hair trigger a sensitive trigger requiring only a light pull to release it.
hammer the cock or lock portion that strikes the primer of a cartridge to fire it.
jacket a covering on a bullet.
kick the recoil after firing.
lock the mechanism that detonates a charge. Also, to engage the safety.
machine pistol a compact, automatic, or semiautomatic firearm.
magazine in a repeating firearm, the receptacle or clip that holds and advances the ammunition to the chamber.
muzzle the mount or front of the barrel, from which the bullets emerge.
muzzle brake a rifle attachment that reduces recoil by diverting internal gases.
muzzle velocity the speed of a bullet as it emerges from the muzzle.
pistol carbine a pistol having a removable shoulder stock to allow it to be fired as a rifle.
recoil the kick of a gun after firing.
revolver any pistol with a rotating, chambered cylinder allowing firing in quick succession.
rimfire cartridge a cartridge with its primer rimming the base, as distinguished from a centerfire cartridge.
riot gun a short shotgun that fires nonlethal projectiles in riot control situations.
safety a lock or mechanism that is set to prevent the unintentional firing of a gun.
shotgun a gun that fires a number of small pellets instead of a single bullet with each shot.
sight any bead or device aligned with the eye to facilitate aiming.
silencer see suppressor.
single-action referring to a firearm that must be manually cocked before each shot.
stock the wooden part of a rifle that rests against the shoulder when firing.
submachine gun a light, handheld machine gun that fires standard pistol rounds.
suppressor a noise-suppressing, baffled tube attaching to the muzzle of a gun. Also known as a silencer.
tracer bullet a bullet that leaves a glowing trail, allowing its trajectory to be seen at night; used in the military.
trigger pull the pressure necessary to pull and release a trigger; descriptive terms include hair trigger, creeping pull, dragging pull, still pull, hard pull, smooth pull, and fine pull.
Types of Guns
antique guns blunderbuss, breechloader, Colt six- shooter, dueling pistols, flintlock, gatling gun, musket, muzzle loader.
automatic and semiautomatic handguns Beretta Pistola Automatica 9mm, Beretta Pistola Automatica Brevetto 7.65mm, Charter .38, Colt Police .45, Lugar 7.65, 9mm Parabellum, Mauser C96, Remington, Singer, .357 Magnum (several makers), Walther .38.
machine guns Barrett, British Lancaster, British Sterling, Calico 100, AK 47, Colt AR-15, Harrison and Richards, Plainfield, Ruger Mini 14, Sten, Thompson, Universal, Uzi.
revolvers Browning, Colt, Ruger Bearcat .22, Ruger GP 100-.357, Mauser Dan Wesson .44 Magnum, Dan Wesson .22 Magnum, Dan Wesson .41 Magnum, Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum, Smith and Wesson .25, Smith and Wesson Police 86.
rifles, carbines, shotguns Browning, Calico, Enfield, Harrison and Richards, Martin, Mauser, Plainfield, Remington, Ruger, Shiloh, Winchester.
pole arms
(halberds, lances, pikes, etc.)
bardiche a Russian poleax used from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
bill a large curving or hooking blade (with the cutting edge on the inside, as a scythe) attached to a long pole.
catchpole a long pole with spring arms, used to catch a man by an arm or leg and pull him off his horse during battle. Also known as a mancatcher. See sleeve tangler.
glaive a long, broad knifelike blade attached to a long pole.
halberd a weapon head consisting of an ax blade, a sharp spike or point, and a beak, attached to a long pole; used in the 15th and 16th centuries.
half-moon a broad, two-pronged blade in the shape of a crescent moon, a Spanish weapon.
hammer a weapon head consisting of a sharp hammer head on a long shaft, for piercing armor or knocking an enemy out through armor.