New Shooter Semi Auto Handgun Outline

Firearms Dictionary of Terms Action: the action is, as the name suggests, the part of the firearm that “acts” to produce a shot. It’s used to refer to the central bit of rifles, shotguns and pistols. The action is where you load, fire, and eject cartridges or shells (ammo). Butt: on a rifle or shotgun, the butt is the end of the gun that you rest against your shoulder while firing. It’s just the end bit of the stock, which is the larger, triangular piece of wood at that end. Pistols technically have butts, but it’s just a small area at the bottom of the grip. The butt serves as a brace for your arm, and it absorbs some of the shock of the blast. Stock: The stock is the large (usually wooden, on rifles and shotguns) part of the gun behind the action. You wrap your arm around it when you shoot. It serves as the handle of your firearm. The stock is also an aesthetic piece. This is where you’ll see the grain of the wood on classic rifles/shotguns, and where the ornate decorative bits will be on pistols. Barrel: the barrel is the tube through which the bullet passes on its way from the firing chamber to the muzzle. The barrel also contains the bore, which is a term that refers to the actual channel the bullet travels through. Trigger: the trigger is a lever which you pull with your finger to fire the weapon. The trigger controls the firing mechanism, and sets off a chain of actions which result in the bullet coming out the muzzle end of the firearm. Hammer: when you pull the trigger, it causes the hammer to contact the primer area or firing pin of your bullet. This causes the powder to ignite, which in turn creates a chemical reaction that fires the bullet out the muzzle at high speeds. Handgun hammers are often visible, but most rifle hammers are internal and not visible. On single-shot revolvers (the kind you’ll see in many Westerns), you have to manually cock the hammer back before pulling the trigger. The vast majority of hammers are set to cock automatically and then release when you pull the trigger, in one smooth movement. Trigger guard: the trigger guard is a piece of metal which forms a ring around the trigger lever. It’s designed to prevent accidental firing. Safety: the safety can look any number of ways. It might be a button, a sliding component, or something else. Be sure you know exactly where it is and what it looks like on your firearms! It should be located next to the trigger, on the action. The safety blocks the trigger mechanism. While the trigger guard can only prevent the trigger from being knocked back accidentally, the safety, will keep the trigger from moving even if you squeeze it with your finger inside the guard. Muzzle: the muzzle is the opening on the business end of the gun, at the end of the barrel. Breech: the breech is where you load ammunition on the vast majority of guns. It’s located at the midsection of the firearm, usually as part of the action. Some shotguns and older rifles/pistols are what are called “muzzle-loaders”, because you have to load ammunition through their muzzles. Breech loaded guns are much safer, and the norm on the market today. Chamber: the chamber is a section of the barrel (usually behind the breech) where the actual cartridge is stored for firing.