Modern Firearms

Safety Mechanism

Never trust the safety Prevents the firearm from firing Could fail! Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know how

a firearm safety works

Damascus Barrel: Older or custom made barrels which were

typically made before the turn of the century

Weaker than modern barrels Couldn’t fire as far and straight

Airguns: Pneumatic – use a pump system CO2 Powered – use compressed CO2

contained in a steel cylinder Spring – involves a spring that is

compressed by a lever

Rifles and Shotguns: Use expanding gas from burning powder to

force a bullet or shot out of the muzzle Main difference in shotgun and rifle is found

inside the barrel Shotgun bore (inside of barrel) is thin and

smooth Rifle bore are thicker and have grooves that

spiral around the bore

Grooves are called rifling Spins the bullet making it more accurate Caliber of a rifle is determined by

measuring the width of the bore Shotgun sizes are given in gauges Gauges is usually marked on the rear of the

barrel

Always use the correct gauge shell in the same gauged shotgun (12-gauge shell in a 12 gauge shotgun)

Rifle and shotguns are usually identified by their bore sizes and action designs

Action in the part that moves the cartridges or shotshells into the chamber (loads, unloads, and ejects ammunition)

.22 Rifle

.22 Hornett

243

270

30-06

7 mm

Stock, action, and barrel are 3 main components of guns

There are 5 categories of actions:

- break

-pump

-lever

-semi automatic

-bolt

Rifle sights: Open – least accurate Peep or Aperture Telescope – most accurate

Dominant Eye: The one you should look through when

sighting Keep both eyes open when shooting a

shotgun Usually close one eye when shooting a rifle

Rifle positions: Standing – most difficult Kneeling – forms a tripod Sitting – forms a tripod Prone – most stable (lying down)

Firing Techniques Hold breath Gently squeeze the trigger Apply steady pressure Never jerk or slap the trigger

Range or Distances .22 caliber bullet (rimfire) can be dangerous

at a mile or more Centerfire bullets (.30-.30, .30-.06 etc) can

be dangerous at more than 3 ½ miles

Ammunition: Divided into two categories

- cartridges – handguns and rifles

-shotshells – shotguns

Ammunition Case Primer

-centerfire or rimfire Smokeless powder Bullet

Shotguns: Measured in gauges 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, and .410 are the most

common The smaller the number, the larger the bore

(inside of the barrel)

Shotgun positions: Always fire from a standing position Slight bend to knees and elbows Lean forward a little

Shotgun range: Not a long range gun Depends on the shotshell Average is within 45 yards

Shotgun choke: Determines the spread or pettern of the

shot after it leaves the barrel Three chokes:-full – most constricted-modified – less constricted-improved cylinder – less than modified-cylinder choke – no constriction, shot

spreads quickly

Ammunition Case Primer Smokeless

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