Handgun Dictionary

AUTHORS NOTE: THIS IS A PARTIAL LIST OF THE BASICS TO HELP THE GUN OWNER.

ACTION = Breech Mechanism of a gun by which it is loaded and unloaded.

BACKSTRAP = The rear portion of a handgun frame to which the grips are attached.

BARREL = The part of a gun through which the bullet passes from breech to muzzle.

BOLT (REV) = A movable stud protruding through a revolver frame in to the notch in the cylinder which holds the cylinder in alignment with the barrel.

BORE = The inside of a barrel of a gun.

BORE DIAMETER = The diametrical measurement between the tops of the lands.

BULLET = The projectile only, not applied to the cartridge.

CALIBER = Bore or groove diameter usually expressed in decimals of an inch. (some are metric)

CARTRIDGE = Complete round of ammunition.

CF = Center fire, replaceable primer located in the center of the head of the case.

CHAMBER = The part of the bore or cylinder in a revolver that accepts the cartridge.

CYLINDER = In a revolver, cartridge container that rotates.

EJECTOR = Device within the action that expels the fired case.

EXTRACTOR = Claw that removes the fired case from the chamber.

FIRING PIN = A pin that strikes the primer that fires the bullet.

FOLLOWER = A metal or plastic platform in a magazine that pushes the cartridge upward at the proper angle for feeding into the chamber.

FRONTSTRAP = The front portion of a handgun frame to which the grips are attached.

HAMMER = A part of the action actuated by the trigger which drives the Firing Pin against the primer igniting the cartridge.

MAGAZINE = Metal or plastic body to hold extra cartridges, incoporates spring and follower.

PRIMER = Centerfire / The small cup containing a detonating mixture seated in a recess in the base of the case.

RECOIL = The backward thrust of a gun caused by the reaction to the powder gases pushing the bullet forward.

RIFLING = Spiral grooving cut into the bore to impart spin to their bullets to achieve accuracy.

RIMFIRE = Cartridges containing their primer mixture in the rim, which is where they are struck by the firing pin.

VELOCITY = Projectile speed, measured in feet per second (FPS).


Teddy Jacobson
www.actionsbyt.com
281 277 4008
tjacobson@houston.rr.com