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guide:firearms_terminology [2014/04/27 08:39] – Page moved from firearms_terminology to guide:firearms_terminology wesguide:firearms_terminology [2023/02/07 16:59] – grammar wes
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   *Bolt: A bolt is a mechanical part of a firearm that blocks the rear of the chamber while the powder burns.   *Bolt: A bolt is a mechanical part of a firearm that blocks the rear of the chamber while the powder burns.
  
-  *Receiver: In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. It is sometimes called the body of the firearm, and especially in the context of handguns (revolvers and pistols) it is often called the frame.\\+  *Receiver: In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. It is sometimes called the body of the firearm, and especially in the context of handguns (revolvers and pistols) it is often called the frame.
  
-  *Magnum: A generic term used to describe a pistol cartridge with an extended casing and more powder.\\+  *Magnum: A generic term used to describe a pistol cartridge with an extended casing and more powder.
  
   *Rimfire: A rimfire is a type of firearm cartridge. It is called a rimfire because, instead of the firing pin striking the primer cap at the center of the base of the cartridge to ignite it (as in a centerfire cartridge), the pin strikes the base's rim. The rimfire cartridge is essentially an extended and widened percussion cap which contains not only the priming compound, but also the propellant powder and the projectile (bullet).Rimfire cartridges, due to the thin case they must have, are limited to low pressure calibers. Although rimfire calibers up to .44 (11 mm) were once common, modern rimfires tend to be of caliber .22 (5.5 mm) or smaller.   *Rimfire: A rimfire is a type of firearm cartridge. It is called a rimfire because, instead of the firing pin striking the primer cap at the center of the base of the cartridge to ignite it (as in a centerfire cartridge), the pin strikes the base's rim. The rimfire cartridge is essentially an extended and widened percussion cap which contains not only the priming compound, but also the propellant powder and the projectile (bullet).Rimfire cartridges, due to the thin case they must have, are limited to low pressure calibers. Although rimfire calibers up to .44 (11 mm) were once common, modern rimfires tend to be of caliber .22 (5.5 mm) or smaller.
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   * Belt: In general, the belt is either permanently linked, fed through the weapon, and subsequently pushed out the other side of the chamber, or the links themselves "disintegrate", or break apart after firing, as the cartridges are integral to the design of the belt. The latter is called a "disintegrating belt". The main advantage of the non-disintegrating belt is that it is much easier to refill. The advantages of the disintegrating belt are that it is lighter and the expended links do not dangle from the other side of the gun. Permanently linked belts are often made of cloth while disintegrating links are generally metal.   * Belt: In general, the belt is either permanently linked, fed through the weapon, and subsequently pushed out the other side of the chamber, or the links themselves "disintegrate", or break apart after firing, as the cartridges are integral to the design of the belt. The latter is called a "disintegrating belt". The main advantage of the non-disintegrating belt is that it is much easier to refill. The advantages of the disintegrating belt are that it is lighter and the expended links do not dangle from the other side of the gun. Permanently linked belts are often made of cloth while disintegrating links are generally metal.
  
-  * Single-Stack Magazines: In a single column magazine, the rounds are stacked one on top of the other, in a single straight line. The slang term single stack magazine is also sometimes used. Though it doesn't allow for much in terms of capacity, it allows for a handgun to be designed slimmer than those with a double-stack magazine.\\+  * Single-Stack Magazines: In a single column magazine, the rounds are stacked one on top of the other, in a single straight line. The slang term single stack magazine is also sometimes used. Though it doesn't allow for much in terms of capacity, it allows for a handgun to be designed slimmer than those with a double-stack magazine.
  
   * Double-Stack Magazines: A double column magazine (also referred to as double stack magazine) is a magazine in which cartridges are stored in two side-by-side stacks, offset by half a cartridge height and resting against one another.   * Double-Stack Magazines: A double column magazine (also referred to as double stack magazine) is a magazine in which cartridges are stored in two side-by-side stacks, offset by half a cartridge height and resting against one another.
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   *Metric: Depending on where you live, you see cartridges measured in millimeters, such as 7.62x39 found in the AK-47. What does this mean: (#)mm x (#)mm? Frequently, the first number in that is the diameter (caliber) of the cartridge. The second number is the measurements of the length of the cartridge case, all in millimeters. For example, the 7.62x39 round featured earlier has a diameter of 7.62mm and a overall case length of 39mm.   *Metric: Depending on where you live, you see cartridges measured in millimeters, such as 7.62x39 found in the AK-47. What does this mean: (#)mm x (#)mm? Frequently, the first number in that is the diameter (caliber) of the cartridge. The second number is the measurements of the length of the cartridge case, all in millimeters. For example, the 7.62x39 round featured earlier has a diameter of 7.62mm and a overall case length of 39mm.
  
-  *Non-Metric: Simply measure the bullet's diameter in inches. In an example of a .22 caliber cartridge, you replace the "inch" in it's diameter measurement of .22 Inches with "caliber", making it .22 caliber. There are also ways to differentiate between two bullets of the same caliber, but different. An example would be .22 short vs .22 long in describing the case size. .44 special vs .44 magnum to differentiate between power. The .45 ACP, or .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, described the developer and intended use. The .30-03 and .30-06 were named for the date of introduction, 1903 and 1906 respectively.+  *Non-Metric: Simply measure the bullet's diameter in inches. In an example of a .22 caliber cartridge, you replace the "inch" in its diameter measurement of .22 Inches with "caliber", making it .22 caliber. There are also ways to differentiate between two bullets of the same caliber, but different. An example would be .22 short vs .22 long in describing the case size. .44 special vs .44 magnum to differentiate between power. The .45 ACP, or .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, described the developer and intended use. The .30-03 and .30-06 were named for the date of introduction, 1903 and 1906 respectively.
  
   *Gauge: This is mostly used in shotguns, with "gauge" referring to the number of lead spheres needed to fit into the diameter of the bore in order to equal a pound. In the case of a 12-gauge shotgun, it would take twelve spheres the size of the shotgun's bore to equal a pound. Counter intuitively, a numerically larger gauge indicates a smaller barrel: a 20-gauge shotgun requires more spheres to equal a pound, therefore its barrel is smaller than the 12 gauge.   *Gauge: This is mostly used in shotguns, with "gauge" referring to the number of lead spheres needed to fit into the diameter of the bore in order to equal a pound. In the case of a 12-gauge shotgun, it would take twelve spheres the size of the shotgun's bore to equal a pound. Counter intuitively, a numerically larger gauge indicates a smaller barrel: a 20-gauge shotgun requires more spheres to equal a pound, therefore its barrel is smaller than the 12 gauge.

guide/firearms_terminology.txt · Last modified: 2023/12/20 18:20 (external edit)

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