Glossary

This is a visible dark ring created by the primers in centerfire ammunition around the firing pin hole inside the frame after extended use.

The counter bore in the center of the base of a cartridge casing in a centerfire round in which the primer is seated.

The primer is placed in the base of a shell casing to ignite the powder of a completed cartridge which is detonated by the strike of the firing pin.

Shooting sports where the competitors try to combine the three principles of precision, power and speed, while attempting the highest score.

Openings at the muzzle of a gun through which some of the spent gases can escape helping to reduce recoil.

The amount of propellant gunpowder that works the best for a specific cartridge-bullet combination or shotgun shells.

Pre-travel is any movement of the trigger system that begins before the trigger actually starts to engage.

The opening or ejection port in the side of an autoloader from which spent cases are ejected.

is the close distances from which a given shot can be fired at the center or vital area of a given target and hit it without the shooter having to adjust.

Any shooting in which random targets are set out on an impromptu firing range for simple target practice.

When a gun is fired directly at a target from an extremely close range.

The handle of a pistol that the strong hand or shooting hand grabs and controls the firearm with.

An attached handle found on rifles or shotguns just behind the trigger that resembles that of a pistol.

Also referred to as a “handgun,” pistols are smaller firearms designed so a shooter can fire it using one hand, although many shooters will use two hands. These guns are portable and easily concealed.

Either a rifle (long gun) or pistol using compressed air or CO2 to fire a skirted pellet as opposed to a rounded BB. Pellet guns are not firearms.