Glossary

A term for the classic shape of a bullet.

Shooter slang for a revolver.

A trigger which has a rough, inconsistent feel during the pull.

The term used for a single cartridge or one unit of ammunition.

The same as a cartridge and often used as a unit of measure, such as a 20-round box of ammunition.

Rimfire is a type of cartridge meant to be fired without striking the primer cap at the center of the base of the cartridge to ignite it. Instead, the firing pin strikes the base's rim.

Mechanically made spiral grooves built into a gun's bore that spin the bullet in flight to impart greater accuracy downrange.

The spiral pattern of grooves found in a rifle’s barrel or bore, which creates a spin on the projectile. This helps stabilize the bullet and improve accuracy.

Fired from the shoulder, rifles have a long barrel when compared to a handgun. It is most often used for shooting that requires more precision.

A revolver is a repeating handgun that has a revolving cylinder which contains multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing.

This is a general term used for a pistol or handgun that has a multi-chambered cylinder that rotates to align a cartridge with the gun’s barrel before firing.

The trigger's return after the break at which the gun's internal mechanisms are ready to fire another round.

A firearm, usually a long gun, that may be discharged repeatedly without reloading by means of the successive mechanical actions by the user such as the lever action Henry rifle.

Refilling the firearm with ammunition in order to continue shooting, or when an avid shooter chooses to reuse empty brass cases and fill them with new primers, powder, and bullets (see Handloading).

An optical sight that uses an internal illuminated red dot for an easy to find aiming point.