Firearms

Firearms

Guns such as pistols or rifles that use explosives to shoot bullets. These are usually small arms as compared to big weapon systems such as artillery cannons or missiles.

Industry: Military

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Firearms

Charging handle

Military; Firearms

Device on a firearm which, when operated, results in the hammer or striker being cocked or moved to the ready position.

Recoil compensators

Military; Firearms

Devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire.

The speed at which a projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately 800 ft/s (240 m/s) for some pistols and older cartridges to more than 4,000 ft/s (1,200 m/s) ...

Magazine

Military; Firearms

A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable). The magazine functions by ...

Muzzle energy

Military; Firearms

The kinetic energy of a bullet as it is expelled from the muzzle of a firearm. It is often used as a rough indication of the destructive potential of a given firearm or load. The heavier the bullet ...

Necking down, necking up

Military; Firearms

Refers to shrinking or expanding the neck of an existing cartridge to make it use a bullet of a different caliber. A typical process used in the creation of wildcat cartridges.

Muzzle brakes

Military; Firearms

Devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire.