Definitions 1
A bullet is...
Technically considered to be a projectile and typically made of lead and a "jacket" made of copper.
A gauge is...
A measure of bore diameter for shotguns. Determined from the weight of a solids sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm.
A revolver is...
a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers for firing.
Striations are...
The markings that are left on bullets by the machining process and cutting of the rifling in the barrel.
Give an example of a toolmark:
Impressed mark, crushed mark, striated mark, etc.
A barrel is...
The metal tube through which a projectile or shot charge is fired.
A cartridge is...
Unfired ammunition of handguns and rifles
Lands are...
Bore of the barrel that has raised areas.
A semiautomatic is...
Any weapon where the shooter pulls the trigger, one bullet is fired and a new bullet is automatically loaded.
Give an example of a caliber:
A common metric caliber is 9mm. Can also be .22, .45, .357.
A bore is...
the inside of a barrel.
An ejector is...
designed to eject the fired cartridge case from the firearm.
Primer is...
The shock-sensitive explosive that is placed in the cartridge at the factory. Causes the gunpowder to ignite.
A shell is...
ammunition of shotguns
Give an example of a rifling:
Broach cutting, button rifling, and hammer forging.
A breechblock is...
the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a breech loading weapon before or at the moment of firing.
An extractor is...
A hook designed to grab the cartridge case and pull it from the barrel after firing.
A projectile is...
an object propelled by the force of gases produced by rapidly burning gunpowder
A slide is...
the upper part that reciprocates with recoil during the gun's operating cycle.
Give an example of a gauge:
12-gauge is the most common shotgun.
A caliber is...
The diameter of the bore. Can be measured in either metric or English units.
Grooves are...
Bore of the barrel that has lowered areas.
A rifling is...
Rifling is the process of cutting spiral grooves in the bore of the barrel of a firearm.
Toolmarks are...
The impressions or indentations left on surfaces by tools or other objects.
What is the difference between a semiautomatic pistol and revolver?
The primary difference between the two is that semiautomatic pistols eject the fired cartridge after each shot while the fired cartridge remains inside the cylinder of a revolver.