Firearm Glossary

Gun enthusiasts

Gun enthusiasts are individuals who have a strong interest in firearms, shooting sports, and related activities. They often have a passion for firearms and may engage in activities such as target shooting, hunting, collecting firearms, and participating in shooting competitions.

Shooters

The term “shooter” can indeed refer to a person who shoots a gun or other weapon. In a general sense, it is often used to describe someone who is skilled or involved in the use of firearms, such as a soldier, law enforcement officer, or a civilian who engages in shooting sports.

Hunters

A hunter is an individual who engages in the practice of hunting, which involves pursuing and capturing or killing wild animals for food, recreation, or conservation purposes.

Shotgun

A shotgun is a type of firearm that is designed to be fired from the shoulder, and it is commonly used for shooting targets such as birds and other game, as well as for self-defense and sport shooting.

Semi-auto shotgun

A semi-automatic shotgun is a type of shotgun that is capable of firing one round (shell) with each pull of the trigger, automatically ejecting the spent cartridge and chambering a new one for the next shot.

Pump-action shotgun

A pump-action shotgun is a type of firearm that uses a manually operated pump mechanism to chamber a round, eject the spent cartridge, and load a new round into the chamber.

Gas-operated shotgun

A gas-operated shotgun is a type of shotgun that uses the gases produced during the firing of a shell to cycle the action and chamber a new round.

Pistol

A pistol is a type of handheld firearm designed for short-range accuracy. It is a compact and easily maneuverable firearm that is typically held and operated with one hand.

Rifle

A rifle is a type of firearm that is designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a series of spiral grooves cut into it, known as rifling.

SMG

SMG stands for “Submachine Gun.” It is a type of firearm that is smaller and lighter than a regular machine gun but has a higher rate of fire than most rifles.

Ammunition

Ammunition refers to the physical objects or materials that are fired, thrown, dropped, or otherwise projected from weapons such as firearms, cannons, or other artillery.

Magazine

A gun magazine refers to a detachable ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm.

Choke

A choke is a tapered constriction at the muzzle end of the barrel that controls the spread of the shot pellets when the gun is fired.

Shotgun shell

A shotgun shell, also known as a shotshell, is a cylindrical container used in shotguns to hold the ammunition.

Picatinny rail

A Picatinny rail, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail or NATO rail, is a standardized system for mounting various accessories to firearms, such as scopes, red dot sights, tactical lights, lasers, and other accessories.

Home defense

Home defense refers to the measures and strategies individuals take to protect their homes and occupants from potential threats or intrusions.

Barrel

A gun barrel is the metal tube through which a bullet or projectile is propelled by the expanding gases produced by the ignition of a propellant.

Caliber

It refers to the internal diameter of a gun barrel or the size of a bullet that fits into a particular firearm.

Muzzle velocity

Muzzle velocity refers to the speed at which a projectile (such as a bullet or a shell) leaves the muzzle of a firearm or the barrel of a gun. It is typically measured in meters per second (m/s) or feet per second (fps).

Mil (Milliradian)

A mil is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/1000th of a radian.

MOA (Minute of Angle)

A minute of angle is another unit of angular measurement, but it is equal to 1/60th of a degree.

Revolver

A revolver is a type of firearm that features a rotating cylinder containing multiple chambers, each holding a single cartridge.

Magnification

Magnification is a measure of how much larger an object appears when viewed through the scope compared to the naked eye.