CFSC / CRFSC Terminology Flash Cards
Firearm

Mechanical device that uses pressure from a burning powder to force a projectile through and out of a metal tube
Basic parts of a firearm

Action, Stock, Barrel
Action

Heart of the firearm
Moving parts that load, fire, and eject the shells or cartridges
Stock

Hand of the firearm
Can be composed of one or two pieces made of wood or synthetic material
Barrel

Metal tube that projectile travels through
Bore

Inside of the barrel through which the projective travels when fired
Breech

Rear end of barrel
Firing Pin

Pin that strikes the primer of the cartridge
Causes ignition
Receiver

Metal housing for the working parts of the action
Handguns

Short-barrelled firearms
Cartridge

Ammunition used in rifles and handguns
Case containing primer, gunpowder, and a bullet
Shotshell

Ammunition used in shotguns
Case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug/shot
Basic Components of Ammunition

Case, Primer, Powder, Projectile
Case

Container that holds all other ammunition components together
Made of brass, steel, copper, paper, plastic
Primer

Explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by firing pin
Placed in rim of the case (rimfire) or center of base of case (centerfire)
Gunpowder

Chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an expanding gas when ignited
Modern smokeless powder burns slowly when ignited when out of case
Black powder is less stable and can be explosive when ignited in the open
Projectile

Objects expelled from the barrel
Bullet - contains lead, fired through rifle or handgun
Slug - solid projectile of lead
Shot - group of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, bismuth pellets
Wad

Seal or shot container made of paper of plastic separating powder from slug or shot
Prevents gas from escaping through the shot
Holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel
Pointed Soft Point

High velocity
Accurate bullets
Flat travel path/trajectory
Excellent mushrooming
Tubular Magazines

Use only rounded or blunt tips
Centerfire Ammunition

Used for rifles, shotguns and handguns
Primer located in center of casing base
Reloadable
Rimfire Ammunition

Primer contained in rim of ammunition casing
Limited to low-pressure loads
Not reloadable
Slug

Solid projectile, lead, used with a shotgun
Shot

Multiple pellets fired through a shotgun barrel
Size adaptable to game
Used to hunt birds and small game animals
Gauge

Bore diameter of a shotgun
Number of lead balls with diameters equal to the diameter of the bore
When combined, weigh one pound
As Pellet Diameter Decreases

More shot can be placed in a standard shotshell
Non-toxic Shot

Required if waterfowl hunting
Steal, tungsten alloy, bismuth
Process of Firing a Gun

Pull trigger
Firing pin strikes
Primer explodes in base of cartridge or shotshell
Spark from primer ignites gunpowder
Gunpowder burns and converts to gas
Gas expands and drives projectile through barrel
Firearm Actions

Parts that load, unload, fire, and eject cartridge
Single-shot or repeating
Single-shot Firearms

Must be reloaded each time
Repeating Firearms

Have extra cartridges or shotshells ready in magazine, cylinder, or barrel
Safety

Device that blocks the action to prevent the firearm from shooting until it is released from on
Intended to prevent firearm from being fired accidentally
Should never be relied on totally to protect from accident
Can fail from wear or damage
Only a backup to safe habits
Located around receiver
Magazine

Repeating firearms
Stores ammunition that is not fired
Designed with a spring and follower that push against the cartridges to move them into action
To make sure is empty, either see or feel the follower
Detachable or fixed
Sight

Device used to line up muzzle with shooter's eye to hit target
More critical on a firearm that fires a single projectile than one that shoots a pattern
Caliber

Diameter of bore
Expressed in hundredths of an inch or millimetres
Cardinal Rule of Firearm Safety

Every gun must be treated as if it were loaded
Safety at a Shooting Range

Read all rules
Follow range master instructions
Not shooting: unload firearm and leave on range line or bench until given more instructions
Do not handle firearm when shooters are downrange, step away from firing line until clear
No one present: all shooters decide on safety commands beforehand
Hearing and eye protection
Respond when "Cease fire"
Zone-of-FIre

Area in which a hunter can shoot safely
25-40 yards apart
45 degrees in front of hunter
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