Firearms - Semiautomatic Pistol Flashcards
Provides space for lighting and sighting devices.
Accessory rail
Portion of the grip that is placed in the palm of the shooting hand.
Back strap
Holds the internal parts, as well as the slide assembly, and provides a way to grip the pistol.
Frame/receiver
Located on the slide’s front; used to bring the firearm into alignment for accuracy.
Front sight
Position of the grip that allows the fingers of the shooting hand to rest.
Front strap
Made of polymer (plastic) designed to allow the shooter to easily hold and control the weapon.
Grip panel
Releases the magazine from the frame (magazine well).
Magazine catch
Base of the magazine.
Magazine floor plate
Provides a path for the fired bullet and is chambered to hold the cartridge.
Muzzle barrel
Located on the rear of the slide that aligns with the front sight to bring the firearm into alignment for accuracy.
Rear sight
Houses the firing pin, safety, drop safety, sights, and extractor.
Slide
Allows access of the firing pin assembly.
Slide cover plate
Device that allows quick and simple field stripping of the pistol.
Slide lock
Device that locks the slide in the open position.
Slide stop lever
Place for the thumb to rest while gripping the pistol.
Thumb rest
Activates the pistol’s operation.
Trigger
Part of the frame that protects the trigger.
Trigger guard
Allows the trigger to move when pressed.
Trigger safety
Holds the ammunition.
Magazine
The magazine consists of five main parts:
follower, spring, magazine insert, floor plate, magazine tube
Directs the recoil spring. It absorbs the recoil and returns the slide to the following position.
Recoil guide
Pushes the slide forward.
Recoil spring
Pistols are categorized by their type of ________ mechanism.
trigger
A _________ mechanism performs the single action of releasing the hammer or striker. Once the first round is fired the automatic movement of the slide resets the mechanism for each subsequent shot.
single-action
Every round fires double action with the hammer at rest against the rear of the slide. Every time the trigger is pulled to the rear, it manually cocks and releases the hammer to fire the pistol. As the slide cycles and goes forward, the hammer safety follows, coming to rest against the slide’s rear. The hammer never stays cocked. The weapon’s trigger pull is the same each time.
double action only
The first round fires double action (the trigger being pulled to the rear manually cocks the hammer and releases it). The second and subsequent rounds fire single action as the hammer remains cocked each time the slide cycles. After firing is complete the hammer remains cocked. Before holstering the weapon, it must be de-cocked using the de-cocking lever.
double/single
The trigger is the one and only operative control on the gun. Glock handguns do not need external levers to render them ready to fire. They never fully cock until the trigger is pulled completely back. The trigger pull is the same each time.
safe action
Seating a loaded magazine into the magazine well.
loading
Moving the round from the magazine to the chamber by releasing the slide, picking up the round from the magazine and seating the round into the chamber.
feeding/cambering
The breech end of the barrel locks into the slide.
locking
Ignition of the primer and firing the cartridge.
firing
Unseating the breech end of the barrel from the slide.
unlocking
“Pulling” the spent cartridge from the chamber.
extraction
“Pushing” the spent cartridge out of the ejection port.
ejecting
Returning the firing mechanism to the fire position.
cocking
