Small Arms Terms

Question 1

8 Cycles of Function

Answer 1

Feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting, cocking

Question 2

Feeding Mechanisms

Answer 2

Magazines
Belts
Clips

Question 3

Magazines

Answer 3

Box - staggered (duel or single) or in line box
Drum
Pan

Question 4

Belts

Answer 4

SLD MLB
SLND MLB
FED MLB
FEND MLB

Question 5

Clips

Answer 5

En-Bloc clip

Stripper clip

Question 6

Types of Cartridges

Answer 6

Rimmed
Semi-Rimmed
Rimless
Belted
Rebated

Question 7

Types of Firing Pins

Answer 7

Free floating - larger mass strikes them
Inertia
Percussion - a spring provides energy
Striker
Fixed - own mass provides energy

Question 8

Types of Primers

Answer 8

Boxer - one flash hole

Berdan - two flash holes

Question 9

Locking Systems

Answer 9

Rotating bolt
Rising/lowering bolt
Rollers
Rising barrel 
Locking flaps
Swinging bolt
Locking block
Rotating barrel

Question 10

Operating Systems

Answer 10

Bolt action
Blowback
Delayed blowback
Recoil
Recoil with gas assist
Gas operation (gas blast, tappet, direct)
Manual pump
Revolving cylinder

Question 11

Ballistics

Answer 11

The science and study of the motion and impact of projectiles

Question 12

Internal ballistics

Answer 12

The science of projectile motion within a firearm. It is most simply all that happens within a firearm from the instant the primer ignites until the bullet leaves the barrel.

Question 13

External ballistics

Answer 13

Concerns the path of the bullet from the muzzle to the target

Question 14

Terminal ballistics

Answer 14

Concerns what happens to the bullet after it hits the target and what the bullet actually does to the target upon impact

Question 15

Battle sight

Answer 15

The range that allows you to hit the target between the throat and waist without sight adjustment. Exact ranges varies with caliber of weapon

Question 16

Breechblock

Answer 16

A component that seals the breech and blocks gases from the fired cartridge

Question 17

Compensator

Answer 17

A device attached to the muzzle of a weapon designed to allow the gases following the bullet out of the muzzle to be deflected upward through slots in the top surface of the compensator. The lower portion of the compensator is solid, so that while some gas escapes through the top, gas is also pressing against the bottom. This pressure against the bottom of the compensator, pushing the compensator down, keeps the muzzle down. This action tends to retard the muzzle climb which is an instability factor in a full-automatic firing weapon.

Question 18

Disconnector

Answer 18

A device incorporated into the action of the weapons which prevents the firing of more than one shot for one pull of the trigger or which prevents the weapon from being fired until the action is fully closed or in battery

Question 19

Ejector

Answer 19

A cam or projection inside the receiver against which the cartridge case strikes and is thrown clear of the mechanism after it has been drawn from the chamber by the extractor

Question 20

Extractor

Answer 20

A component that engages the rim, or extractor groove of the cartridge case while the cartridge is in the chamber. After firing the extractor withdraws the case from the chamber when the action opens.

Question 21

Firing pin

Answer 21

The part of the firing mechanism that strikes or contacts the primer of the cartridge to cause ignition to fire the weapon

Question 22

Flash suppressor

Answer 22

A three or four pronged device attached to the muzzle of a weapon designed to cool the hot gases as it leaves the muzzle behind the round, cooling the gases reduces the flash

Question 23

Headspace

Answer 23

The distance from the breechblock to that part in the chamber which stops forward movement of the cartridge case

Question 24

Hybrids

Answer 24

Are muzzle devices that offer a combined reduction in flash signature, recoil, and muzzle flash

Question 25

Muzzle Brake

Answer 25

A device at the muzzle end of the weapon which deflects the emerging powder gases. The energy imparted by this act of deflection pulls the weapon forward to offset some of the rearward motion of recoil

Question 26

Rifling

Answer 26

A series of spiral groves in the bore of a barrel which imparts a spinning motion to the bullet as it travels the length of the barrel from the breech to the muzzle

Question 27

Sear

Answer 27

A component retained under spring tension that releases, by means of the trigger, either a hammer, firing pin or bolt

Question 28

Trigger

Answer 28

A finger actuated lever used to activate the firing mechanism firing the weapon

Question 29

Trigger bar

Answer 29

A connecting bar operating between the trigger and the sear. Nothing more than an extension of the trigger.

Question 30

Types of Firing

Answer 30

``` Single action Double action Semi-auto Auto Selective fire ```

Question 31

Muzzle Devices

Answer 31

Muzzle Brake Flash Suppressors Compensators Hybrids

Question 32

Fluted chambers

Answer 32

Will leave horizontal burn makes on the spent cartridge case produced by the gases that cycles the weapon

Question 33

Trajectory

Answer 33

Rising Branch Max Ordinate Falling Branch

Question 34

Case

Answer 34

bullet diameter x cartridge case length mm

Question 35

Caliber

Answer 35

Distance across the bore of weapon, measured from land to land, expressed in hundredths inch