Small Arms Terms Flashcards
8 Cycles of Function
Feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting, cocking
Feeding Mechanisms
Magazines
Belts
Clips
Magazines
Box - staggered (duel or single) or in line box
Drum
Pan
Belts
SLD MLB
SLND MLB
FED MLB
FEND MLB
Clips
En-Bloc clip
Stripper clip
Types of Cartridges
Rimmed Semi-Rimmed Rimless Belted Rebated
Types of Firing Pins
Free floating - larger mass strikes them Inertia Percussion - a spring provides energy Striker Fixed - own mass provides energy
Types of Primers
Boxer - one flash hole
Berdan - two flash holes
Locking Systems
Rotating bolt Rising/lowering bolt Rollers Rising barrel Locking flaps Swinging bolt Locking block Rotating barrel
Operating Systems
Bolt action Blowback Delayed blowback Recoil Recoil with gas assist Gas operation (gas blast, tappet, direct) Manual pump Revolving cylinder
Ballistics
The science and study of the motion and impact of projectiles
Internal ballistics
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.
External ballistics
Concerns the path of the bullet from the muzzle to the target
Terminal ballistics
Concerns what happens to the bullet after it hits the target and what the bullet actually does to the target upon impact
Battle sight
The range that allows you to hit the target between the throat and waist without sight adjustment. Exact ranges varies with caliber of weapon
Breechblock
A component that seals the breech and blocks gases from the fired cartridge
Compensator
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.
Disconnector
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
Ejector
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
Extractor
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.
Firing pin
The part of the firing mechanism that strikes or contacts the primer of the cartridge to cause ignition to fire the weapon
Flash suppressor
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
Headspace
The distance from the breechblock to that part in the chamber which stops forward movement of the cartridge case
Hybrids
Are muzzle devices that offer a combined reduction in flash signature, recoil, and muzzle flash
Muzzle Brake
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
Rifling
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
Sear
A component retained under spring tension that releases, by means of the trigger, either a hammer, firing pin or bolt
Trigger
A finger actuated lever used to activate the firing mechanism firing the weapon
Trigger bar
A connecting bar operating between the trigger and the sear. Nothing more than an extension of the trigger.
Types of Firing
Single action Double action Semi-auto Auto Selective fire
Muzzle Devices
Muzzle Brake
Flash Suppressors
Compensators
Hybrids
Fluted chambers
Will leave horizontal burn makes on the spent cartridge case produced by the gases that cycles the weapon
Trajectory
Rising Branch
Max Ordinate
Falling Branch
Case
bullet diameter x cartridge case length mm
Caliber
Distance across the bore of weapon, measured from land to land, expressed in hundredths inch
