A Firearm’s “Safety” A Firearm’s “Safety” MechanismMechanism

Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know how a firearm worksknow how a firearm works

never trust the safety mechanismnever trust the safety mechanism safety prevents the gun from firingsafety prevents the gun from firing safety could failsafety could fail

Damascus BarrelDamascus Barrel

Older or custom made barrels Older or custom made barrels which were typically made before which were typically made before the turn of the centurythe turn of the century

weaker than modern barrelsweaker than modern barrels

Airguns ( three kinds)Airguns ( three kinds)

Pneumatic- use a pump systemPneumatic- use a pump system CO2 powered-use compressed CO2 CO2 powered-use compressed CO2

contained in a steel cylindercontained in a steel cylinder spring- involves a spring that is spring- involves a spring that is

compressed by a levercompressed by a lever

Rifles and ShotgunsRifles and Shotguns

Uses expanding gas from burning Uses expanding gas from burning powder to force a bullet or shot out of powder to force a bullet or shot out of the muzzlethe muzzle

main difference in shotgun and rifle is main difference in shotgun and rifle is found inside the barrelfound inside the barrel

shotgun bore(inside of barrel) is thin shotgun bore(inside of barrel) is thin and smoothand smooth

rifle bore are thicker and have grooves rifle bore are thicker and have grooves that spiral around the borethat spiral around the bore

Rifles and ShotgunsRifles and Shotguns

Grooves are called riflingGrooves are called rifling spins the bullet making it more spins the bullet making it more

accurateaccurate caliber of a rifle is determined by caliber of a rifle is determined by

measuring the width of the boremeasuring the width of the bore shotgun sizes are given in gaugesshotgun sizes are given in gauges gauge is usually marked on the rear gauge is usually marked on the rear

of the barrelof the barrel

Rifles and ShotgunsRifles and Shotguns

Always use the correct gauge shell in Always use the correct gauge shell in the same gauged shotgun(12-gauge the same gauged shotgun(12-gauge shell in a 12-gauge shotgunshell in a 12-gauge shotgun

rifle and shotguns are usually identified rifle and shotguns are usually identified by their bore sizes and action designs.by their bore sizes and action designs.

Action Action is the part that moves is the part that moves cartridges or shotshells into the cartridges or shotshells into the chamber( loads, unloads and ejects chamber( loads, unloads and ejects ammunition)ammunition)

Rifles and ShotgunsRifles and Shotguns

Stock, action and barrel are 3 main Stock, action and barrel are 3 main components of gunscomponents of guns

there are five categories of actionsthere are five categories of actions break actionbreak action pump actionpump action lever actionlever action semi-automaticsemi-automatic bolt actionbolt action

Dominant or Master eyeDominant or Master eye

The one you should look through The one you should look through when sightingwhen sighting

keep both eyes open when keep both eyes open when shooting a shotgunshooting a shotgun

usually close one eye when usually close one eye when shooting a rifleshooting a rifle

RiflesRifles

Sights are important parts of riflesSights are important parts of rifles three general classesthree general classes open sight-least accurateopen sight-least accurate peep or aperture sightspeep or aperture sights telescope sights- most accuratetelescope sights- most accurate

Rifle positionsRifle positions

Four standard positionsFour standard positions standing-most difficult standing-most difficult kneeling-forms tripodkneeling-forms tripod sitting-forms tripodsitting-forms tripod prone-most stableprone-most stable

Rang/DistancesRang/Distances

.22 caliber bullet (rimfire) can be .22 caliber bullet (rimfire) can be dangerous at a mile or moredangerous at a mile or more

centerfire bullets(.30-30, .30-06, centerfire bullets(.30-30, .30-06, etc.) can be dangerous at more etc.) can be dangerous at more than 3 1/2 milesthan 3 1/2 miles

Firing TechniquesFiring Techniques

Hold breath, gently squeeze Hold breath, gently squeeze trigger with steady pressure until trigger with steady pressure until the gun fires.the gun fires.

Never jerk the trigger or slap the Never jerk the trigger or slap the triggertrigger

ShotgunsShotguns

Several gaugesSeveral gauges 10,12,16,20,28 and .410 are most 10,12,16,20,28 and .410 are most

commoncommon smaller the number the larger the smaller the number the larger the

borebore

Shotgun PositionShotgun Position

Almost always fired from a Almost always fired from a standing position.standing position.

Shotgun ChokeShotgun Choke

Determines the spread or pattern of Determines the spread or pattern of the shot after it leaves the barrelthe shot after it leaves the barrel

Three kinds:Three kinds: full- most constrictedfull- most constricted modified- less constrictedmodified- less constricted improved cylinder- less than modifiedimproved cylinder- less than modified cylinder choke- no constriction, shot cylinder choke- no constriction, shot

spreads quicklyspreads quickly

Shotgun RangeShotgun Range

Not a long range gunNot a long range gun depends on the shotshelldepends on the shotshell average is within 45 yardsaverage is within 45 yards

AmmunitionAmmunition

Divided into two categoriesDivided into two categories• cartridges- handguns and riflescartridges- handguns and rifles• shotshells- shotgunsshotshells- shotguns

Primary components of cartridgesPrimary components of cartridges• casecase• primerprimer

– centerfire or rimfirecenterfire or rimfire

• smokeless powdersmokeless powder• bulletbullet

AmmunitionAmmunition

Primary components of shotshellsPrimary components of shotshells• casecase• primerprimer• smokeless powdersmokeless powder• wad and shotwad and shot

HandgunsHandguns

The safest way to carry a handgun The safest way to carry a handgun is with no round in the chamberis with no round in the chamber