HUNTINGsmart! USA Knowledge Base
Module 05 - HANDGUNS 101
HANDGUN COMPONENTS
- Muzzle:
- The opening at the end of the barrel.
- Sight:
- An aiming device located on top of the barrel.
- Barrel:
- A metal tube that the bullet travels down when the firearm is fired
- Ejection port:
- An opening from which, spent cartridges are ejected.
- Hammer:
- The part of the action that drives the firing pin forward to strike the primer.
- Slide:
- The part that moves back to allow cartridges to be loaded.
- Grip:
- The handle or portion of the stock that’s gripped by the trigger hand.
- Magazine:
- A container where ammunition is held before being fed into the chamber of a repeating firearm.
- Magazine release:
- A button or switch that allows the magazine to be removed.
- Trigger:
- When squeezed, the trigger will release the part of the action that fires the cartridge.
- Trigger guard:
- The loop surrounding the trigger area to prevent accidental firing.
- Action:
- The moving parts of a firearm that allow loading, firing and unloading.
- Ejector rod:
- A metal device that’s used to assist in the removal of cartridges.
