Module 2:
FUNDAMENTALS
OF
MARKSMANSHIP
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this module, the
students should be able to;
Know the common types of firearms
and other types firearms.
Appreciate and value of every parts
and components of the Firearms
Understand the different types of
ammunitions.
COMMON
FIREARMS TYPES
Common firearms types
The most common classification of firearms is done by types, and
the most commonly used tool for firearms identification is the
Firearms Reference Table (FRT).
The FRT is a computerized database available online and offline. It
was proposed and developed by Canadian Royal Mounted Police
and it was further adopted by INTERPOL as a reference
classification tool.
Use of the FRT Web is limited to individuals who have been
authorized by the RCMP. Authorized users include members of the
police community, specific Public Agents and approved firearm
verifiers.
UNODC adopted a simplified classification in its 2015 Study and
also in its global illicit arms flow questionnaire, which is based on
the following types:
Revolver
• I s a sh o r t o r h a n d - he l d fi r e a r m wi t h a r e v o l vi n g
c y l i n d e r t yp i c a l l y o f f i v e t o n i n e c ha m b e r s,
m a n u a l l y l o a d e d wi th c a r tr i d g e s .
• A s t he c yl i n d e r r o ta te s i n to po si t i o n , t he t r i g g e r
c a n b e pu l l e d , r e l e a si n g t he ha m m e r f i r i n g t he
c a r t r i d g e . E x p e n d e d c a r tr i d g e c a se s r e m a i n i n
t h e c y l i n d e r un t i l m a n u a l l y u n l o a d e d .
Action: Revolvers are usually repeating firearms. According to
the system of operation of the trigger tail, revolvers can be of
double (when the trigger also cocks the hammer) or single
action (when the hammer is cocked manually)
Pistol
• Is A short or hand-held firearm designed
for semi-automatic operation. The
chamber is part of the barrel.
• Cartridges are generally loaded into A
magazine, which is inserted into the grip.
The action of the firearm feeds the next
cartridge and expels the spent round.
Action: single shot, repeating, semi-automatic and automatic
pistol.
Shotgun
• Is A shoulder-fired long gun with one or two
unrifled barrels (side-by-side or over
configuration), usually designed to shoot
many small projectiles ("shots") rather than
A bullet .
• The calib re of A shotgun is referre d to as the
gauge and is usually larger in diamete r than
othe r small arms.
Action: Usually single-shot. May also be repeating,
or semi-automatic
Rifle or Carbine
• Is a shoulder-fired long gun, with a series of
spiral grooves cut inside the barrel
("rif ling") imparting spin to the projectile .
• Some rifles have a detachable magazine like
the pistols described above, and others have
integral magazines. A carbine resembles a
rifle b ut has a shorter barrel.
Action: Single-shot, repeating, semi-automatic or fully
automatic.
Assault rifle
• Can be considered a subcategory of rifles
and represent ' any of various
intermediate-range, magazine-fed
military rifles (such as the AK-47 or
M16) that can be set for automatic or
semiautomatic fire…' (merriam-webster).
Action: Semi-automatic or fully automatic.
Sub-machine gun
• It is a hand-held, lightweight short
barreled machine gun consisting of
relatively low-energy handgun-type
cartridges and fired from the hand, hip or
shoulder.
Action: Semi-automatic or fully automatic. Where the
firing system is automatic, the firearm would be
classified as an automatic pistol or automatic sub-
machine gun.
Machine gun
• I t i s a f i r e a r m tha t i s c a pa b l e o f f u l l a u t o m a ti c
f i r i n g ( m o r e t ha n o n e sho t wi t ho u t m a n u a l
r e l o a d i n g , b y a si n g l e f u n c ti o n o f t he t r i g g e r )
and that fires rifle ammunition.
• I t i s g e n e r a l l y c r e w- o p e r a t e d ( ' he a v y m a c hi n e
g u n ' ) , b u t s o m e f o r m s m a y b e f i r e d b y si n g l e
individuals ( ' l i g ht m a c hi n e gun'). Most
m a c h i n e g u n s ha v e t he a m m u n i ti o n f e d b y
b e l t s, a l t h o u g h so m e u se m a g a z i n e s.
Action: Semi-automatic or fully automatic.
2.2.OTHER TYPES
OF FIREARMS
2.2.OTHER TYPES OF FIREARMS
In addition to the categories of firearms listed in this Module,
this category encompasses various types of firearms which may
overlap with those mentioned but are deserving their own
classification.
Firearms in this last generic category may borrow characteristics
from the commonly accepted category, but their modality of
production and/or modification makes them very difficult to be
identified and traced.
Weapons in this category also represent a legal challenge, either
not being legally covered, especially in what concerns new
technologies, or their transfer and possession is at the edge of the
law or takes advantage of the existing legal loopholes.
Craft Production and Rudimentary Arms
CRAFT WEAPONS – Essentially, the practice consists of
weapons and ammunition being fabricated by hand in
relatively small quantities. Artisanal in nature, they can
range from pistols and shotguns to the more advanced
assault rifles, and also include very expensive design
weapons used for example in sport shooting or hunting.
RUDIMENTARY ARMS – These arms are generally
homemade and are more likely to be found in criminal
contexts. Rudimentary arms are essentially arms
manufactured by parts or components that were not
originally designed to be parts of a firearm or made out of
parts from other firearms.
3D Printed Firearms
An area of concern for policymakers and law
enforcement officials is the 3D printed firearm. In
essence, the firearm is manufactured by building
layer upon layer of plastic, for example, creating
various complex and solid objects.
Replica and Imitation Firearms
A REPLICA FIREARM is a device that is manufactured to
resemble an existing design of a firearm but is not intended
to fire. Typically, replica firearms are manufactured for
firearm collectors, especially collectors of antique firearms.
AN IMITATION FIREARM is a device that is not a real
firearm, but that was designed to look exactly or almost
exactly like a real firearm (some very realistic toy guns, some
moulded guns either in rubber or metal). In some
jurisdictions, imitation firearms are prohibited or are
regulated in a similar fashion to firearms.
Deactivated And Converted Firearms
A DEACTIVATED FIREARM is any firearm that was
modified in such a way that it can no longer fire and expel
any form of projectile. Usually, the deactivation process has
to be permanent. Because these deactivated firearms do not
fall under the same regulations as the activated firearms,
they are often purchased by criminal organizations who
either remove the deactivation systems or convert the
weapons with spare parts and the so reactivated firearms
are entering the illicit market.
CONVERSION is a process that modifies a non-lethal
(e.g. blank or gas weapon) into a lethal weapon that is
further pushed into the illicit market.
Modular firearms
Modular weapons are produced with components that
are interchangeable in a way that can change or improve
the characteristic of a firearm. In addition, changing
essential components like the barrel, extractor/ejector,
firing pin etc. will make ballistic identification extremely
difficult, if not impossible.
One good example in this range is the Glock pistol, which,
although not conceived as a modular weapon, bears the
modularity characteristics and can be easily transformed
from a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic sub-
machine gun with 50 or 100 rounds magazine, scope,
silencer, shall recovery system and other modular parts.
Figure 8: Glock modular kit 100 rounds automatic.
Source: Pinterest under Fair Use Policy
Figure 9: Full auto Glock silenced conversion kit.
Source: Pinterest under Fair Use Policy
Concealable Firearms
The term refers to firearms that have the resemblance of
harmless items, but that can be lethally fired. As an
example, the pen gun, the phone gun or the flashlight
gun.
Concealable firearms can be legally produced or can be
crafted in an illicit way. Although those firearms that are
legally produced are registered and theoretically can be
traced, the main danger resides in their physical
characteristics that makes them difficult to be recognized
as a firearm, hence identification and detection
possibilities are drastically reduced.
Figure 10: Ideal conceal phone gun.
Source: Ideal Conceal under Fair Use Policy
Figure 11: Magpul FMG9 Foldable Machinegun.
Source: Pinterest under Fair Use Policy
Firearms Parts And
Components
• In addition to understanding the classification of firearms,
the typology and basic visual identification, your students
will need to explore the nomenclature of firearms to
understand the parts and how they operate.
• U n d e r t h e f i r e a r m s p r o t o c o l, t h e p a r t s t h a t a r e c o n s i d e r e d a s
essential to the operation of a firearm include (but are not
limited to):
• ' Any element or replacement element specifically designed for a firearm
and essential to its operation, including a barrel, frame or receiver, slide
or cylinder, bolt or breech block, and any device designed or adapted to
diminish the sound caused by firing a firearm (…)'
Main components of a firearm
Firearms can comprise hundreds of parts and
components. The more common parts include the barrel,
magazine, hand guard, pistol grip, trigger and the trigger
guard. All firearms have a receiver, which is comprised of
springs, levers and pistons.
A key part of any firearm is the barrel. The projectile or
bullet (ordinary terminology) travels through the barrel
by way of an explosive charge (propellant). The barrel is
linked to a receiver, which houses the operable parts of
the firearm, including a magazine which holds the
ammunition.
Below the description of the main firearms components is provided
followed by general anatomies of firearms where these components can be
identified and localized.
GENERAL ANATOMY OF A REVOLVER
GENERAL ANATOMY OF A
SEMIAUTOMATIC-PISTOL
GENERAL COMPOSITION OF A RIFLE
GENERAL COMPOSITION OF A SUB-
MACHINE GUN
Ammunition
• IT refers to the complete round/cartridge or its
components, including bullets or projectiles, cartridge
cases, primers/caps and propellants that are used in
any small arm or light weapon' (unga1999b, para.14).
• This was later adapted in the Firearms Protocol as:
• 'the complete round or its components, including cartridge cases,
primers, propellant powder, bullets or projectiles, that are used in
a firearm, provided that those components are themselves subject
to authorization in the respective State Party' (Firearms Protocol,
2001, Art.3(c)).
In terms of classification, ammunition is generally indicated
by measurement, in this case by 'calibre'. So what is calibre?
Pézard and Anders defined calibre as: 'the
diameter of the gun's bore and is expressed in
hundredths or thousandths of an inch (for
instance, .22 or .357) or in millimetres (for
example, 9 mm).
Thus, the metric equivalent of a '.38' cartridge is
a '9 mm' projectile. Cartridges with the same
calibre can differ according to the length of the
case (such as 7.62 × 39 mm, 7.62 × 51 mm, or
7.62 × 63 mm).
Table 2: Bullet types. Source: Gunvault
Firearms Kits
• A kit weapon is usually made from a series of parts and
components. In most situations the kit provides the
components that require additional machining for full
completion.
• Machining the kit for firearms completion not only
requires a certain level of technological skills but also
opens an opportunity to build untraceable/unregistered
weapons that can easily be diverted into the illicit
market.
Figure 12: 1911 80% Build Kit 5″ GI .45 ACP.
Source: American Weapons Components under Fair Use
Policy
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GOD is with
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