Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.
04)
SBTJR.
NOMENCLATURE OF FIREARMS
A. MAIN TYPES OF FIREARMS
1. Artillery these are firearms that propel projectiles with diameter of more
than one inch.
2. Small arms the portable weapons that developed from artillery and
cannons are called small arms. Since the dividing line between small arms
and artillery weapons is so vague, various national military services have set
arbitrary maximums on the caliber of the weapons regarded as small arms.
The types of firearms according to mechanical construction are as
follows:
1. Single shot firearms - these are guns designated to fire only one shot for
every loading
2. Bolt action type - firearms of his type are usually classified also as single –
shot types.
3. Repeating firearms - these are weapons that are capable of firing several
shots in one loading since they are equipped with semi – automatic firing
mechanism
4. Automatic loading type - these are rapid – fire weapons since they are
equipped with full – automatic firing mechanism
5. Slide action type - firearms of this type are capable of feeding the
chamber by the backward – forward manipulation of the gun’s fore end
6. Lever type - the loading takes place by applying lever action gun’s stock.
This group of firearms is also called break – type
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
I.) TWO GENERAL CLASSES OF FIREARM (ACCORDING TO Gun Barrel
Internal Construction)
A. Smooth-bore firearms- firearms that have no rifling (land and grooves) inside
the gun barrel.
Ex. Shotguns and muskets
B. Rifled-bore firearms- firearms that have rifling inside their gun barrel.
Ex. Pistols, revolvers, rifles
II.) MAIN TYPES OF FIREARMS (ACCORDING TO CALIBER OF
PROJECTILES MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER)
a.) Artillery- those types of firearms that propel projectiles more than one inch in
diameter.
Ex. Cannons, mortars, bazookas
b.) Small arms- propels projectiles less than one inch in diameter, can be operated
by one man.
Ex. Machines gun shoulder arm and hand arms
III.) TYPES OF FIREARMS According to Mechanical Construction
A. Single shot firearms- types of firearms designed to fire only one shot for every
loading.
Ex. Pistols, rifles, shotgun- single shots
a.) Repeating arms- fire several shots in one loading
Ex. Automatic pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns
B. Bolt action type- reloading is done by manipulation of the bolt.
Ex. Rifles, shots guns, machine guns
C. Automatic Loading Type- after the first shot is fired, automatic loading or feeding
of the chambers takes place.
Ex. Rifles, shot guns
D. Slide Action Type (Trombone)- loading takes place by cock and forth the
manipulation of the under forearm of the gun.
Ex. Rifles, shot guns
E. Lever Type (break Type)- loading takes place by lever action of the forearm.
Ex. Rifles, shot guns
IV.) TYPES OF FIREARMS according to Use
a. Military firearms
Ex. Pistols
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
Revolvers
Rifles
Machine guns
b. Pocket and Home defense Firearms
Ex. Pistols
Revolvers
Rifles
Shot guns
c. Target and Outdoor men’s Firearms
Ex. Pistols
Revolvers
Rifles
V.) UNUSUAL MISCELLANEOUS TYPE
--Those types of firearm those are unique in mechanism and construction
1. Paltik pistols
2. Paltik revolvers
3. Paltik rifles
4. Paltik shot guns
THE THREE MAIN PARTS
REVOLVERS-CAL.38 PISTOLS-CAL.45
1. Barrel assembly 1. Barrel assembly
2. Cylinder Assembly 2. Slide Assembly
3. Frame or Receiver 3. Frame or Receiver
RIFLE SHOTGUN-GAUGE 12
1. Barrel assembly 1. Barrel Assembly
2. Magazine Assembly 2. Magazine Assembly
3. Stock Group 3. Stock Group
DETAILED PARTS
REVOLVERS .38
2. CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
1. BARREL ASSEMBLY a. Chambers
a. Breech end b. Extractor
b. Muzzle end c. Extractor rod
c. Bore d. Racket
d. Rifling e. Cylinder grooves
f. Yoke
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
g. Cylinder locking h. Firing pin
notches i. Firing pin stop
j. Serrations
3. FRAME OR RECEIVER k. Trade mark
l. Model
a. Top strap m. Interlocking lugs
b. Rear sight
c. Breech face 3. FRAME RO RECEIVER
d. Hammer a. Ejector
e. Spur b. Hammer
f. Thumb latch c. Spur
g. Side plate d. Grip safety
h. Back e. Thumb safety
i. Firing pin f. Disconnector
j. Butt g. Back strap
k. Front strap h. Butt
l. Trigger guard i. Lanyard loop
m. Trigger j. Front strap
n. Cylinder lock k. Magazine well
o. Right side stock l. Right side stock
p. Left side stock m. Left side stock
q. Trade mark n. Trigger
(monogram) o. Trigger guard
r. Serial number p. Model
q. Plunger
AUTOMATIC PISTOL .45 r. Serial number
1. BARREL ASSEMBLY
a. Breech end
b. Muzzle end
c. Bore
d. Rifling
e. Chamber
f. Interlocking ribs
g. Barrel lug
h. Barrel link
i. Barrel link pin
j. Barrel lead (lead)
2. SLIDE ASSEMBLY
a. Front sight
b. Top strap
c. Ejection port
d. Rear sight
e. Breech block
f. Breech face
g. Extractor
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
The automatic pistol caliber .45 besides having the main parts and detailed
parts it has also the so-called auxiliary parts (accessories) that must all be
removed before disassembly of the weapon can be accomplished.
1. Recoil plug
2. Barrel blushing
3. Slide stop pin
4. Recoil spring
5. Recoil spring
ADVANTAGES OF A REVOLVER
1. It is an old standard weapon. Everyone is used to it, and almost every
one knows something about it.
2. The revolver is safer for inexperienced people to handle and carry them
an automatic pistol.
3. The mechanism of a revolver allows the trigger pull to be better than that
of the average automatic weapon.
4. A misfire does not put a revolver out of action.
5. It will handle satisfactory old or new or partly deteriorated ammunition
which gives a reduced velocity that would jam average automatic pistols.
DISADVANTAGES OF REVOLVERS
1. It is more bulky to carry than that of automatic pistols.
2. Its grip or handle is generally not as good as that of pistol.
3. It is hard to clean after firing.
4. It is slower to load.
5. It is harder to replace worn out or broken parts, it is factory job.
6. Worn out or poorly made weapon is subject to variable accuracy due to
improper up of cylinder.
Advantages of an automatic pistols
1. It has a better grip, fits the hand points naturally
2. It is more compact for the same power.
3. It s easier to load than a revolver
4. In case of worn or corroded barrel a new one can be put in at little
expense w/out sending the gun to the factory.
5. It gives greater number of shots than a revolver.
6. It is easier to clean than a revolver.
7. It gives greater fire power and greater ease of firing.
8. There is no gas leakage in its operation.
Disadvantages of an Automatic pistols
1. Ammunition must be perfect. Old and deteriorated ammunition will
cause a jam.
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
2. A misfire stops the functioning of the gun.
3. When the gun is kept loaded for a long period of time, the magazine
spring is under tension and may deteriorate and may cause trouble.
4. The automatic pistol can use blank or reduced loads.
5. It has a poor trigger pull than the revolver.
6. The magazines require a jacketed bullet, which is not for practical use as
that of a practical bullet.
7. The automatic pistol is more dangerous to handle and fire especially for
inexperienced people due to the fact that after the one shot it is always
cocked and loaded.
8. It is not adapted to reloading; it throws away empty shell at each shot.
9. Its mechanical action ejects empty shell towards the face at each shot.
10. It’s throws out empty shells on the ground to remain as evidence.
11. It can be fired from the pocket without jamming.
Every owner should frequently check his revolvers for:
1. Obstruction in the barrel.
2. Bulging or swollen barrel.
3. Firing pin protrusion through recoil plate when trigger is rearward
position.
4. On older revolvers, the imprint of the primer on the recoil plate in relation
to the firing pin hole (to insure blow center of the primer).
5. Evidence of “spitting lead” around breech of barrel complaints of fellow
shooters in the firing line.
6. Tightness of all side plate screws.
7. Tightness of ejector if the weapon is a smith and Wesson revolver.
8. Cleanliness and protective film of oil to prevent rust.
MISCELLENEOUS FUNCTIONS OF THE STANDARD PARTS OF
COMMON FIREARMS
PART DESCRIPTION/PURPOSE
Action The main operating mechanism of a firearm that
loads, fires, and ejects the cartridge.
Barrel Gives direction to the bullet; the part of the gun that
initiates the path of the bullet
The part of the barrel at the opposite end of the
Breech muzzle
Breech – Also known as the bolt
block
Butt The part of the stock which is held against the
shoulder to stabilize the gun during firing (for rifles
and shotguns)
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
Chamber The part of the bore into which a cartridge is placed;
the enlarged space at the breech of the barrel
where the cartridge is fed
Choke The constriction in smoothbore barrels designated
to cause the shot to leave the bore in a more dense
pattern and retain this pattern for longer range
Cylinder The part of the revolver that serves as the magazine
as well as chamber for cartridges.
Ejector The mechanism that throws the empty shell
(cartridge case) from the firearm
Extractor The mechanism that pulls the empty shell from the
chamber
Forearm Also called for – end
Frame Also called receiver, the part of the gun that houses
the internal part
Grip The smaller part of the stock behind the trigger
guard (for rifles and shotguns)
Hammer The part of the firing mechanism in revolvers and
some pistol that is release by the sear or the main
spring once the trigger is pressed
Magazine A device for storing cartridges in a repeating firearm
for loading into the chamber
Main spring The spring in a pistol or revolver which propels the
hammer
Muzzle The end of the front end of the barrel where the
bullet or pellet exists
Front sight The fixed sight on top of the barrel near the muzzle
used to aim the gun at the target
Rear sight The sight found at the top of the breech area; this
sight can be moved to change where the bullet will
hit
Recoil spring The spring in automatic or self – loading weapons
which returns the bolt or breech block after recoil
Trigger The part of the gun that initiates the action when the
shooter is ready to fire his weapon
Trigger guard The safety device designed to protect the trigger
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Lecture Notes in Marksmanship (P.E.04)
SBTJR.
from accidental bumping or pressing that may result
to accidental firing
Safety The gun mechanism that prevents the firearm from
firing
Sear The part of the firing mechanism, linked to the
trigger
Stock The wooden, plastic, or metal frame that holds the
barrel and action
Striker
Alternative term for the firing pin when that firing pin
is axially mounted and spring propelled inside the
bolt
