Page 32 of 33
SAFE HANDLING DEMONSTRATION - GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Action: A series of moving parts that allow
a firearm to be loaded, fired and unloaded.
Barrel: The metal tube through which a
bullet passes on its way to a target.
Breech: The part of a firearm at the rear of
the barrel.
Bullet: The projectile located at the tip of
the cartridge case.
Caliber: The bullet or barrel diameter.
Cartridge: A single unit of ammunition
made up of the case, primer, propellant, and
bullet.
Cartridge Case: A container for all other
components which comprise a cartridge.
Chamber: The rear part of a gun barrel
where the cartridge is located when the gun
is loaded.
Cylinder: The part of a revolver that holds
ammunition in individual chambers.
Cylinder Latch: A latch on double-action
revolvers that allows the cylinder to swing
out.
Double-Action: A type of firearm action in
which a single pull of the trigger both cocks
the hammer and releases it.
Dummy Round: A bright orange, red or
other readily identifiable dummy round or
an inert cartridge without powder and
primer.
Ejector Rod: The part used to remove
cartridges from the cylinder.
Grip: The handle of the firearm.
Hammer: The part of the firing mechanism
which strikes the firing pin or primer.
Jam: A malfunction that prevents a firearm
from firing properly.
Magazine: A separate box-like metal
container for semi-automatic pistols into
which cartridges are loaded.
Magazine Release: A device that releases
the magazine so that it can be removed from
the firearm.
Magazine Well: The opening in a firearm
into which a magazine is inserted.
Muzzle: The front end of the barrel from
which a bullet exits.
Revolver: A firearm that has a rotating
cylinder containing a number of chambers.
Round: See cartridge.
Safety: A device on a firearm intended to
help provide protection against accidental
discharge under normal usage when
properly engaged.
Semiautomatic Pistol: A firearm that fires a
single cartridge each time the trigger is
pulled, and which automatically extracts and
ejects the empty cartridge case and reloads
the chamber.
Single-Action: A type of firearm action in
which pulling the trigger causes the hammer
to release.
Trigger Guard: Located on the underside
of the gun, the trigger guard is a rigid loop
which partially surrounds the trigger to
prevent damage or accidental discharge.