:
Safe Handling Demonstration Glossary
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
particularly surrounds the trigger
to prevent damage or accidental
discharge.
45