Guns 101

OK, so what are those “mechanical attachments” that are part of a gun? Well, let’s break it down into some basic pieces:

Gun Components

In 99.9% of all cases, all guns include the following parts: muzzle, breach, hammer and trigger. These components often determine how a firearm operates and how it is classified.

Muzzle: The Business End of a Gun

Muzzle = Front. Or, more specifically, the muzzle is the opening on the front of a firearm. This is where the projectile comes out of. Click on the examples below for more detail.

The muzzle is the open end of the front of a gunMuzzle of a Pistol

The Breech

Simply, the breech is the back. With early firearms, the technology limited how guns were loaded. For centuries, guns could only be loaded through the muzzle and they were known as “muzzle-loading” guns. Later, as technology improved, guns could be loaded through the breach and were referred to as “breech-loading”. Click below to see some examples of gun breeches:

The BreachThe Breach

The Hammer

The hammer is the part of the firearm that makes contact with the bullet primer to ignite the powder and propel the bullet out of the muzzle (read more about bullet cartridges). For most handguns and some rifles, the hammer is visible on the outside of the firearm. However, for most rifles and shotguns and some pistols, the hammer is internal.

With some guns, the hammer doesn’t even contact the primer directly at all. In those cases, a firing pin is used. The firing pin is struck by the hammer driving it forward into the bullet’s primer to fire the round.

A Pistol HammerA Pistol Hammer

The Trigger

The trigger is the part of a firearm that files the round. On certain guns, like single action revolvers, the hammer has to be “cocked” – or pulled back into position – before the trigger can be pulled. In those cases, the pull of the trigger releases the hammer to fire the round. With most other guns, the trigger pull is considered double action in that pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer and releases it thereby firing the gun..

A Pistol TriggerA Pistol Trigger

Guns
Firearm History
S. Lawrence
Comments: 63
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  4. Hairstyles
    3 years ago

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  5. Bingus Man
    5 years ago

    He who eats the bean, controls the population.

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    • Build a Wall
      5 years ago

      He who eats the bean, farts a lot, speaks Spanish, and is likely illegal.

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      • Joe
        5 years ago

        You are a fucking retard.. dumbasses like you should be on the other side of the wall also.

        ReplyCancel
        • weoo
          5 years ago

          someone got triggered lel.

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  6. daniel ceron
    6 years ago

    this really helps peapole getting into guns

    ReplyCancel
  7. Kid
    6 years ago

    This is a good information. Im making sort a novel that related to defence unit, so guns and all is a must. So thank you for the information.

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  8. Christopher
    7 years ago

    I realize this is suppose to be informative information & not swaying in either direction, (pro-gun or anti-gun) but as a responsible gun owner that grew up knowledgeable of firearms & reloading I disagree with the use of the word weapon. A weapon consists of any device used to willingly inflict damage. A firearm is nothing more then a tool, as good or as bad as the individual using it.

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    • 7 years ago

      That is good feedback and a very good point. We’ve edited the content to reflect that.

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    • Braydn
      7 years ago

      Nor is this comment pro or anti gun, but what would one use said gun for? As a tool tool to protect one’s life/loved ones? And as protecting yourself or others from an intruder, you could likely inflict damage. Willingly. Not that such a circumstance is bad, if you have to harm one to protect your family that is fine, but a firearm IS weapon. As it is also a tool, but it’s also a weapon. A kitchen knife is a tool, but it is also a weapon. I mean no disrespect to you, I am sure you are a very responsible gun owner, but it is a dangerous weapon, and that is why it must be treated with care and respect.

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      • JJStryder
        6 years ago

        Food on the table. Remember hunting? I know grocery stores have spoiled everyone, but hunting with a firearm used to be what it was mostly used for. A car is a weapon, a hammer is a weapon if utilizing your logic. Even a rice cooker. My firearms have never been used for anthing but hunting and practice.

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    • Josh
      6 years ago

      I know it’s a tool and I agree with you 100% and the only thing I can think of and what others must think is that when you shoot a gun whatever it’s aimed at is going to be damaged. thats what the tool was made for in the first place. As a tool not for every tom dick and hairy to own because ppl are stupid. Just read some comments for 10 mins and I’m sure 100% of you will agree. It’s just that guns and everywhere and your not going to get them out of the wrong ppls hands. The best you can do for the safety if everyone is to educate everyone everything there is to know about guns. They teach these kids nothing in schools. It’s so fucking sad to see these ppl out in the world that only know how to do the job they have been doing for 30 fucking years. learn how to do everything so you can rely on your own knowledge cause everyone has a gun but here is the problem. Everyone needs to hide it or its looked at like a wild animal. It’s a tool the needs to be out in the open used as a tool talked about like a spoon or fork or knife. We talk about guns like they are bad to even hold one. Wtf is wrong with everyone. They brain wash you to believe these things without you even knowing they replace your own thoughts with there mind set. Some ppl have figured this out and the only way anything is going to change will be to drain the swamp and get rid of all these ppl who fucking jumped over the boarders and fucked up this once was a great place to live and carry out your dreams. Now the USA is the number one reality show in every other part of the world. it’s amazing what ppl think are real life problems. Amazing I didn’t know ppl were this dumb. What do they teach kids in schools. Really someone tell me cause after 5th grade I was like a robot just doing the same thing everyday so I already know my education was bs how about yours?

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    • Leo J
      6 years ago

      Anyone who has been in the military knows that the trainee is required to refer to his “gun” as a weapon and nothing else. For some like myself that terminology stays for life. Call is what you are comfortable with and understand others and the words they us.

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    • Aj
      6 years ago

      Hi, not trying to start a fight but the word “weapon” should not be used in a negative connotation. A weapon is anything that is designed to inflict physical damage(which is what a gun is), not necessarily willingly nor nefariously. You shouldn’t feel blue when people call guns weapons 🙂 and plus it sounds cool 🙂

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    • Alex Ashton
      6 years ago

      Let’s be serious, please. When a multi-round semiautomatic handgun is pictured, we are talking about a weapon, and in particular a weapon used for killing people, or at the very least threatening to kill them as a defensive posture. You can be for that or against it, but please let’s not call handguns and assault rifles “tools” as if they are tools for anything other than killing people. And yes, you can shoot targets or do legal hunting with these “tools,” but there are guns perfectly well suited to those activities that lack the same magnitude of lethal potential.

      I grew up in an area where hunting was a major pastime. People (including idiots from the cities that scared the hell out of us) came from hundreds of miles away to hunt there. Pretty much every adult male I knew, and plenty of teenagers and women, too, owned at least three guns — ~.30 cal. rifle, shotgun, and .22, or simply “deer rifle,” “grouse gun,” and “squirrel gun.” I knew very few that owned a handgun at all, and aside from people who had somehow sneaked a “machine gun” out of the military, no one at all with an automatic or fast-cycle semi-automatic rifle. Over the course of a couple decades living there, I can only think of one intentional gun death. There were probably more than that, but the fact is they were exceedingly rare, and there was certainly not one single mass shooting at a school, office, or other public place.

      Basically, everyone there was just fine with guns that really were “tools,” and until the gun-makers and the gun-nuts and their lobbyist army known as the NRA got us all stirred up, we all felt that everything was just fine with our Second Amendment Rights. Now, it seems like we have to be in favor of grenade launchers and cluster bombs without background checks or waiting periods, or else we’re Nancy Pelosi’s best friends. Can’t we all accept that SOME people should not have access to guns at all, and that ALMOST ALL people should be able to get by with manual-cycling long guns at least reasonably close to what the guys who WROTE the Second Amendment were thinking about?

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      • Maria
        5 years ago

        I honestly think all schools should teach practical living. Where food comes from. Veggies, fruit, meat and fish and teach these things period. Especially fishing and gun safety. If they need to know where there protein is coming from. However, not understanding guns and how they work is just plain stupid. Especially with all the gun violence.
        America’s problem is how they glorify violence. And they are uneducating their citizens by getting the young folks to learn to kill other people in other countries but expect them to be “normal” when they return its not sensible to expect those indoctrinated into beleving that flying into someone else’s country and killing them. Is best for your country and its the American way! Then they return from that drama and have to switch to being humane! The psych cant operate like that one gets cognitive dissonance. Almost every mass shooter had een involved in TOTC in school and they then had some isolation from their peers. Or they retired from the armed forces and or had some angst that made them leave or they were discharged. Leaves them trained and isolated. Where do they take their skill ? We have to do better than this. The problem us values and devaluing of others that makes it easy for someone to randmonly kill because they do not feel connected and useful with a skill that they enjoy and no one to kill because if they could get paid and housed by their own government to train and get set up and provided for to kill other people in other lands and get honoured for it and they never accomplished that goal. What is left for them to do? It us sad. But we must be introspective and question our values. We teach shit and expect a banquet

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      • Tony
        5 years ago

        No sir! Most people that are responsible gun owners that use semi-auto, handguns, rifles etc, are no more dangerous than a person with a shotgun, both can kill but all you hear about are the idiots and mental defectives out there. Weapons are like all the other modern devices in our society they improve through technological improvements, therefore the reason most people want that better and improved weapon is a natural reaction, especially since there is no law saying they cannot have that weapon that is improved. Your way prevents the law abiding from having that better tool or weapon, besides labeling that law abiding citizen into something they are not. Crazy because they want the best available for what they can afford. Remember the Government weapons are also improving too, and if for some reason down the line we had to go up against our government, it will be better to have some more modern weapons than 4 shot rifles semi or other. Large magazines come in handy when and if you are having shots fired at you or at the gun range, saves time, so you do not have to stop and keep loading magazines, also allows true training of using the full potential of the tool or weapon. That same law abiding citizen with the larger magazine is not your enemy and you have to not fear him because he has large magazines for his tools or weapons. Sadly background checks will not catch everyone that should not have a weapon, and when it does, there are too many people out there that need money, that sell their weapons to obtain that money under the table so to speak., let alone the criminal aspect who will follow no law period. Alex we already accept the fact some people should not have weapons of any kind, but the anti-gun crowd is wanting to take them all away eventually, not right away, they will go slow and easy and allow this and that, but down the line it will be total removal of weapons from the law abiding citizens who have spent their hard earned money for their weapons and no buy back program will recoup their value for them. Collectors with large collections, business that sell, manufacturer, make ammo, all will lose money and means just because the Democrats like Pelosi, Feinstein, Schumer, and others who changed their mind about weapons from earlier stands on supporting weapons keep saying the gun is the problem. It is the person that is the problem, not the gun. Keep hearing they want sensible gun control, yet we never hear what they want to bring to the table, just gun control and none of what has already been said, will change one iota of shootings going on today. Also we have politicians claiming this amount of deaths is caused by guns, yet they cannot get the right number of deaths by guns from mass shooting, they count 4 and above killings, and that include, murders from spouses, family, business killings. Gun control needs all the facts up front and both sides of the problem not just one way to eliminate it, is to claim we can talk about it and do nothing as usual. No more my way or the highway attitudes. Sorry about that, little long on it.

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      • Gordon Bailey
        5 years ago

        As a reader from across the pond, we have a different view on firearms, for me on a personal viewpoint it comes down to usage if a gun is used in a particular way then it most certainly is a weapon. But before that choice of use, it stays and remains a Firearm. In the main over here in the UK and when I say the main I mean within the Law, Firearms are used for sport and recreation, we have a number of clubs for shooting that encourages people from every walk of life to come and try shooting as a pastime. This is where I was first introduced into proper Firearms as up to this point I was an Air Rifle shooter, and I joined my local range as a Disabled shooter, I was coached in the art of Air Rifle Target Shooting and went on to enter a number of Competitions with excellent results, to the point that In February 2019, I will be Shooting In the British Air Rifle Championship, which is a huge competition and just to enter is of a certain standard of shooting. But from this, I have now applied for my Firearms Licence to shoot Benchrest, which my fellow club members seem to think I might have a good chance of doing well in this field of sports shooting. So taking nothing away from our Fellow Gun users in the USA, you use your Guns for a Variety of uses and its the use that determines whether the Firearm is just a Firearm or it becomes a weapon, it’s all down to interpretation and how the Gun is used. This is the view of a UK Firearm user. Thank You.

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      • Irvin
        5 years ago

        WOW, I am amazed that people actually think this way in real life, lol…
        there are all kinds of arguments for the second amendment, first of all it has NOTHING to do with hunting or sporting, its to help the citizens defend themselves against a “bad” government, and yes when it was written the government was using muzzle loading firearms, so thats what the people were using, NOW the government is using burst and full auto firearms, drones, large destruction shoulder fired devices, military tanks, etc, BUT they have changed and warped our rights so that we can’t touch that stuff, and this is all because of people like you… So when there is marshal law and you are being hunted to be herded into concentration camps with no way or one to protect you, thank your self, and by “you” I may not mean you personally, but someone down the line, on American soil, will be, its history and it will repeat itself, maybe tomorrow, maybe in 550 years, but I promise you the less than 2000 innocent people taken from us by guns each year is going to pale in comparison by what our government takes in the future at some point in time if we are left defenseless… (I know some will argue, 30+K people per year, but take away the 20K suicides, the 1000 accidents, the 9000 gang related, and the 1500 self defense and you are left with under 2000, then if you take in account for the 1500 people who used a gun in self defense, really you have 500, considering 400 people die a year from toaster related deaths, thats not too bad in a population of 300m… (using round numbers here)…

        ANYWAY, there is a chance you are one of the 1700 innocent people killed each year, but there is a great chance you or someone down the line is going to be part of the millions damaged if we don’t hold onto our gun rights….

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    • Rocky
      5 years ago

      I like your rationale. Just like the made up term assault rifle. No such thing. If my dog chases the mail person, has he become an assault dog? Nope, he is still a dog, he is just doing his job of protecting his home. Most times, one look at him (or me) sends the bad guy running. Oh, the nomenclature we must endure….

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  9. Jay lewis
    7 years ago

    I knew the basics and parts but this really explained what they do and was very helpful

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  10. dennis mwenda
    8 years ago

    what a such great straightforward description. Echo.
    is their a common unique element or compound used in making a gun or a bullet.
    am greatly interested in this. anyone with the idea pass it over

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  11. This crazy indian
    8 years ago

    Spot on thanks. I don’t feel so lost no more. Simple and easy to understand descriptions

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  12. Sunday morning gun guy.
    8 years ago

    I like how simplified the descriptions are here. It explains the very basics without being complicated or anything.
    However I would like to make a minor correction.
    *The ‘breech’ of a gun is the base (back) of the barrel. Not the back of the whole gun. It is the opening behind the chamber for the cartridge is located. For simplicity sake; the breech is behind where the bullet sits when ready to fire. The barrel is usually thicker here to withstand the high pressures when the shot is fired.
    An easy way to remember this is that breech means opening. Almost every modern style of gun is technically a breech loaded weapon; as there is a hole in the back of the barrel where the bullets goes in.
    (In muzzle loaded guns, the breech is a solid piece of metal that holds the back of the barrel closed.)
    Other than that, the simplicity of the above is spot on and well explained. Great work.

    If you guys do a ‘GUNS 101 part 2’ or even ‘GUNS 101 part 3’ you should go over things like:
    *Lock
    *Stock
    *Barrel
    (yes I did that in order on purpose. lol)
    *Bolt
    *Chamber
    *Magazine
    *Clip
    *Action
    *Recoil

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    • Kevin stout
      7 years ago

      Very good idea. Ran into a fellow at the gun shop who truly had no idea about firearms but was coincide ring buying a gun. Told him about some classes that would be good to start with prior to purchase

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    • Jack Reed
      7 years ago

      Breech means back, bottom, butt, NOT opening.
      Look it up.
      And maybe, in the future, consider that you are not as knowledgeable as you think.

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    • 7 years ago

      We have added a Glossery to help with terms like that. We hope to keep it growing. http://www.thefirearms.guide/glossary

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  13. Fiore
    8 years ago

    This is great! I love that there is no assumption of any previous knowledge. It prevents confusion. Thanks

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  14. Mike redman
    8 years ago

    I have a friends Revelation 350A, which is primarily a western model 350A aka stevens model 94 (western auto bought abs sold under a downy name) crap gun but sentalmentle to him that has a firing pin pressure problem I believe. It will shoot about half of the time, the half that it don’t fire will leave a really small indent from the pin any better ideas that inserting a handmade c clip into the hammer spring to give it more pressure?

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  15. ghost
    9 years ago

    I don’t care what you call it, somebody is going to call it something else.

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  16. Donna Accettola
    9 years ago

    Trying to teach myself with your help.

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  17. Tanvir Ahmed
    9 years ago

    Okay . What is the name of the part of guns which is alike binocular ?
    Example ; Springfield M1903 .
    Anyone , expert about guns please contact me . Here is my email ; tanvir0000003@gmail.com

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  18. LaTasha Rudley
    9 years ago

    Thank you for this.

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  19. 9 years ago

    Good description

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    • 9 years ago

      It should include a complete composition of all of the parts of the gun, and include the different kinds of ammunition, and the composition of multiple kinds of guns, like shotguns, sniper rifles, assault rifles, and fully automatic machine guns

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      • A Gun Guy
        9 years ago

        Hi Ryan. Thank you for your comment. This page is intended to be a very basic starting guide for how a gun works and it’s most basic components. We are compiling a catalog of information on various types of fierarms and ammunition that we hope to add to the website very soon.

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  20. favoursledge
    9 years ago

    nice

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  21. Mohak Sahu
    10 years ago

    I want to know more basic knowledge about guns.

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  22. Kerri
    10 years ago

    Im a petite female (5.1ft & 100 lbs soaking wet). Im also a farmer and this year we decided to get deer permits for crop damage. My husband has a .243 that he uses to shoot at the deer but due to the bang I cant be anywhere near when its fired. I not only have extremely sensitive ears but I have a issue with getting scared or startled easily. I would like to be able to shoot but all I have is a .22 which is not appropriate for my goal. Is there something out there powerful enough to kill a deer but yet quiet enough it wouldnt bother me? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

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    • Austin
      10 years ago

      Welcome to the club, Kerri! I also don’t like unexpected loud noises, and guns also made me nervous. I personally have invested in a compound bow, which I absolutely love. That may not be practical for your specific situation, and if it isn’t, then you may want to investigate into an air gun that is powerful to shoot a deer. Another option is a .22 Magnum.
      Something else you may want to look at is an Air gun. Air guns are very quiet, and there are multiple people who have killed animals bigger than deer with them. For example, TV personality Eva Shockey killed a huge wild boar in Texas with one shot from a .25-caliber Benjamin Marauder air rifle.
      I’m also no big expert on guns by a long shot, but those are a few suggestions 🙂

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  23. Jim
    10 years ago

    Can someone explain the difference between a 38 special and a 38 special +P? I cannot seem to figure it out.

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    • A Gun Guy
      10 years ago

      Hi Jim. +P just means that the load generates pressure exceeding the SAAMI specified maximum for that round. That means that it’s a “hotter” load than the standard .38 Special meaning increased velocity and stopping power. It is not recommended to use +P rounds in older firearms as they are not built to withstand that extra pressure. But, newer models (last 25 years or so) can handle the +P rounds. Consult your gun manufacturer’s recommendations, though, before using it.

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    • Mike
      10 years ago

      On any ammo classified +p all that means is that the pressure inside the cartridge is more than normal and bullet velocity is greater. Some firearms should not use +p ammo. But most modern firearms can. Check your owners manual.

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  24. Therese
    10 years ago

    What type of gun would be good for a woman? I have zero to no experience except firing a .9 mm at the range that has too much kick for me. Im looking for a full size gun AND one for conceal carry. Im taking a gun safety course and cc class soon.

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    • A Gun Guy
      10 years ago

      Hi Therese. Someone I know just recently spoke to a female police officer about this very subject. She and many other woman I’ve spoken to often recommend a .380 caliber or what is also often referred to as a “short nine”. The .380 round is the same diameter as a 9mm but is shorter and has less powder and therefore less recoil. It is one of the most common concealed carry pistols available today. There are many different makes and models such as Beretta’s Pico (http://www.beretta.com/en-us/pico/). I’d start there and see if you can rent one at a local gun range to get a feel for it yourself.

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      • 10 years ago

        Thank you for the info . I will give it a try !

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        • Cody
          9 years ago

          Don’t be fooled by the idea that a woman has to use a smaller caliber gun. Although there is less powder in a .380 than a 9mm the .380 pistol is often much smaller and lighter than its 9mm counterparts. This results in snappier recoil in many cases. the best thing to do is go to a range that rents guns and try them out. Every body is different and as they say “your mileage may vary”.

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  25. ricki
    10 years ago

    First of all I want to say thank you for this website. It’s been pretty helpful in gaining more knowledge on guns & ammo! My question is, I’m looking to buy a gun for concealed use. I would prefer a revolver (I’ve tried 9mm SA a few times and didn’t care for them), but I’m not sure which would be better for me. A few guns I had in mind include the S&W bodyguard 38, .38 Special S&W or .357 S&W. I’m still new to guns (I did take a safety course, I’m just don’t know that much about the guns themself) so I’m not sure which would be better. I do understand that a .357 can use .38 and .357 ammo, but is also more powerful than a .38. Any suggestions?

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    • tony
      10 years ago

      nothing wrong with a revolver i would go with 357 because one is the ammo you might find different stuff on sale next you wont see much difference in recoil and really a revolver in my opinion is more dependable just not enough ammo for me, anything is better than nothing

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  26. Jim
    10 years ago

    What is a Picatinny rail?

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    • A Gun Guy
      10 years ago

      Hi Jim. A Picatinny rail is a system integrated into a firearm to allow for easily adding and removing attachments like a site, or laser or flashlght, etc. Picatinny rails are either integrated into the firearm by the manufacturer or can be added to some firearms as a modification.

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  27. 11 years ago

    If someone wants to learn how to manufacture guns, what should they do?

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    • A Gun Guy
      11 years ago

      Get and apprenticeship with a gunsmith

      ReplyCancel
    • Papa ji
      8 years ago

      Hung le Na ja k

      ReplyCancel
  28. gunforatonguexo
    11 years ago

    Breech** lol

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  29. Mark
    11 years ago

    What does “ACP” mean in Colt 1911 .45 cal ACP?

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    • A Gun Guy
      11 years ago

      ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. It’s used most commonly to describe the .45 and .380 calibers used in semi-automatic handguns. The .45 ACP was invented by John Browning when he first developed the 1911 pistol as a replacement for the standard issue .38 caliber revolver carried by U.S. servicemen. Up until then, most handguns were revolvers but the 1911 was semi-auto. I believe that it was given the designation ACP to separate it from other .45 caliber rounds that were often used in rifles prior to the introduction of the 1911 pistol.

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