Firearm Types and Mechanisms Flashcards

What defines a firearm as a 'rifle' under California law?

Answer: A shoulder-fired firearm with a rifled barrel designed to fire a single projectile

A rifle is designed to be fired from the shoulder and has a rifled barrel intended to fire a single projectile with each trigger pull.

What is a 'single-action' revolver?

Answer: A revolver that requires manually cocking the hammer before each shot

A single-action revolver requires the shooter to manually cock the hammer before each shot; the trigger only releases the already-cocked hammer.

What is the 'ejection port' on a semi-automatic firearm?

Answer: The opening in the receiver through which spent cartridge cases are expelled

The ejection port is the opening in the side of the receiver through which spent cartridge cases are thrown out during the cycling process.

A break-action shotgun is considered 'unloaded' in the safest sense when:

Answer: The action is broken open and chambers are visually empty

Breaking open the action and visually confirming the chambers are empty is the definitive way to verify a break-action firearm is unloaded.

What is the 'cylinder gap' on a revolver?

Answer: The small space between the cylinder face and the barrel forcing cone

The cylinder gap is the small space between the front of the cylinder and the rear of the barrel; hot gases escape here during firing.

What distinguishes a 'centerfire' cartridge from a 'rimfire' cartridge?

Answer: The primer in a centerfire is located in the center of the case head; rimfire primer is in the rim

Centerfire cartridges have a replaceable primer in the center of the case base, while rimfire cartridges have priming compound inside the hollow rim of the case.

What is the role of the 'firing pin' in a firearm?

Answer: It strikes the primer to initiate cartridge ignition

The firing pin strikes the primer of the cartridge with sufficient force to cause ignition, which initiates the propellant burn.