Shooting glossary

Whether you are a novice or a shooter for a few years, it can be difficult to navigate the vocabulary of shooting. Between what we find on social networks, forums and what we can hear in shooting clubs, it quickly happened to get lost.

In this article, find all the vocabulary of the world of shooting and weapons.

Ame: Refers to the inside of the barrel. It can be striped (straight or helical) or smooth. In the case of rifled barrels, the rifling is at a suitable pitch to give the projectile a rotation on itself and thus stabilize its trajectory.

Primer: Removable capsule set at the bottom of the case with a central percussion cartridge (9x19 mm, .223 Remington, 7.62x39 mm...) containing the flammable mixture which, on impact with the striker, ignites the powder. In a rimfire cartridge (.22 LR, .44 Henry Flat...), the flammable material is located in the bead at the bottom of the base of the case. Primers for reloading

Announcement: The fact of saying where the impact is located on the target by analyzing the shot from the start of the shot (quality of the release, position of the sights in relation to the visual...).

Manual repeating weapon: Weapon which, after each shot fired, is manually reloaded by inserting into the barrel a cartridge taken from a magazine and transported using a mechanism. In this category, there are several firearm mechanisms:

- Bolt-action breech: Rifle whose breech is operated by means of a lever. Lift the handle to unlock the breech, pull back to extract the case from the bullet just fired, push the breech back to insert a new cartridge into the chamber and lower to close the breech. While closing the breech, the firing pin is also cocked. This is a mechanism found on many hunting rifles. Bolt Action Rifles

- linear rearmament: Same operating principle as the bolt bolt but this time the movement is done in 2 stages: the bolt is pulled back and pushed forward. Linear rifles

- trigger lever: A handle, in line with the trigger guard, lowers the assembly to open the breech, arm the hammer and eject the case of the bullet which has just been fired. When the handle is raised, a cartridge is brought from the tubular magazine to the chamber of the weapon. It was this type of rifle that conquered the West. Lever Action Rifles

- shotgun: A pump is located between the barrel and the tubular magazine containing the cartridges. The pump is pulled back to eject the case of the bullet just fired and bring a cartridge from the magazine to the elevating board. The pump is pushed back to raise the lifting board, insert the cartridge into the chamber and arm the firing pin. This type of weapon is found both for hunting and in certain tactical intervention units for different uses (close combat, door unhinging, etc.) or for secure convoys (cross-country transport, prisoner transfer, etc.). ). Category B and C shotguns

Single-shot weapon: Weapon without magazine or charger, which is loaded before each shot by manual introduction of the cartridge into the chamber or a housing provided for this purpose at the entrance to the barrel.

Automatic weapon: Any weapon which, after each shot fired, automatically reloads and which by a single pressure on the trigger tail allows the firing of several bursts of ammunition. This type of weapon is strictly prohibited in sport shooting.

Semi-automatic weapon: Any weapon which, after each shot fired, reloads automatically and which by a single pressure on the trigger tail does not allow to fire more than one shot. Category B semi-automatic rifles

Bullet (or warhead): This is the projectile. It is usually lead. It can be bare or jacketed (covered with a layer of brass or copper). Its weight is most often expressed in grains (gr). Warheads for reloading

1 grain (gr) = 0.0648 gram (g)

1 gram (g) = 15.432 grains (gr)

Ballistics: The science that studies the behavior of a projectile from the barrel to the end of its travel. It is divided into 3 parts:

- Interior ballistics: The study of the combustion of the powder, the trajectory of the projectile(s) in the barrel, etc.).

- External ballistics: The study of the movement of a projectile outside the barrel, of its ballistic curve.

- Terminal ballistics: The study of the projectile when it hits the target and its behavior according to several types of shot (at close range, at medium distance or at very long distance...).

Barrel: Cylindrical magazine found on revolvers. The cylinder rotates on an axis parallel to the barrel to successively place the cartridges in the percussion position. After each shot fired, the empty case remains in the cylinder.

Breech box: Part in which the breech slides and which provides the connection between the various mechanisms and the stock.

Muzzle: Opening of the barrel through which projectiles exit.

Bead: Protruding part of the base of the cartridge case.

Comb: Upper part of the butt of rifles and the handles of revolvers or pistols.

Sling: Accessory allowing to consolidate the triangle weapon / arm / forearm of the shooter.

Tanning: Artificial and intentional oxidation of metal surfaces on a weapon. Tanning protects the weapon from rust. Caution: A tanned weapon can oxidize. If there is rust on the weapon, steel wool (000) and penetrating oil can restore the tan.

Eye patch: Accessory mainly used in sport shooting, it is used by the shooter to keep both eyes open while hiding the non-directing eye in order to reduce physical fatigue due to keeping one eye closed.

Barrel (or tube): Part of the weapon that guides the projectile. It is its quality of manufacture which gives the weapon a major part of its accuracy.

Cheek wedge: Rear part of the rifle or shotgun stock that comes into contact with the shooter's cheek.

Hand wedge: Accessory used in rifle shooting. Attached to the barrel, it prevents the shooter's hand from changing position.

Palm block: Lower part of the pistol or revolver stock which allows the lower part of the hand to be wedged.

Caliber: Refers to the largest diameter of projectiles for a firearm. European calibers are expressed in mm and always include two numbers: the first designates the diameter of the projectile and the second the length of the casing (9 x 19 mm, 5.56 x 45 mm, 7.62 x 39 mm, etc.). . Anglo-Saxon calibers are expressed in hundredths of an inch: .45 = 11.43 mm, .22 = 5.58, .30 = 7.62...

Rifle: The exact definition is as follows: Long gun with rifled barrel which fires exclusively metallic ammunition (.223 Remington, 7.62 x 39 mm, 5.45 x 39 mm...). hunting rifles

Frame: Machined part that supports the barrel and all the component parts of the weapon.

Cartridge: Or ammunition. Refers to the set made up of the primer, the case, the powder and the warhead. Hunting cartridges

Category: European legislation groups weapons by categories. For the French classification see this article: Categories of weapons in France.

Chamber: Part of the barrel where the cartridge is housed.

Charger: Box containing the cartridges. Also referred to as a power system. It may or may not be removable. It can also be an integral part of the weapon, in this case it is called a magazine. Category A and B chargers

Dog: It is apparent on revolvers, lever action rifles and some semi-automatic pistols. When the firing pin on it, it's called the hammer. When it hits the firing pin internal to the weapon, it is referred to as a hammer (Beretta 92, Colt 1911...).

Click: Move the sight or reticle on a riflescope. The number of clicks determines the offset based on the bezel setting. Note that we move the reticle or the sight in the direction we want to move the shot.

Cord: Small border separating the value zones of the points.

Rear sight: Notch in the rise used to align the front sight.

Stock: Part of the weapon that allows it to be gripped. In the case of a long gun, it is the butt which will allow the shoulder. On some weapons, it is possible to adapt it to the morphology of the shooter.

Breech: The part ensuring closure and grouping together certain key functions of a firearm. It can be bolted or not and contains the firing pin and the extractor. In its backward movement generated by the thrust of the gases or the manipulation of the shooter, the bolt extracts the cartridge or the empty case and rearms the hammer. In its forward motion, caused by the recoil spring or the shooter's manipulation, it picks up a new projectile from the magazine or magazine and introduces it into the chamber. In airguns, there is neither a striker nor an extractor on the breech.

Trigger (tail): Part on which the shooter's index finger exerts pressure which, by means of a mechanism, causes the release of the sear (internal part which does not release the firing mechanism and which must not be confused with the tail of the relaxation). There are two types of relaxation globally:

- double action: the trigger tail is used both to arm the hammer and to fire the shot (ex: Beretta 92, CZ 75 P01, Sig Sauer P226...). In general, these are triggers with a very heavy starting weight.

- single action: the trigger tail is only used to fire the shot and requires the hammer to be cocked beforehand, either by pulling the breech or by lowering it manually.

Base: Metal part in one or two parts which is either screwed or welded on the frame of a weapon in order to receive a mounting or collars for optics. Headers for optical mounting

Shouldered: Action which consists of placing the butt plate of his weapon against his shoulder to begin the action of aiming and firing.

Case or sleeve: Part of the ammunition which acts as a container. He receives the primer and the powder then the bullet is crimped on it. Reloading socket

Extractor: Pin which hooks the throat of the casing and allows it to be extracted from the chamber.

Arrow: Maximum height of the curve reached by the projectile on its trajectory.

FMJ: Full Metal Jacket. Refers to a cartridge whose projectile has a soft lead core covered with a sleeve (brass or nickel). This technique allows the projectile to obtain greater velocity without leaving any deposit in the barrel. Upon impact, an FMJ projectile enters and exits without deformation. This type of ammunition is prohibited for hunting in France because it injures more than it kills and increases the risk of collateral damage.FMJ bullet cartridges

Muzzle brake: Barrel muzzle device used to reduce the recoil of the weapon by redirecting the gases of the shot.

Forend: Lower part of the stock in front of the trigger guard.

Rifle: the precise definition of a rifle is as follows: Long gun with a smooth or rifled barrel that fires the following calibers: 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 12 mm and 14 mm.

Grouping: corresponds to a number of impacts located in the same area on a target.

Handlebar: This is the second element of the sight after the rise. The front sight is located at the end of the barrel. It is either with blade (open sight) or under tunnel (closed sight).

Rise: First of the sights, it is closest to the eye. It is adjustable in elevation and windage.

Ignition: Ignition of the powder.

Impact: Hole made by the projectile in the target.

Iris: System fixed on the rise, it allows to regulate the diameter of the opening and to position filters.

Release: Action of the finger on the tail of trigger which aims to provoke the departure of the shot. A bad release will strongly impact the result on target.

Cocking lever : Lever used to operate the bolt and cock the cocking mechanism.

Line of sight: Straight from the center of the rear sight to the front sight.

Line of sight: Theoretical straight line going from the eye of the shooter to the target point, passing through the sights of the weapon.

Forend: Lower part of the body of the weapon in front of the trigger guard (also called the front).

Bezel: Magnifying optics or telescope, which allows you to see its impacts on target. The larger the lens surface, the higher the brightness. Brightness is a better quality criterion than magnification.

Mount: the correct term for what people commonly call the butt. The mount is made up of the stock and the forend.

Eyepiece: Part of the diopter pierced with a hole which is used to see the handlebars and to support the eye patch.

Range: Maximum possible distance of a projectile.

Firing point: Location facing the targets including all the firing positions.

Pistol: Any handgun other than a revolver.

Positioning: Positioning of the shooter on the firing point in relation to the target.

Butt plate: Fixed or movable rear part of the rifle butt that allows adjustment in relation to the height of the target.

Pistol grip: Part of the rifle stock adjacent to the trigger guard which allows the grip.

Trigger guard: Arched piece protecting the trigger tail from accidental snagging, shock or a fall.

Recoil : The recoil of a firearm is the reaction of a firearm following a shot, which results in its movement backwards, unless the energy is absorbed mainly by the arm of the shooter, the body of the weapon or its operating mechanism (borrowing gas for example).

Reloading: Recomposing ammunition from the basic elements: primer, case, powder and projectile. In some disciplines, reloading is recommended to obtain the best combination of weapons and ammunition.

Revolver: Handgun comprising a rotating cylindrical magazine (barrel) rotating along an axis parallel to the barrel. The barrel remains attached to the weapon to supply it with ammunition. It can be tilting or fixed.

Scatt: Computer system for analyzing the different firing phases. He studies, for example, defects such as finger strikes that impact the target result.

Hold: Remain in position after the shot has taken off in order to analyze your shot and the result.

Visual: Black central part of some targets.

Wad-Cutter : A type of all-lead projectile that cuts targets with razor-sharp impacts like a cookie cutter. Literal translation.

Drop zone: Part of the target in which the drop is acceptable. It varies according to the level of each shooter.

AC