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caliber
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A numerical term, without the decimal point, in a cartridge's name to indicate the nominal bullet diameter. |
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carbine
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A light, short-barreled rifle. |
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cartridge
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A single unit of ammunition consisting of the case, primer, and propellant with one or more projectiles. Modern cartridges generally fall into one of three categories: centerfire with the primer seated in the center of the base, rimfire where the primer powder is sealed in the soft rim around the base, and shotshells that include shot or small pellets instead of a single bullet. |
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caseless ammunition
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Ammunition that has the propellant charge molded to the base of the bullet and not enclosed in any type of cartridge case. |
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centerfire cartridge
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A cartridge with the primer seated in the center of the base. |
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chamber
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The rear of the barrel into which the cartridge or propellant is inserted. Also called breech. |
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chamber throat
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The area forward of the cartridge chamber extending to the point where the bore begins to have its full bore diameter. Also known as throat. |
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charging handle
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The handle of a semi-automatic or full automatic firearm used to cycle the firearm without firing. Also known as cocking handle, cocking knob or operating handle. |
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checkering
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The diamond-shaped patterns at the fore-ends and grips of firearms made by cutting crossing lines into wood or metal with special "checkering" tools. |
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cheek piece
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A raised portion on the side of the buttstock comb against which the shooter rests his cheek when aiming. |
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choke
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An interior constriction at or near the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel bore that controls the pattern of shot dispersion. A shotgun barrel with no choke is called cylinder bore. |
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clip
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A term improperly used to describe removable magazines containing cartridges. Technically, a cartridge container designed to rapidly reload the firearm's magazine. Also called the stripper clip. |
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cock
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On early firearms such as the flintlock and percussion cap rifles, the arm-like "hammer" or device used to set the firearm into "firing" position was called the cock. It is the process by which any firing mechanism is set to be fired. |
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cocking handle
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The handle of a semi-automatic or full automatic firearm used to cycle the firearm without firing. Also known as charging handle, cocking knob, or operating handle. |
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comb
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The upper ridge of the stock of a rifle or shotgun where the cheek rests. |
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cook-off
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The ignition of a cartridge by overheating. |
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creep
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The movement of the trigger before it releases. |
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crimp
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The inward shaping of the mouth of a cartridge case or shotshell to secure the projectile(s). Common crimps are: roll, star, fold, stab, semi-circular, split ring, and rose. |
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crosshairs
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The sighting lines in a telescopic sight. |
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cylinder
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The rotatable part of a revolver that contains the chambers. |
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cylinder gap
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The maximum space between the cylinder and the barrel. |
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cylinder stop
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A device in a revolver to stop cylinder rotation that aligns the chamber containing the cartridge to be fired with the firing pin at the rear and the barrel at the front. |
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