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Click the first letter of the word you want to find, or click the gray button to view all glossary items on a single long page.
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safety
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A device on a firearm designed to prevent accidental firing. |
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sear
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The part of a firearm that retains the hammer or striker in the cocked position until the trigger is pulled. |
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selector
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In a double-barreled firearm, the selector is a device to allow the shooter to choose the barrel used by the first pull of the trigger. In full automatic firearms, it is the lever that chooses between semi-automatic and automatic firing and between a high and low rate of automatic firing. |
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semi-automatic
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A repeating firearm that requires a separate pull of the trigger for each shot fired. The energy of the discharge is used to cycle the process of extracting the empty cartridge case and loading and locking in place a new cartridge ready to be fired by the next trigger pull. Compare automatic. |
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serial number
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A unique number applied to a firearm in order to identify the individual firearm. |
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shot
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Spherical pellets used in loading shotshells or cartridges. |
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shotshell
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The fixed ammunition for a shotgun composed of a brass head, a plastic or paper shell, a primer, powder or propellant, a measure of shot, and various wads or thin card-like discs over the shot, under the shot and over the powder. A combination wad made of plastic is used in many modern shotshells to act as a spacer, shot protector and over powder wad. |
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side-by-side shotgun
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See double-barrel shotgun. |
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sidelock action
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In this design, the firing mechanism is attached to a side plate rather than being an integral part of the frame. |
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sight
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Any of a variety of devices, mechanical and optical, designed to assist in the aiming of a firearm. |
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sleeve
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An insert of special material placed in a barrel to reduce bore erosion, renew an eroded bore. They are also used to strengthen a barrel or alter the diameter to accept a different caliber of ammunition. Also called a barrel liner. |
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slide action
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This action uses manual action on a moveable forearm, parallel to the barrel. Sliding the forearm to the rear opens the action and empties the breech or chamber by extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge case. Sliding the forearm forward loads a new cartridge into the chamber and locks the action for firing. Also called pump action. |
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smallbore
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Generally refers to a .22 caliber firearm. |
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smokeless powders
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Propellant containing mainly nitrocellulose or both nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine. |
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smoothbore
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Firearm with unrifled bore. |
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spitzer bullet
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A bullet with a sharp point, long ogive. |
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staggered column magazine
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A box magazine that has two staggered columns of cartridges that increase capacity but not length of the magazine. |
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stock
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A component, traditionally wood but also made of laminates and other weather resistant materials, to which a barreled action is attached to enable a shooter to hold the firearm. |
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stripper 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 clip. |
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John McCain
appeared on 2,500 movie screens in Spring 2001 to urge parents and children to save lives by keeping guns locked up and out of schools. play video read more
 Safe Carry
What are the best ways to carry a firearm comfortably and safely? Our Gun Safety Program explains which carrying techniques are safe in specific situations.
Safety Gear
You should always wear equipment to protect your eyes and ears when firearms are discharged, whether you are shooting or simply observing.
Cleaning Firearms
See our Gun Safety Program for expert tips on how to safely clean and maintain firearms.
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