Firearms

Firearms

Guns such as pistols or rifles that use explosives to shoot bullets. These are usually small arms as compared to big weapon systems such as artillery cannons or missiles.

Industry: Military

Add a new term

Contributors in Firearms

Become a Contributors

Firearms

Any caliber cartridge, generally rifles, using a shell casing with a pronounced "belt" around its base that continues 2-4mm past the extractor groove. This design originated with the British gunmaker ...

bipod

Military; Firearms

A support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. On firearms, bipods are commonly used on rifles to provide a forward rest and reduce motion. The bipod permits the operator ...

black powder

Military; Firearms

A mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. It burns rapidly, producing a volume of hot gas made up of carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen, and a solid residue of potassium sulfide. Because ...

gunpowder

Military; Firearms

black powder substitute

Military; Firearms

A firearm propellant that is designed to reproduce the burning rate and propellant properties of black powder (making it safe for use in black powder firearms), while providing advantages in one or ...

blank

Military; Firearms

A type of cartridge for a firearm that contains gunpowder but no bullet or shot. When fired, the blank makes a flash and an explosive sound (report). Blanks are often used for simulation (such as in ...

blowback

Military; Firearms

A system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains power from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gases created by the ignition of the powder charge.