Magazine

An ammunition feeding device that holds the cartridges just prior to them being put in the chamber of the firearm by the operation of a mechanism on the firearm. This mechanism may be operated manually as in a bolt action or semi-automatically when the firearm fires after pulling the trigger. The magazine may be detachable or part of the firearm (as in a tubular magazine common with lever action rifles and most semi-auto and pump shotguns).

Muzzle
The end of the barrel where the bullet exits as it is being fired.

Pellet
A bullet or piece of small shot. (dictionary.com)

Primer
A small metal cup that contains a tiny explosive charge that is sensitive to impact. A primer is placed in the base of a shell casing to ignite the powder of the completed cartridge. It is detonated by the striking of a firing pin in the firearm.

Projectile
An object given an initial velocity which proceeds on its own inertia through the air and perhaps solid objects in its path. A bullet fired from a firearm is a projectile.

Pistol Grip
1) A section of a rifle stock shaped like the grip of a pistol.
2) A variation of stock type that is often fitted to military-type firearms, and is not permitted on a sporting semi-automatic firearm.

Powder
See gunpowder.

Pump or Pump Action
A type of mechanism for removing a spent shell casing from the chamber of a firearm and inserting a fresh cartridge into the chamber. This type of mechanism is most commonly used in shotguns and rimfire rifles.

Ramrod
A rod used to force the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm. A rod used to clean the barrel of a firearm. (dictionary.com)

Receiver
The portion of a rifle that has the serial number on it. The stock, barrel and other components such as the bolt are typically attached to the receiver. Some firearms may have a multi-part receiver such as an upper receiver and a lower receiver.

Recoil
The sudden rearward push made against the shooter when a firearm is fired. This push is due to Newton’s Third Law of Physics (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). The heavier the bullet and the faster it leaves the muzzle of the barrel the more recoil. The weight of the powder and the velocity of the gases it produces at the muzzle also enter into the equation describing the total recoil.

Rifle
A firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and fire only a single projectile at a time, as opposed to a shotgun, which can throw many small projectiles (shot) at the same time.

Rimfire Cartridge
A type of cartridge whose primer is integral to the shell casing and located along the edge of the base in a rim. When the firing pin strikes it pinches the rim against the chamber and causes it to detonate and ignite the powder.

Rounds
A unit of measure for ammunition. One cartridge. Typical quantities are 20 rounds and 50 rounds in single box. A serious target shooter will normally go through about 100 rounds in one day. At some pistol matches a shooter may go through several hundred rounds. In a weekend of training, a pistol shooter may go through 1500 or more rounds.

Safety (mechanical)
A mechanical device used to block the firing pin or trigger such that the firearm cannot be fired.

Self Loading
A firearm that uses the energy and momentum of the just fired cartridge to eject the spent shell casing and load a new cartridge into the chamber. This is an automatic loader. This is sometimes shortened to ‘automatic’ which some confuse with a full-auto (machine gun).

Shot
1) n. A term used to describe the round pellet projectiles fired in a shotgun. The shot may be one of many different sizes described by a number. The smaller the number the larger the pellet. The numbers do not go negative, but start adding additional zeros to the designator. 00 (pronounced ‘double-nought’) is larger than 0. Number 8 shot is about the size of a head of a pin. 00 shot (also sometimes called ‘buckshot’) is about the size of a large pea. 2) v. Act of firing a firearm.

Shotgun
A (typically) smooth bore long firearm that shoots a group of pellets called shot instead of bullets. Depending on the bore size and the size of the pellets there may be from less than 10 to two hundred or more pellets in a single shotgun cartridge. Shotguns are designed for shooting moving targets (such as flying birds or moving rabbits) at close range.

Shell Casing
A hollow, bottle or drinking glass shaped, piece of metal that is closed on one end except for a small hole which holds a primer. The open end holds the bullet. The hollow portion holds the powder. Together the assembled unit is called a cartridge.

Sights
The device that aids the eye in aiming the barrel of a firearm in the proper direction to hit a target. The most common sights are iron and telescopic.

Stalk
To move threateningly or menacingly. To track prey or quarry. To pursue by tracking stealthily. To approach under cover of a screen, or by stealth, for the purpose of killing, as game. (dictionary.com)

Stock
The supporting structure of a long firearm to which the receiver, barrel, trigger, and other components are attached. Typically this is the portion of the firearm the shooter holds while firing. See also heel and butt.

Telescopic Sight
A sight which has an integral telescope.

Toxic Shot
As determined in Wildlife (game) Regulation 2001.

Trigger
The mechanism used by the shooter to initiate the firing of a cartridge. Typically this is a lever type piece of metal that must be pulled with the index finger.

Trigger Lock
A locking device put on a firearm to render it unable to be fired.

Trigger Pull
A piece, as a lever, which is connected with a catch as a means of releasing it; especially (Firearms), the part of a lock which is moved by the finger to release the cock and discharge the piece. (dictionary.com)