Gun Basics
Guns are weapons that can be used for a variety of purposes, from sports to protection. Most people know that they work by firing a bullet or other projectile, but many don't understand the mechanism by which this happens or the different types of guns commonly used today. Knowing about the history, types and inner workings of guns, as well as how to handle them safely, can be helpful in understanding these weapons.
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History
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Guns have been around since early medieval times, when the first hand-held firearms appeared. However, they were not perfected until the 16th century. The first usable gun was the matchlock. It had a slow-burning match cord that was used to ignite powder in a flash pan. This ignited powder in the barrel, discharging a lead ball.
The next type of gun, the wheel lock, was safer and more reliable. It had a serrated, spring-loaded wheel that rested against a fixed piece of iron pyrite. Pulling the trigger released the wheel, creating sparks to ignite powder in the lock.
The flintlock was the third type of gun, and it was easier to operate than its predecessors. The hammer had an attached piece of flint and a thumb cocking mechanism. There was also a flash pan with a small amount of powder, protected by a lock. Pulling the trigger released the hammer, allowing the flick to strike the lock and create a spark to ignite the powder.
Flintlock guns were the standard for 200 years, when the invention of repeating rifles and cartridges ushered in the era of modern guns.
Function
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The word gun refers to a particular type of projectile weapon that comes in a variety of types and styles. All guns work using the same basic mechanism. When a trigger is pulled, the hammer is released and the firing pin flies forward and strikes the cartridge. The resulting spark ignites gunpowder, which explodes and sends a bullet flying out of the gun's barrel. The barrel has grooves to stabilize it as it flies through. Some guns are single action, meaning you have to cock the gun yourself, pulling the hammer back. A double action gun doesn't require this. All you do is pull the trigger.
A semi-automatic gun only discharges one round every time the shooter pulls the trigger. A fully automatic gun will continue firing as long as the trigger is held until it runs out of ammunition.
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Types
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There are many types of guns, including these common varieties:
-Revolvers, which have a revolving cylinder. A revolver has multiple chambers, which allows it to hold multiple bullets. When the shooter cocks the hammer, the cylinder revolves and aligns the next bullet with the barrel. Most revolvers hold up to six rounds, but some can hold 10 or more.
-Shotguns, which are smooth bored guns that fire shells containing small steel or lead balls or other types of projectiles such as lead slugs. They are most commonly used for hunting.
-Rifles, which have a barrel that has a groove or pattern of grooves, known as "rifling," cut into the its walls. Rifles are used for hunting and shooting sports and military purposes.
-Machine guns, which are fully automated firearms. They are commonly hand held, but they can also be mounted to a fixed surface. They fire rifle cartridges in rapid succession that can reach several hundred rounds per minute. They were initially developed for military use.
Uses
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Guns have a variety of uses, both personal and professional. On the professional side, they are often used by the military and by police officers to protect against hostile attackers. Private individuals use guns to protect themselves and their property or for leisure activities such as hunting, target shooting and related sports.
Safety
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Because they have the potential to be harmful, and even fatal, guns should always be handled in a safe manner. According to learnaboutguns.com, the most common rules of safe handling include:
-Always treating a gun as though it is loaded unless you have personally verified the fact that it is not. The majority of unintentional discharges of a gun are caused by someone pulling the trigger because they believed it was not loaded.
-Always pointing the gun in a safe direction. The muzzle should never be pointed at anything or anyone you don't wish to shoot. This rule should be followed even if you believe the gun is unloaded.
-Never touch the trigger unless you are ready to shoot the gun. This will prevent accidentally pulling the trigger through an involuntary movement.
-Always storing the gun safely when it is not being used. This means protecting it from unauthorized and untrained people and keeping it in a place where it is not accessible by children.
Storage
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Guns can be stored in a variety of ways, with the main objective being to keep them out of the hands of unauthorized people. Gun safes offer security, but they can be large and costly. Gun cabinets are less expensive, but also less secure. Rather than storing guns inside a receptacle, some owners use trigger locks or break them down when they are not in use. Learnaboutguns recommends using one of these methods rather than simply hiding a gun, because criminals know the most common hiding places and a child could stumble across the gun accidentally.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Wikipedia image file.
