A New Gunowners Guide to Gun Types

The American population believes in owning guns for their safety and, at times, for sport. A gun can best be defined as any weapon designed to expel any projectile by explosive action. This ranges from a machine gun to a potato gun. Gun offers you and your loved ones a chance to engage in a lifetime hobby coupled with tons of fun. Having decided to take a bold step in purchasing a firearm, you should do adequate research on the necessary guidelines you need to follow to maximize the gun experience. As a new gun owner, here are some of the things you need to adhere to to ensure your safety and that of your loved ones.

1. Always keep in mind that your gun is loaded even if it is not. Irrespective of the location where you handle the weapon, shooting range, or at home, treat the gun with the utmost care.

2. Always lower your gun unless you are ready to shoot your target. With correct guidance and training, you will be able to master gun handling techniques to improve your safety.

3. Stay clear off the trigger to avoid accidental shorts resulting from high-stress situations. You will need to practice this for a while to be well equipped to handle a stressful situation.

4. Recognize your intended target and monitor its surrounding. With great power comes great responsibility; owning a gun is the best interpretation of the phrase. In the wrong hands, the gun can become a tool of destruction leading to the loss of lives and freedom. As a gun owner, you should be cautious about giving access to the gun and the gun’s specific use.

Being an integral part of every American household, it’s wise that you learn more about guns, how they work, and different types. Knowing guns is a step forward in fighting the increased gun violence witnessed on our streets.

How guns work

The key to safe gun usage is gun literacy to enable you to know how best to handle them. You load a bullet into the barrels rear attached to the firing pin for the gun to work. Pulling the trigger acts as a catalyst setting a chain of actions into motion. This starts with the firing pin striking a small explosive charge on the bullet. This ignites the gunpowder in the bullets’ casing. This creates pressure in the casing, forcing the bullet out of the shell through the barrel towards its intended target.

Types of guns

Since the gun’s invention, there has been a huge development in the gun industry with different types of guns in the market. Guns are basically found in two categories, long guns, and handguns. In a discussion about guns, it’s not strange to hear the term caliber. The term refers to the specific cartridge the weapon fires. Long guns are specifically designed to fire large caliber bullets from long barrels while holding the gun to the shoulder.

Small-caliber bullets work well for handguns; these guns are designed to be held by either one or both hands when firing.

Bolt action rifles: This is the simplest firearm that works by pushing forward a bolt manually, pulling the trigger, in turn, pulling the bolt to empty the used cartridge, which then propels the bolt forward to load a new cartridge. This type of gun is famous for its accuracy despite its slow rate of firing.

Lever action rifles: These are probably some of the oldest guns. The gun has a lever fixed to the rifle that loads a fresh bullet; upon firing, the lever removes the empty cartridge positioning a new one.

Semi-automatic long-guns: These guns vary from one manufacturer to another but with a basic functioning concept. After firing each round, a new one is loaded automatically. The weapon recycles the gunpowder gases to eject empty cartridges to load a new one. The guns are equipped with external magazines to facilitate quick reload.

Shotguns: These guns have a large barrel that allows them to fire led pellets with every trigger. The pellets have a narrow cone-shaped projectile. The gun is manufactured in different models, single shots, pump actions, and semi-automatic.

80% Lower: This receiver blank is technically not considered a firearm by the law. To be considered a firearm, this receiver blank has to be drilled and cut in specific sections to become a stripped lower receiver than being used in the making of an AR-15.

Revolvers: This gun stores bullets in a revolving cylindrical casing that attaches to the firing system. One-shot revolves the cylinder to a new cartridge; this pulls back the hammer that strikes the firing pin.
Pistols: Most pistols are semi automatic that load bullets cartridges from a removable magazine carry several rounds.