GENERAL MAKE UP OF A FIREARM

Stock or butt: this is the rear part of a gun, held in hand (in case of
short barrel guns).

Barrel: it is the tube through which bullet passes.

• Chamber: it is the posterior part of barrel for accommodation of the
cartridge. Posterior part has a plate(breach plate), with a central hole
for firing pin (percussion pin). This pin strikes to the primer when
hammer hits posteriorly.

• Tapper/leed: the diameter of the chamber is greater than the

diameter of barrel to accommodate cartridge case. The part of the
barrel anterior to chamber is tapering anteriorly known as taper of
leed. In shot guns this tapering part is termed cone.
Bore of the barrel: the internal diameter of the barrel just in front of
leed (or cone in case of shotgun) is the bore of the gun.
Muzzle: the anterior end of the barrel is termed muzzle.
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Rifling

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 Interior ballistics
• The firing pin strikes at the primer and impinges the exterior part to anvil
which is inside the primer, detonating it. Flash of fire enters inside the
anterior chamber containing gun powder igniting it.

• Very hot expanding gasses are produced, dilating the cartridge case fitting
it firmly to the interior of chamber and at the same time striking it back to
breech plate.

• Expanding forces push the missile anteriorly in the leed or throat and then
into the bore which is slightly smaller than the bullet.

• Bullet is tightly fitted in it to prevent the expanding gasses.

• Bullet acquires spinning movement due to rifling.

• 1 grain (60mg) of gun powder can generate 3000 to 13000 ml of
gases.

• Chamber pressure increases very sharply from zero to 60 tons per

square inch in a revolver and about 200 tons per square inch in a rifle.

• This pressure pushes the bullet in to the barrel accelerating it

continuously.

• As soon as the bullet comes out of muzzle , driving force finishes and
chamber/barrel pressure becomes negative and it sucks air inside it
then to zero.
Products of fire
• Bullet (Missile, projectile).
• Flame.
• Hot gases (CO, CO2, CH4, SO2 etc).
• Smoke.
• Semi-burnt or unburned powder.
• Grease or rust from barrel.

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Discharge of firearm
Flame
• Tongue of flame and hot gases
follow the missile (a small
amount of gas emerges just
before the missile but it is
insignificant).
• Length of flame: rule of thumb is
that it is equal to the length of
barrel.

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• Ball of fire is deprived of O2 and consists of gases like CO, CO2 and other
compounds.

• When they emerge from barrel, they react with O2 present in the air
responsible for ‘flash’ which is visible in night or in dark room.

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• Soot.

• semi-burnt or un-burnt flakes or grains of the propellent from combustion

of propellent.

• Gas with soot is very light and therefore travel a short distance up to inches
(6 inches).

• Powder grain is heavier and travels further and depending upon type of
powder and weapon, travel a varying distance.

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 Products of fire in shotgun
• Cap (wad cap).
• pellets.
• Wad.
• Flame.
• Hot gases (CO, CO2, CH4, SO2
etc.).
• Smoke.
• Semi-burnt or unburned powder.
• Grease or rust from barrel.
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Bullet with tiny lead piece and pressure bubble
behind it
• Temperature of gases may be 5200ᵒF (2870ᵒC) and pressure may be more
than 60,000 psi [Bullet casing of a 0.22 has 0.7 inch2 and total pressure
generated in it will be 42,000 pounds all around (19050 kilos)]
• Gases cool rapidly and produce ‘Rapport’ or ‘noise’.

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Gyroscopic movement

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