The Airgun

The airgun is often used by beginning hunters to learn shooting and safety skills. Modern airguns have designs, parts, and sights similar to sporting firearms.

Airguns can be just as dangerous as larger firearms. Youngsters should always be supervised when using airguns.

There are three types of airguns:

• Pneumatic airguns use a pump system that forces air into an enclosed chamber. The air is retained in the chamber by a valve that allows air to enter but not escape. When the trigger is released, the compressed air drives the pellet or BB out of the barrel.
• CO2-powered or gas-powered airguns use compressed CO2 contained in a cylinder. The cylinder attaches to a chamber inside the air rifle or pistol. When the trigger is squeezed, a valve releases a quantity of CO2 that propels the pellet or BB out of the barrel.
• Spring-piston airguns use a spring that is compressed by a lever. When you squeeze the trigger, the spring is released and thrusts a plunger forward. The plunger pushes a compressed column of air through the barrel, driving out the pellet or BB.

Definitions:

cartridge:
Ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, and a bullet.

shotshell:
Ammunition used in modern shotguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug or shot.

Centerfire and Rimfire Ammunition

• Centerfire ammunition is used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type of ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the casing base. Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable.
• Rimfire ammunition has the primer contained in the rim of the ammunition casing. Rimfire ammunition is limited to low-pressure loads. Rimfire cartridges are not reloadable.
  

Safety Tip

In tubular magazines, the bullet tip of one cartridge rests directly on the primer of the cartridge immediately ahead. For this reason, use only rounded or blunt tips in tubular magazines.

Parts of a Pump-Action Shotgun

Shotguns are another long-barreled firearm used by hunters. Below are the parts of a commonly used shotgun—the pump-action shotgun.

Parts of a Handgun

Handguns (revolvers and pistols) are short-barreled firearms sometimes used for hunting. Below are the parts of a double-action revolver and a semi-automatic pistol.

WHAT IS AMMUNITION?

Modern ammunition varies depending on the type of firearm. Rifles and handguns use a cartridge containing a single projectile (bullet). Shotguns use a shotshell containing either a single slug or a large number of small projectiles (shot). However, the basic components of cartridges and shotshells are very similar.

Basic Components of Ammunition

The basic components of ammunition are the case, primer, powder, and projectile(s). Shotshells have an additional component called wad.

• Case: The container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It’s usually made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic.
• Primer: An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the base of the case (centerfire).
• Gunpowder: A chemical mixture that burns very rapidly and converts to an expanding gas when ignited. Modern smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in the open (outside of the case). Black powder is less stable and can be explosive when ignited in the open.
• Projectile: The object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a lead projectile fired through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a lead projectile fired through a shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel, tungsten, or bismuth pellets fired through a shotgun barrel.
• Wad: A seal made of paper or plastic separating the powder from the slug or shot in a shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping through the shot and holds the shot together as it passes through the barrel.

Rifle and Handgun Cartridges

• It’s critical to select the correct cartridge for your rifle or handgun (see page 19). Carefully compare the data stamp on the barrel of the firearm against the description on the ammunition box and the stamp on each cartridge.
• Bullets used in rifle and handgun cartridges come in various designs, sizes, and weights. The bullet is made of lead but sometimes has a copper jacket. Bullets used for hunting game may have soft or hollow points designed to expand (mushroom) upon impact. Bullets used for target shooting usually have solid points that make smaller holes.
• Common types of rifle bullets are:
  Pointed Soft Point: High velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path (trajectory); excellent mushrooming
  Rounded Soft Point: Popular for low-velocity calibers; recommended for tubular magazines
  Protected Tip: Highly accurate with excellent expansion
  Full Metal Jacket: Maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets are illegal for big game hunting in most states
• Common types of handgun bullets are:
  Roundnose Lead: Good penetration, little expansion
  Full Metal Jacket: No expansion, high penetration
  Semi-Wad Cutter: Balances penetration and expansion
  Hollowpoint: Designed for high expansion on impact
  Wad Cutter: Flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper