WEAPONS AND THEIR TYPES
PRESENTED BY
Helina Chettri (ADTU/0/2023-26/BSFS/009)
Alisha Sharma (ADTU/0/2023-26/BSFS/020)
Nitesh Adhikari (ADTU/0/2023-26/BSFS/021)
Mahesh Bandra (ADTU/0/2023-26/BSFS/026)
Bikram Tamuly (ADTU/0/2023-26/BSFS/027)
Robeen Thapa (ADTU/0/2023-26/BSFS/049)
2
“Firearms” means arms of any description designed or adapted to discharge a
projectile or projectiles of any kind by the action of any explosive or other
forms of energy, and includes —
DEFINITION OF (i) artillery, hand-grenades, riot-pistols or weapons of any kind designed or
adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other such thing,
FIREARM (ii) accessories for any such firearm designed or adapted to diminish the noise
or flash caused by the firing thereof,
(iii) parts of, and machinery for manufacturing, firearms, and
(iv) carriages, platforms and appliances for mounting, transporting and serving
artillery;
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CLASSIFICATION OF
FIREARMS:
2. LOADING 3. HANDLING 4. ACTION
BORE 5. VELOCITY
MECHANISM MECHANISM MECHANISM
HIGH
SMOOTH MUZZLE MANUAL
HAND GUN VELOCITY
BORE LOADER FIREARM
FIREARMS
SEMI- LOW
RIFLED BREECH SHOULDER
AUTOMATIC VELOCITY
BORE LOADER GUNS
FIREARM FIREARMS
MOUNTED AUTOMATIC
GUNS FIREARM
ON THE BASIS OF BORE:
Smooth Bore:
•The barrel has a smooth internal surface
without spiraled grooves, common in
shotguns.
Rifled Bore:
•The barrel has spiraled grooves (rifling) that
impart spin to the projectile for increased
stability.
5 PRESENTATION TITLE
ON THE BASIS OF LOADING MECHANISM:
Muzzle Loader:
•Loaded from the open end of the barrel (muzzle);
ammunition is inserted directly into the barrel.
Breech Loader:
•Loaded from the rear of the barrel (breech),
allowing quicker reloading.
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ON THE BASIS OF HANDLING MECHANISM
Handgun:
•A small, easily portable firearm designed to be
held and operated with one hand. Includes types
like pistols and revolvers.
Shoulder Gun:
•A larger firearm designed to be fired from the
shoulder, offering stability and accuracy. Includes
rifles and shotguns.
Mounted Gun:
• A Firearm fixed on to a mount or a platform to
improve accuracy. Includes heavy machine
guns.
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ON THE BASIS OF ACTION MECHANISM:
Manual Gun:
•Requires manual action to load each round before firing,
such as cocking a lever, bolt, or pump. Common in firearms
like bolt-action rifles and pump-action shotguns.
Automatic Gun:
•Capable of continuous firing as long as the trigger is held
down and there is ammunition, loading and ejecting
cartridges automatically. Common in machine guns and
some military rifles.
Semi-Automatic Gun:
•Fires one round per trigger pull, automatically loading
the next round but requiring a separate trigger pull for each
shot. Found in many handguns and rifles.
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ON THE BASIS OF VELOCITY:
High Velocity Firearms:
•Fire projectiles at speeds above 2,500 feet per second
(fps), which increases range, accuracy, and penetration.
Common in rifles designed for long-range shooting and
military applications.
Low Velocity Firearms:
•Fire projectiles at speeds below 2,500 fps, resulting in a
shorter range and less penetration. Typically seen in
handguns, shotguns, and some older firearms.
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FIRING MECHANISM OF DIFFERENT
FIREARMS
• Firearms use various firing mechanism , each
defining how a weapon discharges ammunition
when the trigger is pulled, influencing rate of fire,
accuracy, and reliability.
• Firing mechanisms are critical to a firearm's
operation, dictating how it cycles rounds and
responds in different situations.
Hammer-Fired Mechanism
•How it Works: The hammer is cocked back
manually or automatically (in semi-automatics),
then released when the trigger is pulled, striking
the firing pin or primer to ignite the cartridge.
•Examples: Revolvers, many semi-automatic
pistols, some rifles.
•Pros: Provides a strong, reliable firing action.
•Cons: Exposed hammer can snag on clothing;
usually heavier trigger pull
Striker-Fired Mechanism
•How it Works: Utilizes a spring-loaded firing pin
(striker) inside the slide. Pulling the trigger releases
the striker to hit the primer, igniting the cartridge.
•Examples: Glock, Smith & Wesson M&P series,
commonly in modern pistols.
•Pros: Lighter, more consistent trigger pull; no
exposed hammer.
•Cons: Limited manual recocking capability
Bolt-Action Mechanism
•How it Works: The shooter manually operates the
bolt to load, eject, and chamber rounds. The trigger
releases the firing pin to ignite the cartridge.
•Examples: Sniper rifles, hunting rifles (e.g.,
Remington 700).
•Pros: High accuracy and reliability; easy to
maintain.
•Cons: Slow rate of fire; requires manual action for
each shot.
Lever-Action Mechanism
•How it Works: Operated by a lever, which is
pushed down to eject a spent cartridge and load
a new one. Pulling the trigger then fires the
chambered round.
•Examples: Winchester Model 1894, often
used in Western-style rifles.
•Pros: Fast, smooth cycling; historically
significant.
•Cons: Limited to specific calibers; less common
today.
Pump-Action Mechanism
•How it Works: The shooter cycles a slide
(pump) to eject spent rounds and chamber new
ones, allowing for fast reloading.
•Examples: Shotguns (e.g., Remington 870,
Mossberg 500).
•Pros: Reliable and easy to operate under
stress.
•Cons: Requires practice for smooth operation;
limited to shotguns and some rifles.
Break-Action Mechanism
•How it Works: The barrel(s) hinge open,
allowing manual loading and unloading of
cartridges. Closing the barrel cocks the firearm.
•Examples: Double-barrel shotguns,
hunting rifles.
•Pros: Simple design, high reliability.
•Cons: Limited capacity (usually one or two
shots); slow reload.
Revolving Cylinder Mechanism
•How it Works: The cylinder holds multiple
rounds and rotates as the hammer is cocked or
trigger pulled, aligning a new cartridge with the
barrel.
•Examples: Revolvers (e.g., Colt Python,
Smith & Wesson 686).
•Pros: Simple, reliable operation; less prone to
jamming.
•Cons: Limited capacity (typically 5-6 rounds);
slower reloads.
Gas-Operated Mechanism
•How it Works: Uses gas from the fired
cartridge to cycle the action, ejecting spent
rounds and loading new ones automatically.
•Examples: AR-15, AK-47, M16 rifles.
•Pros: Fast rate of fire, reliable for semi- and
fully automatic firearms.
•Cons: Requires maintenance due to fouling
from gas buildup.
TYPES OF AMMUNITION
AMMUNITION
Ammunition is a closed metal,
plastic or cardboard cylinder
carrying firing cap, powder, and
projectile(s).
Rimfire Ammunition
•Characteristics: Primer is located in the rim;
typically smaller calibers.
•Common Calibers: .22 LR (Long Rifle), .17 HMR.
•Usage: Target shooting, small-game hunting,
beginners’ firearms.
Centerfire Ammunition
•Characteristics: Primer located in the center of the
cartridge base.
•Common Calibers: 9mm, .308 Winchester, .223
Remington.
•Usage: Widely used in handguns, rifles, and
shotguns.
Soft Point
•Characteristics: Exposed soft lead tip that
expands on impact.
•Usage: Hunting applications, especially for
medium-to-large game
Hollow Point
•Characteristics: Bullet with a hollowed-out tip
that expands upon impact.
•Usage: Self-defense, law enforcement, hunting
Metal Jacket
•Characteristics: Lead core encased in a
harder metal shell.
•Usage: Common for practice shooting, military
applications.
Armor-Piercing
•Characteristics: Hardened core (often steel)
designed to penetrate armor.
•Usage: Military and law enforcement.
Tracer Bullet:
•Characteristics: Contains a pyrotechnic charge in the base that
ignites when fired, leaving a visible trail.
•Usage: Primarily used in military applications to track the bullet's
trajectory, adjust aim, and coordinate firing in low-light conditions.
Incendiary Bullet:
•Characteristics: Contains a chemical compound that ignites on
impact, causing flames and sometimes small explosions.
•Usage: Used in military operations against flammable targets, such
as fuel tanks, aircraft, or lightly armored vehicles.
CONCLUSION
• Firearms come in various types, from handguns and shoulder
guns to machine guns and mounted firearms, each designed for
specific applications, including self-defense, hunting, and military
use.
• The firing mechanism determines a firearm's functionality and
rate of fire, ranging from manual actions to semi-automatic and
fully automatic systems, each suited to different scenarios and
user needs.
• Ammunition types vary based on purpose, including rimfire,
centerfire, shot shells, and specialized rounds like tracer and
incendiary, each impacting performance, range, and target
effects.
• Understanding firearm types, mechanisms, and ammunition
options emphasizes the importance of responsible handling,
appropriate use, and safety in all applications.
REFERENCES
• Heard, Brian J. Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics:
Examining and Interpreting Forensic Evidence. 2nd
Edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
• Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Arms Act, 1959 and Arms Rules, 2016.
• Majumdar, Alok Kumar. Military Technology in India:
Firearms and Ammunition through History. Indian
Council of Historical Research, 2005.
• https://www.britannica.com/
