Holdopen Toplever
A catch built into the receiver of a break-open gun to keep the toplever in its extreme right position when the barrels are removed. This device makes it slightly easier to remount the barrels. As the barrels are mounted and the breech closed, the barrels contact some kind of release pin (marked with the arrow) and the toplever automatically returns to the center locked position. Because, however, it requires a separate act to find and to depress this tiny tab to re-center the toplever on a broken-down gun, this feature may be irritating when trying to put a gun away in its case.
Stripper Clip
Simple clips made of metal or sometimes plastic that hold several rounds of ammunition in a row and is used to quickly fill a magazine.
Belt Fed
A firearm, usually (but not always) a fully automatic rifle, that uses a ammunition on a belt rather than a magazine to store the rounds that will be loaded into the gun.
Back Action
A sidelock action where the mainspring is mounted rearward towards the butt. The back action is often used in double rifles where the need for strength requires as little steel as possible be removed from the bar of the action.
Flashbang (grenade)
A stun grenade, also known as a flash grenade, is a non-lethal explosive device used to temporarily disorient an enemy's senses.
It is designed to produce a blinding flash of light and intensely loud noise "bang" of greater than 170 decibels (dB)
without causing permanent injury. It was first developed by the British Army's SAS in the 1960s.
The flash produced momentarily activates all photoreceptor cells in the eye, making vision impossible for approximately five seconds,
until the eye restores itself to its normal, unstimulated state. The loud blast is meant to cause temporary loss of hearing,
and also disturbs the fluid in the ear, causing loss of balance.
The concussive blast of the detonation can still injure, and the heat created can ignite flammable materials such as fuel.
The fires that occurred during the Iranian Embassy siege in London were caused by stun grenades.
Furniture
Generally refers to the stock and fore-end of a rifle. Can sometimes also be applied to any detachable accessories like a flashlight.
Snap Caps
Dummy cartridges with spring-loaded "primers" used to test the mechanical functioning of a firearm, particularly the trigger pulls, hammer-fall and ejector-timing of a break-open gun. It is not advisable to dry-fire a break-open gun on an empty chamber. Hardened steel parts can shatter without the soft brass primer to act as a shock absorber. Snap caps cushion the blow of the hammer and firing-pin when the use of a live cartridge would be impractical.
Double Rifle
Two independent rifles, built on one frame, designed to allow two virtually instantaneously quick, totally reliable shots. The barrels may be arranged either side-by-side or over-and-under. The apogee of the gunmaker's art. Particularly useful against dangerous game, which may be moving, and in your direction, with vengeance on its mind.
Pan
The small dished container located on the side or top of a matchlock, wheel-lock or flintlock forearm used to hold the priming powder charge.
Jump
The amount of change in the bore axis, measured both vertically and horizontally, while the projectile moves from the chamber to the muzzle when it is fired.
Cartouche
A mark within a border, typically stamped into the wood, especially of an American military rifle. It shows the initials of the name of the accepting inspector and often, the date he accepted the firearm into service.
LCI
Abbreviation for Loaded Chamber Indicator
C&R
Abbreviation for Curio and Relic
Eye Dominance
Although we have two eyes for depth perception and for spare parts, there is a natural tendency for one eye (the master eye) to take precedence over the other,
regardless of the relative visual acuity of each eye. It is a fortunate condition when the eye on the side of the shoulder where one is comfortable mounting a gun is also the dominant eye.
To test for eye dominance:
Backstop
Anything that will safely stop a bullet and prevent it from hitting anything else after the target is struck.
Magazine Well
The opening in the bottom of the gun into which a box magazine is fed. On a semi-auto handgun, the magazine well is at the base of the grip; on a rifle, it is usually placed in front of the trigger guard.
Musketoon
A musket shortened for cavalry use.
Chain Gun
A type of machine gun or autocannon that uses an external source of power to cycle the firearm.
LFX
Abbreviation for Live Fire Exercise
Benchrest
A device used (usually set on a counter) to support a shooters arms and/or hands to help make steadier shots.