Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Gun Terms - Quick Reference

Just a few terms that you will be hearing over the next few weeks. The media will almost always get these wrong.

For a more comprehensive look at terms and terminology, check out my earlier posts on the subject.


  • Assault Rifle
    • Rifle that fires an intermediate round, has a detachable magazine and has a selector switch that allows for semi-automatic, and automatic or burst fire.
    • AK-47s with a selector switch and fire the 7.62x39mm round are assault rifles
    • M-16s or M-4s with a selector switch and fire the 5.56mm NATO round are assault rifles
    • AR-15s or AK-47s that do not have the selector switch are NOT assault rifles.
    • AK-47s or AR-10s that fire the 7.62x51mm NATO round are NOT assault rifles, as the round is a full power round, not an intermediate round.
  • Automatic Fire
    • The weapon will fire repeatedly until the trigger is released
  • Semi-Automatic Fire
    • The weapon will fire only once per trigger pull
  • Automatic Pistol
    • A shortened term for an automatically loading pistol.
    • These types of pistols are sometimes erroneously called "semi-automatic" pistols.  While they are semi-automatic in fire rate, the term Automatic means auto-loading.  A revolver can be semi-automatic as well.  
  • Revolver
    • A pistol that has a revolving chamber.
  • Magazine 
    • The place where the firearms stores ammunition.
  • Clip
    • A device that aids in the loading of an fixed internal magazine.
  • Gun Show Loophole
    • It is currently legal for one private party to sell a gun to another private party with out the seller having to do a background check on the buyer.
      These types of transactions typically happen at gun shows, for the same reason that most art sales are done at art shows...  Because that is where the buyers and sellers to to by and sell art/guns.  
    • If you buy a gun from a licensed dealer, even at a gun show, a background check must be done.  However, if that dealer is at the show with their personal collection, and not store inventory, they can sell the gun as a private to private transaction. 

If you want more, check out the link above.

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