Did you just get your firearms license and want to buy your first gun? Are you looking for a firearm that is light, but effective?
If so, then purchasing a handgun may be the way to go. Loading your gun won’t be as much of a hassle as with larger guns, and you have more ammunition to choose from.
However, it’s important to know about the different parts of your gun so that you know how the whole product works. The better understanding you have of what each part does, the easier time you’ll have using a handgun.
Knowing what parts to handle first and how they work together will also keep you and everyone around you safe. With our data on everything guns, this process will be a piece of cake.
Take a look at our handguns 101 guide so that you are familiar with all of the parts, which will provide you a fun and productive time with your firearm.
1. Barrel
Among the most notable and important hand gun parts is the barrel, which is the long tube that the bullet travels through to leave and move towards its target. This tube protrudes from the frame and is made of metal to handle the bullets and the speed at which they travel.
Due to the size of the gun, the barrel is much smaller compared to that of rifles and shotguns. This makes it more suited for smaller bullets.
Convenience is another focus of barrels for handguns, as they are designed so that you can shoot with either one hand or two. The size of the firearm plays into this, and not having to carry it over your shoulder should make for an easier and safer carrying experience.
Some handguns are bigger than others, especially if you are a gun enthusiast and want to try out older models. If you want a quicker firing experience, then handguns with smaller barrels is the way to go.
2. Action
There are basic parts of a gun that serve multiple roles to make firing easy and safe. One of them is the action, which you can also call the trigger group.
This part is responsible for carrying the parts of the firearm that fire the cartridges. It gets the name of the trigger group because it also includes the trigger in its design.
Gun owners have five common options for actions to choose from when making a purchase. They include the lever-action, pump-action, bolt-action, semi-automatic action, and break-action.
Actions are designed to help load when you need more bullets, lock when you don’t want to shoot, eject when you don’t need bullets, or fire when you are locked on your target. We advise taking lessons if you’re new to firearms and want to fully understand how your products work before using them.
3. Frame
There are parts of a product that affect the ability of other components to function. When it comes to handguns, that role goes to the frame.
Every element of the handgun is attached to or inside the frame, so this part needs to be in good shape for the rest to work. This affects your ability to avoid hurting yourself and staying safe in a variety of dangerous situations.
The main role that the frame serves is acting as the handle, or grip, of the firearm. This is a similar job of the action, and your hand will most likely be on both at the same time.
Frames, also known as receivers, are tasked with providing housing for the hammer, bolt, and firing mechanism. As long as you keep your gun in good condition, the frame will allow all of these parts to function.
4. Muzzle for Handguns 101
The barrel is not the only part of a gun that affects the bullet’s ability to exit smoothly. There’s also the muzzle, which is located at the front of the firearm.
Serving as the opening on the front of the gun allows the muzzle to let the bullets leave and hit your target. It’s important before you by a gun that your bullets fit properly so that they exit quick and easy.
Among the most common issues that gun owners can run into with muzzles is muzzle rise. This occurs when the front part of the gun rises after you fire, which can affect your ability to hit targets on a regular basis.
That’s where muzzle brakes come in, as they ensure that your muzzle stays steady. You can go to Aero Precision and similar services to find the right brake for your muzzle to ensure constant accuracy.
5. Breech
It’s important for parts of a material to maintain usefulness over its evolution so that it can keep up with your needs. When it comes to parts of rifles, the breech is a prime example.
This component is responsible for loading so that users can fire when they need to. While the muzzle had this duty in the early days of guns, the evolution of technology shifted it over to breeches.
Manufacturers have positioned the breech at the end of the barrel to assist with keeping bullets stored and ready for fire when you need it. By being located at the back of the gun, you don’t have as many parts popping up in your view or making the holding process uncomfortable.
The breech is also among the smaller parts of the gun, which leaves you with less pressure with checking it out to see what kind of shape it’s in. By working with the barrel, the breech makes the firing process easy.
6. Hammer
Understanding handguns 101 and answering the question “What are the parts of a gun?” requires knowing how they affect your ability to use a firearm. Among the most important parts you need to be familiar with is the hammer.
Owning a handgun will make figuring out the function of the hammer easy because this part is usually located on the outside of the firearm. That is the opposite with most rifles and shotguns, as it is built on the inside in that case.
The hammer is another element that affects other parts, thus allowing bullets to exit safely and efficiently. It makes contact with the bullet primer so that the powder is ignited and forces the bullet out of the muzzle.
Some guns include a pin for the hammer to contact so that it can then hit the primer. The addition of different parts ensures proper and safe use, which is among the most common concerns with smaller guns.
7. Trigger
Your gun usage can be different depending on what kind of handgun you use and how certain parts of it are designed. That is an important factor to consider when you’re looking at your trigger.
This part affects the firing process by activating sequence, which you can do by pulling it. Once you pull the trigger, the rest of the gun that is involved in moving the bullet to the right spots at the right speed can do their jobs.
Some handguns require a little extra effort when it comes to using triggers. Single action revolvers and similar firearms require that you “cock,” or pull back, the hammer into position before you pull the trigger.
However, there are handguns available that only require pulling the trigger in order to cock back and release the hammer. This can save you time in the firing process, and while it may be only by a second or two, it makes the difference in hitting targets and staying safe, whether you’re a police officer on duty or hitting paper targets in your backyard.
8. Magazine
Do you want to have extra bullets easily available when you’re trying to hit targets? That’s where the magazine of the handgun comes in, as it stores the bullets you need for convenience.
Magazines are easy to identify when you’re using rifles, shotguns, and larger firearms. Those with handguns, however, are easier to connect and disconnect from the firearm and can sometimes be confused with the grip.
The majority of magazines for handguns are removable, which shouldn’t be a problem for those who have more experience removing and attaching parts quickly. We advise practicing so that you don’t miss the chance of hitting your target.
Magazines are able to store anywhere from five rounds to a hundred, depending on the size of your gun. If you get a handgun, then expect to have a few rounds available at a time, so have extras ready in your pocket in case you plan to hit a large number of targets.
Our Take
Owning any type of firearm is a major responsibility because of the need to understand how the different parts work. When it comes to handguns 101, knowing how each component works will allow you to fire safely and easily in any type of environment.
Some parts are affected by others, so it’s important to keep an eye on the condition of every element in your product. Doing so will make it easy for you to show everyone that you are a responsible gun owner.
Check out more of our product guides today so that you can become familiar with how everything you use on a day-to-day basis works and makes your life easy and fun.
