Firearm

A firearm is a kinetic energy mechanical device that fires either single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. This process of rapid burning is technically known as deflagration. In older firearms, this propellant was typically black powder, but modern firearms use smokeless powder or other propellants.

Related Topics:
Kinetic energy - Projectile - Gas - Burning - Propellant - Deflagration - Black powder - Smokeless powder

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The term gun is often used as a synonym for firearm, but in specialist use has a restricted sense—referring only to an artillery piece with a relatively high muzzle velocity and a relatively flat trajectory, such as a field gun, a tank gun or an anti-tank gun, or a naval gun. Guns are distinct from howitzers and mortars, which have lower muzzle velocities and higher trajectories. Hand-held firearms, like rifles, carbines, pistols and other small firearms are never called "guns" in the restricted sense.

Related Topics:
Gun - Artillery - Field gun - Tank gun - Anti-tank gun - Naval gun - Howitzers - Mortars - Rifles - Carbines - Pistols

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In recent centuries, firearms have become the predominant weapons used by mankind. Modern warfare since the late Renaissance has relied upon firearms, with wide-ranging effects on military history and history in general.

Related Topics:
Warfare - Renaissance - Military - History

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For handguns and long guns, the projectile is a bullet or, in historical cannons, a cannonball. The projectile is fired by the burning of the propellant, but in small arms rarely contains explosives itself. For modern artillery the projectile is a shell, which nearly always contains explosives.

Related Topics:
Bullet - Shell

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A distinction is sometimes made between the projectile itself as the weapon and the firearm as a weapons platform. In some cases, the firearm can be used directly as a weapon without firing a projectile, although this is generally a secondary method of attack. For example, arms such as rifles, muskets, and occasionally submachine guns can have bayonets affixed to them, becoming in effect a spear or pike. With some notable exceptions, the stock of a long gun can be used as a club. It is also possible to strike someone with the barrel of a handgun or grasp it by the barrel and strike someone with the butt. This is called "pistol-whipping".

Related Topics:
Weapons platform - Submachine gun - Bayonet - Spear - Pike - Stock - Club

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A problem for firearms is the accumulation of waste products from the partial combustion of propellants, metallic residue from the bullet itself, and small flecks of the cartridge case. These waste products can interfere with the internal functions of the firearm. As a result, regularly used firearms must be periodically partially disassembled, cleaned and lubricated to ensure the weapon's reliability.

Related Topics:
Propellants - Bullet

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There are two basic categories of firearms: artillery pieces and small arms. Small arms are generally small, very portable firearms with a barrel bore of up to approximately 0.50 inch (12.7 mm)and are aimed visually at their targets using sights. The range of accuracy for small arms is limited to about one mile (1600 m), usually considerably less. Artillery pieces are much larger, mounted on a movable carriage, having bores of up to 18 inches (46 cm) and possibly weighing many tons. Artillery can be accurate at ranges of up to about 26 miles (42 km) and, with some notable exceptions (e.g., tank guns), is aimed using altitude/azimuth settings. Strictly speaking, not all small arms are firearms, but it is the most convenient category under which to group them.

Related Topics:
Artillery - Small arms

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