Hunter Ed Study Questions with 100% Complete
Solutions
Firearm
A firearm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a BURNING POWDER to force a
projectile through and out of a metal tube.
Action
Action: The action is the heart of the firearm—the moving parts that LOAD, FIRE, and EJECT
the shells or cartridges. Several types of actions are used in modern firearms. Muzzleloaders
have LOCKS instead of actions.
Stock
Stock: The stock serves as the handle of the firearm. It can be composed of one or two pieces and
is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.
Barrel
Barrel: The barrel is the metal tube that the projectile travels through (bullets travel through the
barrels of rifles and handguns; shot travels through the barrel of shotguns).
Bore
Inside of the firearm barrel through which the projectile travels when fired
Breech
Rear end of the barrel
Firing Pin
,A pin that strikes the primer of the cartridge, causing ignition
Receiver
Metal housing for the working parts of the action
Shotguns
Shotguns are another long-barreled firearm used by hunters. Most common: pump action
Handguns
Handguns (revolver and pistols) are short-barreled firearms sometimes used for hunting.
Cartridge
Ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, and a
bullet. Single projectile bullet
Shotshell
Ammunition used in modern shotguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug or
shot (shot or pellets). Shotguns use a shotshell containing either a single slug or a large number
of small projectiles (shot or pellets).
Case
The container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It's usually made of
brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic.
Primer
,An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing pin. Primer
may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the base of the case
(centerfire).
Gunpowder
A chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an expanding gas when ignited. Modern
smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in the open (outside of the case). Black powder
is less stable and can be explosive when impacted or ignited in the open.
Projectile
The object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a projectile, usually containing lead, fired
through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, fired through a
shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth pellets fired through a
shotgun barrel.
Wad
A seal and/or shot container made of paper or plastic separating the powder from the slug or shot
in a shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping through the shot and holds the shot together
as it passes through the barrel.
Pointed soft point
High velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path (trajectory); excellent mushrooming
Rounded soft point
Popular for low-velocity calibers; recommended for tubular magazines
, Projected Tip
Highly accurate with excellent expansion
Full metal jacket
Maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets are illegal for big game hunting in
most states
Roundnose lead
Good penetration, little expansion
Full metal jacket (2)
High penetration, no expansion
Semi-wad cutter
Balances penetration and expansion
Hollowpoint
Designed for high expansion on impact
Wad cutter
Flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper
Centerfire ammunition
is used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type of ammunition, the primer is located in the
center of the casing base. Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable.
Rimfire ammunition
Solutions
Firearm
A firearm is a mechanical device that uses pressure from a BURNING POWDER to force a
projectile through and out of a metal tube.
Action
Action: The action is the heart of the firearm—the moving parts that LOAD, FIRE, and EJECT
the shells or cartridges. Several types of actions are used in modern firearms. Muzzleloaders
have LOCKS instead of actions.
Stock
Stock: The stock serves as the handle of the firearm. It can be composed of one or two pieces and
is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.
Barrel
Barrel: The barrel is the metal tube that the projectile travels through (bullets travel through the
barrels of rifles and handguns; shot travels through the barrel of shotguns).
Bore
Inside of the firearm barrel through which the projectile travels when fired
Breech
Rear end of the barrel
Firing Pin
,A pin that strikes the primer of the cartridge, causing ignition
Receiver
Metal housing for the working parts of the action
Shotguns
Shotguns are another long-barreled firearm used by hunters. Most common: pump action
Handguns
Handguns (revolver and pistols) are short-barreled firearms sometimes used for hunting.
Cartridge
Ammunition used in modern rifles and handguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, and a
bullet. Single projectile bullet
Shotshell
Ammunition used in modern shotguns; a case containing primer, gunpowder, wad, and a slug or
shot (shot or pellets). Shotguns use a shotshell containing either a single slug or a large number
of small projectiles (shot or pellets).
Case
The container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It's usually made of
brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic.
Primer
,An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing pin. Primer
may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the base of the case
(centerfire).
Gunpowder
A chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an expanding gas when ignited. Modern
smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in the open (outside of the case). Black powder
is less stable and can be explosive when impacted or ignited in the open.
Projectile
The object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a projectile, usually containing lead, fired
through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, fired through a
shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth pellets fired through a
shotgun barrel.
Wad
A seal and/or shot container made of paper or plastic separating the powder from the slug or shot
in a shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping through the shot and holds the shot together
as it passes through the barrel.
Pointed soft point
High velocity, accurate bullets with a flat travel path (trajectory); excellent mushrooming
Rounded soft point
Popular for low-velocity calibers; recommended for tubular magazines
, Projected Tip
Highly accurate with excellent expansion
Full metal jacket
Maximum penetration without mushrooming; these bullets are illegal for big game hunting in
most states
Roundnose lead
Good penetration, little expansion
Full metal jacket (2)
High penetration, no expansion
Semi-wad cutter
Balances penetration and expansion
Hollowpoint
Designed for high expansion on impact
Wad cutter
Flat-ended, used for target shooting; creates clean hole in paper
Centerfire ammunition
is used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type of ammunition, the primer is located in the
center of the casing base. Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable.
Rimfire ammunition
