GUNS

Handgun Basics: Identifying parts and
functions
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How do guns work? Every part that goes into the building of a weapon has a specific purpose. Firearm
owners should be able to identify the major parts of their weapons. They should also understand how these
parts function together to allow the weapon fire.
Firearms fall into three distinct categories: rifles, shotguns and handguns. Each type serves a different
purpose. Handguns are the weapon of choice when size matters, and are the smallest and most portable
category of firearm. They are easy to conceal and are the perfect choice when the size and weight of a long
gun would not be practical.
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All police officers carry handguns on their duty belt as their primary weapon because of the small size and
portability. Many civilians possess concealed carry permits allowing them to carry a firearm as long as it's
hidden from public view. It's the perfect choice to be concealed in an ankle holster, under a loose fitting shirt
or even in a handbag. Handguns are also the number one choice for home protection. They are small, easy to
secure and are an excellent weapon for close-quarters encounters.
Handguns may be the most difficult category of weapon to master and therefore competitive target
shooting is growing in popularity. Handguns don't have the long range capabilities of a rifle or the
devastating force of a shotgun, but given their size limitations, they are the perfect weapon for home defense
or target shooting or everyday carry.
The Modern Revolver
The parts on any firearm can be classified as either a weapon's moving parts or its stationary parts.
Stationary Parts:
The Grip:
This is the area where the shooter holds the weapon. It is usually the only wooden part of the gun. It will
often have a fine checkered pattern to aid in the shooter's grip and may have an implanted manufacturer's
medallion. Grips can be customized to different sizes to accommodate the shooter's hand. Some combat
grips are constructed of a non-slip hard rubber material.
The Front and Rear Sights:

These are located on top of the barrel and allow the shooter to align the weapon with the intended target.
The Barrel:
The barrel is secured along the top of the weapon and is built into and affixed to the frame. The inside of the
barrel has a spiral pattern of cuts called lands and groves. These cause the bullet to spin as it travels through
the barrel. This spinning action continues during the bullet's flight, greatly improving its accuracy.
The Muzzle:
The muzzle of any firearm is the end of the barrel where the bullet will exit. The term muzzle-awareness
refers to always knowing in what direction your weapon is pointed.
The Trigger Guard:
This is the piece of metal that encircles the trigger preventing accidental trigger engagement.
The Frame:
The frame can be described as the "bones" of the weapon. It is generally a single piece of metal that is
precisely machined to accept all the other parts of the weapon.
Moving Parts:
The Trigger:
This is located inside the trigger guard toward the bottom of the weapon. When the trigger is pulled to the
rear, either one or two things will happen depending on the type of revolver. If it's a double-action model, as
the trigger is pulled, the hammer will move to the rear and the cylinder will rotate, aligning the next chamber
with the barrel. As the shooter continues to squeeze the trigger, the hammer will be released, traveling
quickly forward, striking a firing pin and causing the weapon to fire. Some models have the firing pin
incorporated into the design of the hammer.
If the revolver is a single action, the shooter will have to manually cock the firearm by pulling the hammer
back and locking it in place. When the trigger is squeezed, the hammer will be released, traveling quickly
forward causing the weapon to fire.
The Cylinder:
The cylinder is one piece of steel usually with either five or six chambers. Each chamber holds one round of
ammunition. The cylinder gets its name from its cylindrical shape. As the hammer is drawn back, the
cylinder rotates aligning the next chamber and round with the barrel.
The cylinders are loaded differently depending on the type of revolver. Most modern revolvers have a
release that allows the cylinder to swing out to the side and down. This makes removing spent cartridges and
reloading easy. Many shooters use speed loaders to accelerate reloading.
The Ejector Rod & Extractor:

The ejector rod runs through the center of the cylinder and acts as a fixed axis allowing the cylinder to turn.
The extractor is attached to the end of the ejector rod and is recessed into the cylinder. When the revolver is
loaded, each cartridge rim rests against the extractor. After the last round is fired, the cylinder release is
pressed and the cylinder swings out to the side. The shooter then pushes back on the front of the ejector rod.
The rod travels back, catching the rims of the spent cartridges on the extractor. The extractor forces all the
spent cartridges from the cylinder at the same time. The extractor is spring-loaded and returns to the forward
position to allow for reloading.
The Cylinder Release:

The cylinder release is usually a small spring-loaded slide lever that is located behind the cylinder.
Depending on the revolver model, it is either pushed forward or down. Depressing the cylinder release
allows the cylinder to swing out to the side and down for unloading and loading.
The Hammer:
The hammer is located just behind the cylinder and centered with the barrel. The purpose of the hammer is
to strike either a firing pin or the cartridge primer, causing the revolver to fire. If the striking surface of the
hammer is flat, the weapon uses a floating firing pin. If the striking surface of the hammer is pointed the
weapon does not have a separate firing pin. The pointed area of the hammer is the firing pin and comes in
direct contact with the cartridge primer.
The Semi-Automatic Handgun
While some of the stationary and moving parts found on a revolver are also present in a semi-automatic
handgun, the weapons function much differently. The front and rear sights, trigger, trigger guard, hammer,
and muzzle all have the same location and function as the revolver.
The Parts of a Semi-Automatic Handgun and Their Functions
The Grip:
The grip on the semi-automatic handgun isn't just the handhold for the weapon. The grip is hollow and
houses the weapon's ammunition in a magazine. The bottom of the grip is open and is called the magazine
port or loading port. It also has a magazine release button within the grip.
The Magazine:
The magazine is a removable ammunition feeding and storage device. It can be separated from the weapon
when empty and replaced with a full magazine. Cartridges are stacked against spring tension which allows
the magazine to feed each round into the weapon's chamber. Magazines allow semi-automatic handguns to
fire more rounds than revolvers and are much faster to reload. In recent years, the capacity of magazines has
come under scrutiny and many states now regulate the number of rounds that a magazine is legally permitted
to hold.
The Magazine Release:

This is a button generally located in front of the grip behind the trigger guard. When a loaded magazine is
inserted into the weapon, the shooter will hear an audible click. This is the magazine release mechanism
locking the magazine in place. In order to remove or replace the magazine, the shooter must depress the
button. Most magazines will drop from the weapon when the button is pushed, making reloading much
quicker.
The Slide:
This is the top portion of the weapon. It is the part that slides back and forth when the weapon is fired. The
slide must be pulled back and released to load a cartridge into the chamber. When the bullet is fired, three
things happen. The recoil forces the slide to the rear. As this happens, the extractor, which is attached to the
slide, removes and ejects the spent cartridge. The rearward action of the slide also re-cocks the hammer for
the next round. As the slide moves forward, it pushes the next cartridge out of the magazine and loads it into
the chamber.
The Safety or Decocking Lever:

Many (but not all) semi-automatics will have a decocking lever, which is also referred to as a safety. It will
usually be located below the rear sight. This is a two-position lever. If a weapon has the hammer back in the
cocked position, the shooter may lower the hammer by using the decocking lever. A second feature of the
decocking lever is that in the down or safe position, the weapon will not fire. The shooter must move the
lever up to the fire position for the weapon to function.
The Frame:
The frame of a semi-automatic is generally the single part of the weapon that the slide rides on. Unlike a
revolver, the frame of a semi-automatic may be made of metal or a plastic polymer. Glock handguns are
famous for this innovation.
The Takedown Lever:

These levers will be slightly different depending on the manufacturer. They are located above the trigger,
but just below the slide. The lever serves to release the slide and barrel to field strip the weapon.
The Slide Stop:

Also known as the slide release, this is a lever located behind the takedown lever. The slide stop's function is
to lock the slide in the rear open position after the last round in the magazine is fired. Pushing down on the
slide stop releases the slide, allowing it to snap forward. With many semi-automatics, forcefully seating a
fresh magazine will cause the slide release to disengage and the slide will cycle forward.
The Recoil Spring and Guide:

The recoil spring and guide are located inside the weapon, usually just below the barrel. When a semi-
automatic is fired the slide is forced back by the weapon's recoil. The recoil also compresses the recoil
spring which is responsible for returning the slide forward, seating the next chambered round. Many models
have the recoil spring and spring guide as one connected unit.
Handgun Disassembly:
Revolvers are seldom disassembled and remain completely intact for cleaning. Semiautomatics will need to
be disassembled into five pieces to allow for proper cleaning. First, use the magazine release button to
remove the magazine. Then use the takedown lever to release the slide and barrel, which are easily
separated. The recoil spring and guide can then be removed. That's as far as the weapon needs to be
disassembled for cleaning.
Having a working knowledge of your handgun and its parts is essential. Each shooter should understand the
various components that go into their firearm and how they function. Learning the proper names of the
weapon's parts will allow the shooter to communicate accurately and professionally.
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Handgun Basics: Identifying parts and

Shop Shooting Gear

The Modern Revolver

The Front and Rear Sights:

The Ejector Rod & Extractor:

The Cylinder Release:

The Parts of a Semi-Automatic Handgun and Their Functions

The Magazine Release:

The Safety or Decocking Lever:

The Takedown Lever:

The Slide Stop:

The Recoil Spring and Guide:

Holsters Best Sellers

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