G'day. This is one of my favorite pages. GUNS! But don't worry, I am not a psycho that loves going around and killing people. I practice and encourage safe use of guns, because guns are not dangerous at all, it is the person behind it. And I do not believe that stopping people from being allowed to posess guns is a good thing, because there are a lot of law abiding citizens out there that practice safe use of guns. People should not be allowed permission to have guns if they have ANY previous criminal record and everyone applying for a gun license should take a test to prove that they are capable of using a gun safely. There should also be a stronger punishment if a gun law is broken. They should be put in jail for at least 3 years. A lifetime if somebody gets injured or killed. That is my opinion, take it or forget it. It's up to you.
The different types of Guns and how they work
This part is really self-explanatory. Read on.
BREAK-OPEN SINGLE OR DOUBLE BARREL FIREARMS


The firearm generally fitted with this type of action is the single or double barelled shotgun. This type of firearm is popular and is in the main used on moving targets. The most popular gauges are 20g. 12g. and .410 calibre.

The break-open single or double barrel shot gun generally--
1.     Feeds by hand                LOADS
2.     Locks
3.     Fires
4.     Unlocks
5. & 6. Extracts and Cocks
7.     Ejects.                            UNLOADS (this will be done either automatically or by hand, it will depend on the type of firearm).

SHOTGUN ammunition: A cartridge or cartridges are fed into the barrels by hand. The barrels are then closed, allowing action to LOCK. The shotgun at this point is LOADED AND READY TO FIRE; EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE EXCERCISED AT THIS TIME.

In order to fire the shotgun a simple squeeze of the trigger is all that is required. Once fired the locking lever is moved to the right allowing the action to break open (UNLOCK). The fired or unfired cartridges as the case may be, may then be removed from the chamber (UNLOAD). This then completes functions 1-7.

WARNING
THERE ARE MANY SHOTGUNS STILL IN EXISTENCE TODAY THAT WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO USE MODERN SMOKELESS POWDERS. ALL OLD SHOTGUNS SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY AN EXPERT. DO NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES WITH THESE OLDER TYPE FIREARMS, THEY ARE LIABLE TO EXPLODE IF THE WRONG AMMUNITION IS USED.
 

THE BOLT ACTION FIREARM

In general the term bolt action refers to rifles of all calibres. However we must remember that some shotguns are also bolt actions. This type of shotgun is not very popular these days but many of them were sold in days past. The bolt action, like all other actions, generally follows the same 7 steps of operation--
1.     Feeds (cocks)        Bolt forward                LOADS
2.     Locks                   Bolt handle lowered
3.     Fires
4.     Unlocks
5.     Cocks                   Bolt handle lifted
6.     Extracts                Bolt rearward              UNLOADS
7.     Ejects
Pushing the bolt forward and turning it down feeds a round into the chamber and locks the action. The firearm can now be fired by squeezing the trigger. Lifting the bolt handle and pulling it to the rear completes functions 5 to 7.

Bolt action firearms may be single shot or fitted with one of several types of magazine. They are sometimes referred to as bolt action repeaters.

SAFETY CATCHES
To carry a loaded firearm relying on the Safety Catch is looking for a disaster to happen. We must remember that Safety Catches are only a supplement for Safe Handling practises.
They are mechanical, they are subject to failure at anytime, they can be accidentally released and should never be solely relied upon.
 

THE LEVER ACTION FIREARM

This type of firearm is more likely the most recognised firearm of all, it has been seen in many Western movies and was dubbed the "GUN THAT WON THE WEST".
This type of action has proved to be very popular with all age groups. It can be purchased in both "CENTRE FIRE" and "RIM FIRE" calibres. This type of firearm, because of its external magazine, its exposed hammer and the difficulty of ensuring that the breech and the magazine are empty, requires an even higher level of safety than other types of firearms. If you are going to use a Lever Action Firearm, then ensure that you are fully aware of the operating and Safety procedures associated with this type of firearm.

The Lever Action generally--
1.     Feeds             LEVER UPWARDS            LOADS
2.     Locks
3.     Fires
4.     Unlocks
5.     Extracts         LEVER DOWNWARDS     UNLOADS
6.     Cocks
7.     Ejects

The lever, which is attached to the bolt, is moved upward, feeding the round into the chanber and locking the action. The firearm may now be fired by squeezing the trigger. The lever is then moved downward and completes functions 4-7.
Again we must remember that there are several things about a lever action firearm that require special attention.
1. EXPOSED HAMMER, which may catch on clothing or scrub and inadvertently become cocked.
2. TUBULAR MAGAZINE. Some models may be of some considerable age. The magazine spring which has been continually compressed and expanded may have become weakened, rusted through or broken.
The magazine tube may have been dented or have dirt or other matter in it causing a round to hang up, or in fact a round may have even been slighty bent again causing a hang up. If a round hang up in the magazine you may work the action several times an think that there are no further rounds in the magazine when in fact there is still a round in the magazine. A knock at a later time could cause this round to become free and be accidentally fed into the breech and cause an unintentional firing of the firearm. ON EVERY OCCASION PRIOR TO PUTTING A FIREARM WITH A TUBULAR MAGAZNIE AWAY AFTER USE YOU SHOULD THAT THE MAGAZINE IS TOTALLY FREE OF AMMUNITION.
3. COCKING THE FIREARM. We must remember taht every time that the lever is operated (pulled down and returned up) the firearm IS COCKED (the hammer is fully back). Extreme care must be exercised at this time.
 

THE SLIDE OR PUMP ACTION FIREARM

The pump or slide action generally--
1.     Feeds
2.     Locks            SLIDE FORWARD            LOADS
3.     Fires
4.     Unlocks
5.     Extracts         SLIDE REARWARD         UNLOADS
6.     Cocks
7.     Ejects
The fore end, which is attached to the action bar and also to the bolt, is pushed forward feeding a round into the chamber and locking the action. The firearm can now be fired by squeezing the trigger. The fore end is then pulled to the rear, completing functions 4 to 7.

THE SLIDE OR PUMP ACTION
This is very similar to the "Lever Action" and is operated by moving the fore end of the stock instead of a lever. It is also knwon as a "Trombone Action".
As with the lever action this is known as a "sliding block". Usually it has a tubular magazine and is susceptible to the same problems of denting and spring weakening as previously described for Lever Action levers.
Particular care is required with this firearm because of--
1. EXPOSED HAMMER. (Some models are produced with exposed hammers).
2. TUBULAR MAGAZINE. (Some models are available with rotary and box type magazines.)
You must remember, as with the Lever Action, if your firearm has a tubular magazine or an exposed hammer, you must exercise extreme causion when unloading the firearm to ensure that the magazine is completely empty.
 

THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR SELF-LOADING FIREARM

The semi-automatic action generally--
1.     Feeds
2.     Locks                BLOCK FORWARD        LOADS
3.     Fires
4.     Unlocks
5.     Extracts             BLOCK REARWARD     UNLOADS
6.     Cocks
7.     Ejects

There are two distinct types:
(a)     THE OPEN COCKED POSITION
In one type, after firing a round, the block remains to the rear. When the triggeris squeezed, automatically-
-     the block moves forward
-     a round is fed into the chamber
-     the firing pin strikes the round
-     the block is driven to the rear again, leaving a cocked firearm, ready to fire again.
(b)     THE CLOSED COCKED POSITION
After firing a round the block automatically moves forward again to feed the next round into the chamber. When the trigger is squeezed--
-     the firing pin strikes the round
-     the block then moves rearward, compressing the return spring
-     the block is driven forward, feeding the next round
-     the firing pin is compressed, leaving the firearm loaded, cocked and ready to fire.
YOU MUST REMEMBER WITH THIS TYPE OF FIREARM EVERY TIME A ROUND IS FIRED IT RE-COCKS ITSELF AND IS READY TO FIRE AGAIN.
This type of firearm is frequently manufactured with a tubular magazine, so again you must exercise caution when unloading. Make sure that the magazine is completely empty.

FIREARMS SAFETY RULES
1.     TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS BEING LOADED
2.     ALWAYS POINT THE FIREARMS IN A SAFE DIRECTION
3.     NEVER HAVE LOADED FIREARMS IN THE CAR, HOME OR CAMP
4.     IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEHIND IT
5.     NEVER FIRE AT HARD SURFACES OR WATER
6.     STORE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SEPARATELY
7.     NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WHEN HANDLING FIREARMS
8.     DO NOT CLIMB FENCES OR OBSTACLES WITH LOADED FIREARMS
If you have half a brain you will obey these rules and you and your friends will be safe and nobody will get hurt.
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