Vandalia, OH

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Amateur Trapshooting Association of America
601 W. National Road
Vandalia, Ohio 45377
937-898-4638
937-898-5472 (fax)

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  • Shotgun Terminology

    Action - the moving parts that allow you to load, fire and unload your shotgun.

    Barrel Selector - determines which barrel of a double barrel gun you will fire first.

    Blacking/Blueing - the blue coloration applied to protect gun barrels.

    Bore - the interior diameter of a gun barrel, which will vary according to the gun's size and intended use.

    Box-Lock - a type of gun action, often recognizable by its squared appearance.

    Breech - the end of the barrel nearest to the stock.

    Break Open - in a hinge type gun, where the barrels are dropped open and clear of the action, exposing the chambers to view.

    Butt - the rear of the shoulder end of  the gun's stock.

    Comb - the side of the stock that fits against your cheek.

    Chamber - the part of the action, at the breech end of the barrel, into which the shot shell is placed.

    Choke - the degree of narrowing or constriction of the bore at the muzzle end of the barrel. Intended to increase the effective range of the gun.

    Ejector - the mechanism on shotguns by which spent shot cases are automatically ejected from the gun when it is opened after firing.

    Forearm - the part of the stock that lies under the barrel.

    Full Choke - the tightest constriction   or narrowing of the bore, producing the greatest effective range.

    Grip - the narrow portion of the stock held with the trigger hand.

    Gauge - the term used to describe the interior diameter of the bore. The smaller the gauge number the larger the bore size.                                                

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Hinge - a type of action in which a hinge mechanism separates the barrel from the standing breech block, providing access to the chamber.

    Improved Cylinder - least constricted or narrowed choke causing shot pattern to widen relatively quickly.

    Modified Choke - moderate constriction or narrowing of the bore.

    Muzzle - the end of the barrel from which the shot exits.

    Over-and-Under - a two barreled shotgun with one barrel placed over the other.

    Pump - a type of action that loads and ejects shells by "pumping" the forearm of the stock back and forth

    Safety - a safety device that, in the "on" position, prevents the gun from firing. In many field guns the safety is automatically engaged when the gun is opened; in other guns, particularly competition grades, the safety must be manually opened.

    Semi Automatic - a type of action in which gas from a burning gunpowder in the shell automatically ejects the spent shell that loads another.

    Shot - round projectiles, usually of lead or steel.

    Shot Pattern - the concentration of a shot measured in a circle at a given range, usually 30 to 40 yards.

    Side-by-Side - a shotgun with two barrels sitting side by side.

    Stock - the "handle" of the shotgun, the part held to the shoulder, comprising the butt, comb, grip and forearm.

    Shotshell or Shell - the ammunition fired by shotguns, consisting of five components: the case, primer, powder charge, wad, and shot.

    Trigger - finger- pulled lever——single, double and release——that drives the firing point forward and fires the gun.

    Source: Black's Wing & Clay




    Date Added: 10/8/2006 Date Modified: 10/9/2006