Home / Blog / Step One

Blog

Step One

by | Sun, Nov 27, 2022

The Pawn World stores in Kingman are northwest Arizona’s largest gun stores. That status comes with a responsibility that we take very seriously. And so we strongly support and encourage firearm training as well as education.

The first step in responsible firearm ownership is acquiring the knowledge needed for safe usage. In Marine Corps boot camp the recruit is taught the five basic rules of gun safety. The four primary rules have a  simple mnemonic: Treat Never Keep Keep

  1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
  2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
  3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
  4. Keep the weapon on “safe” until you intend to fire.

The fifth rule is just as important but it is put into practice on the range. Know your target and what is beyond it.

A basic knowledge of firearm terminology and an understanding about types of ammunition is also important. What is the difference between automatic and semi automatic? Assault rifle, AR 15, what is the difference? Pistol or revolver?

The primary difference between a revolver and pistol is how rounds (ammunition) is loaded into the firing chamber. A simple explanation is that pistols have fixed chambers. Revolvers have chambers that rotate in a cylinder.

Does AR in AR 15 stand for assault rifle? No, the “AR” is for Armalite Rifle. That is the name of the company that first developed this type of weapon almost 60 years ago. After the company sold the rghts to Colt Manufacturing, the rifle was modified and sold to the miltary with the M 16 designation. The M-16 is an automatic weapon that allows the firing of multiple rounds by holding down the trigger. The AR-15, and Sig Sauer, is a semi automatic which requires that you pull the trigger to fire each cartridge.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the definition of an “assault rifle” (or automatic weapon) is a machine gun. Since passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934 these type of automatic weapons have been heavily regulated.

Ammunition consists of multiple parts. Simply put, it consists of gunpowder, primer, a projectile and a casing. There are three primary types of ammunition – rimfire, centerfire, and shotshell. A round is a single cartridge. A shell is a form of ammunition that is fired by a large caliber cannon or artillery piece.

The size of ammunition is caliber or calibre.This is the nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel bore measured in inches or in millimeters. In the United States it is expressed in hundredths of an inch. So, a “45 caliber” firearm has a barrel diameter of roughly 0.45 inches or 11 millimeters.  (11 mm). A “9 mm pistol” has a barrel diameter of about 9 millimeters.

Regardless of expertise, it is always best to ask questions and to purchase weapons from a knowledgable staff at a reputable store. In Kingman, or northwest Arizona, Pawn World is that store.

 

0 Comments
Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *