How to name a gun

Gun Name Generator & Guide

The bounty hunter stood with practiced stillness in the doorway as she waited for her mark to look up from his drink. Eventually, his eyes met hers, and the dawning of recognition turned quickly to fear. In an instant, his hand darted for his weapon, but the bounty hunter had been waiting for this moment, and with almost inhuman speed she pulled The Last Word from its holster and let of a single, booming round – the man fell lifeless onto the floor.

Sturm
Purgatory
Conqueror’s Shooter
Big Game
Warp Speed Slugger
Pax and Lux
Pericula Ludus
Curtain Call
Perdition’s Edge
Trusty Sidearm
Soulburn
Lusting Teel Carbine

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Shotgun Names

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Weapon Names

Forge Your Own Name: Discover Our Name Suggestions & Backstories

Table of Contents

The power to change the course of history with the single pull of a trigger – that is what a gun represents. Such objects deserve the reverence of the characters who interact with them, whether by wielding them directly or having to face them in battle. As such, the naming of a gun is an important part of its history and identity as it helps shape the story it will inevitably create.

Good Gun Names

When it comes to good gun names, you want something bold; something that makes a statement. Guns are a sign that their wielder means business, as such, good gun names reflect this fact with their memorability.

The fabled flintlock rifle of the demon-hunter Gherman, who’s righteous fury was so unbridled that he journeyed to The Abyss itself to slay more of their kin.

What kind of adventurer has their own gun gilded? One who is both incredibly rich and incredibly confident in their own abilities. Make your own destiny with this gleaming powerhouse.

Handgun Names

Handguns are iconic: from the six-shooters of the wild-west to the flintlock pistols of the golden age of piracy – they show up in some of the most swashbuckling of adventures and are always a sure-fire way to make a character unique.

The revolver of a bounty hunter who had the muzzle deliberately widened in order to make it louder whilst sacrificing range. Still deadly at close range, it gained its name for the silence it left in its wake.

This powerful revolver was named after a deadly rattlesnake because of the strength of its “bite”. Many a guard fell prey to the outlaws who claimed it as their own.

Famous Gun Names

Sometimes a reputation will simply precede the person or object it represents. This is often the case with legendary guns, the sight of which is usually more than enough to chill the blood.

We all know what this specific acronym stands for. When it comes to famous guns, there aren’t many that inspire more terror and prestige then the BFG itself. Not for the faint of heart.

When you want to do more than propel a chunk of metal towards your target at high-speed, consider employer the Warp Speed Slugger – guaranteed to pierce practically any physical armour on the realm.

Cool Gun Names

It’s all well and good naming your gun, but you want to make sure it’s something that will elicit the correct response from those who hear it. Try these bad boys on for size:

Precision and beauty combined is what this rifle represents. Perfectly balanced, it is legendary for making the act of killing into a work of art.

An unorthodox gun, three barrels, each for a talon of the eagle. It certainly lives up to its namesake – with each shot both accurate and deadly.

Did you enjoy this article, reader? If you are thinking of populating your world with guns, it’s important that such iconic objects often have a great history attached to them, and history is always carried in a name. In this way, choosing the right gun names is vital. Let us know what you think of our suggestions in the comments and please share the article if you enjoyed it!

How To Identify a Gun Model | Complete Guide

Except for firearm enthusiasts, many gun owners don’t know much about their weapons. But it’s always a good idea to know the make and model as you’ll need these when you want to get a holster or other accessories.

It is possible to identify a gun model based on the manufacturer’s markings engraved on the slide or barrel. These markings are mandatory for firearms, as they reveal certain pertinent information about the gun, such as the manufacturer’s name, caliber or gauge, serial number, and model designation.

Besides markings, there are additional ways of identifying a firearm, and this article explains each of them in great detail. I’ll also cover ways to tell the age of a gun and if it has been stolen.

I recommend buying firearms, ammo, and accessories at a reputable online dealer, like my top pick, Palmetto State Armory. They are well-respected in the community and provide a 100% lifetime warranty on every weapon they sell. Just click here to see their latest inventory.

How To Identify a Gun

There are three ways you can go about identifying the model of your gun:

Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods.

Look at the Manufacturer’s Markings

The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) requires that all firearms bear specific identification markings. These markings make it easier for the authorities to identify or trace guns that have been stolen or used illegally.

The marks can be on the left or right side of the gun, but the exact location depends on the type of firearm — on long guns like rifles and shotguns, the markings are usually engraved on the barrel, at the point where it (the barrel) meets the rest of the gun.

Revolvers also have identification marks on the barrel, even though they’re not classified as long guns.

Note: Pistols tend to have the markings stamped on the slide. Some gun makers even include safety information on their guns.

The required identification markings stamped on firearms include the following:

1. Country of Origin (Country Name or Abbreviation)

As the name suggests, this marking refers to the country where the gun was manufactured. The country’s name is usually spelled out in full on the gun, but it’s also common to see abbreviations like AU (for Australia).

There are about 193 recognized countries and as many abbreviations. You can do a quick online search if you don’t recognize the country abbreviation on your firearm.

2. Manufacturer (Actual Name Must be Shown)

The manufacturer mark shows the name of the organization that created the firearm. Different countries have their requirements for firearm manufacturers, but all manufacturers must have a type 07 manufacturing FFL (federal firearm license) in the US.

It is common to see different names or logos printed boldly on the body of a gun. These are simply branding and shouldn’t be confused with the manufacturer’s name. Large firearm manufacturers can have multiple brands, a lot like how a single automaker produces two or more different brands of cars (e.g., Nissan and Infiniti)

But unlike cars, the actual manufacturer’s name must be marked on the gun and other official records. So while a gun may have “Infinity” written on it, it will also have “Strayer-Voight” printed somewhere on the gun and in the official records.

3. Importer (Shows the Importer’s City and State)

The importer marking shows the name of the licensed organization that brought the firearm into the country. Of course, if the gun was made in the United States, there will be no need for this mark.

If a firearm is imported, the name of the city and state of the importer must also be engraved on the gun. This may mislead some folks into believing that the weapon was made in the country.

But that’s not the case. If a country name or abbreviation appears anywhere on a gun, it means the weapon was imported.

4. Serial Number (Unique to the Firearm)

Serial number marks are applied by the manufacturer or the importer of the firearm. In either case, the number must be unique and should not have been used on any other gun made by the manufacturer.

The same applies to importers; the serial number must be different from those printed on any firearm previously imported.

There’s no standard for serial numbers, so manufacturers differ between the length and number of characters. And while it’s called a serial number, it is common to see some alphabets mixed in too.

5. Model (Different Firearm Within the Same Make)

This refers to the make and design of a particular firearm as designated by the manufacturer or importer.

For example, a gun company may have several gun models known by numbers like ‘17’ or a “19.” The ‘19,’ for example, is one of Glock’s most popular firearms.

6. Caliber or Gauge (Millimeters or English Units)

This mark indicates the caliber or gauge of the firearm.

Do a Serial Number Search

Although it rarely happens, sometimes the identification information may not be printed clearly on the gun or rubbed off after a long time. In this case, you can look up the weapon using its serial number.

Even if other information may have rubbed off or isn’t clear anymore, the serial number would likely still be legible. The National Firearms Act, 26 USC 5842 mandates that the serial number should be conspicuous and “not susceptible to being readily obliterated, altered or removed.”

In other words, unless someone filed it down, the serial number should be there, and you can use it to look up the model and other details about the gun.

How To Look Up a Gun’s Serial Number

You can look up gun serial numbers in publications like the Blue Book of Gun Values and the NRA (National Rifle Association) website. Moreover, some gun manufacturers have their own databases, and you can search your gun’s serial number.

You should know that a serial number check isn’t very accurate and may not yield the desired results. Many manufacturers use only numbers, making the search term too broad and producing multiple results from different manufacturers and years.

What’s more, certain vintage firearms can share the same serial number across different models. As such, a serial number check usually brings up a long list of possible matches.

For a more accurate result, you need to take all the possible matches you got from your search, put each one into Google, comparing the image results to your gun. When you find the right match, make a note of the make and model for future references when you want to purchase an accessory for the gun.

Take the Gun to a Gunsmith or a Gun Store

The third and final way to identify a gun model is by taking the gun to a gunsmith or gun store.

This option is the way to go in the very unlikely event that neither of the first two methods explained above work for you. Or if you’d rather not bother with looking up a serial number.

But like with serial number checks, this option may not yield the desired results, as even gun enthusiasts don’t know it all. Still, it’s worth exploring, as even if a gun store can’t supply you the answers, they’ll most likely be able to point you in the right direction.

How To Identify Antique and Vintage Gun Models

Antique and vintage guns are not as easy to identify as the more recent firearms. This is because many of them don’t have identification marks or serial numbers since there was no requirement for markings when they were made.

There are two ways you can go about getting the make and model of antique and vintage firearms:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can You Look Up a Gun by Serial Number?

You can look up a gun by its serial number using certain resources like the NRA website and the Blue Book of Gun Values. Additionally, many firearms manufacturer websites have databases of their guns, and you can look up the serial numbers of firearms they manufacture.

What Does a Gun Serial Number Tell You?

On its own, a gun serial number tells you nothing. It is just a string of numbers (and letters sometimes). But if you look up the number in a database and cross-reference the results, you can obtain the make, model, manufacturer, year of manufacture, and even the history of the gun.

Is There a Federal Firearms Database?

Generally speaking, there is no federal or state firearms database, as the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986 prohibits creating such a database.

However, all FFL (Federal Firearm Licensed) dealers must keep a Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS), a registry of all guns that come into the dealer’s possession, including the owner’s and the purchaser’s information.

The ATF can at any point request to see the DROS, and when the dealer goes out of business, they must submit the DROS to ATF. This effectively constitutes a database even though it’s not computerized.

How Can I Tell How Old Is My Gun?

There are a number of ways you can tell the age of a gun. You can ask the gun manufacturer, look up the serial number, check on the serial number via the manufacturer’s website, or have an experienced gunsmith check the gun for you.

How Can I Check if a Gun Is Stolen?

It’s always best to buy a gun from a licensed gun dealer to avoid purchasing a stolen gun. By doing so, you also avoid the risk of purchasing a weapon that has been used to commit a crime.

If for some reason, you choose to buy from a private individual, there are ways you can research the gun’s history to ensure that you are not getting a stolen weapon.

Although not a requirement, it’s wise to get a bill of sale for every gun you buy. The bill should be notarized and have the weapon’s serial number, and the date of purchase should be shown clearly. The bill can come in helpful if the gun is later found to have been stolen.

Final Thoughts

The simplest way to identify a gun model is by the markings engraved on it. These marks show essential information like the serial number, model, manufacturer, and country of origin.

If there’s no identification marking on the weapon, a serial number search may also reveal the model of the gun. You can look up serial numbers on the websites of the gunmaker, the NRA website, and publications like the Blue Book of Values.

Finally, if all things fail, you can take the gun to a renowned gunsmith.

Hey, I’m Jim and the author of this website. I have always been interested in survival, fishing, camping, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up I spent more time on the water than on land! I am also a best-selling author and have a degree in History, Anthropology, and Music. I hope you find value in the articles on this website. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or input!

How to make a gun using keyboard symbol: More than 15 gun symbols

Using emojis in your normal text chat adds another dimension to the conversation. But what if you are talking about guns? Be it guns from the games like Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, or PUBG, you need more emojis since there is just one emoji for guns by default, a measly pistol. In iOS that very pistol is a water gun. So how to make a gun using keyboard symbol?

So to give your texts some options of different guns by using text-based emojis. These are complex positioning of special symbols that we hardly ever use in our texts. While it is very difficult to give a tutorial about making these emojis. It is also very difficult for you to make these symbols every time in your chat. A better way? Just copy these gun symbols and use it whenever you want to. Take a look

Text based gun symbols

Here are some guns made by using keyboard symbols along with their names.

︻̷┻̿═━一 – Beretta M82

━╤デ╦︻ – Rifle with a silencer

/̵͇̿̿/‘̿ – A snub-nosed revolver

/̵͇̿̿/‘̿’̿̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ – A glock

/̵͇̿̿/‘̿̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿ ̿ – Beretta 9mm

︻デ═一 – M10A2 Rifle

▄︻̷̿┻̿═━一 – AWM sniper rifle

︻┻┳══━一 – MacMillan TAC-50

︻╦̵̵͇̿̿̿̿╤── – Automatic machine gun

¯¯̿̿¯̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿’̿̿̿̿̿’̿̿̿)͇̿̿)̿̿̿̿ ‘̿̿̿̿̿̿\̵͇̿̿\ – Heckler and Koch MP5

=ε︻╦̵̵͇̿̿̿̿ ╤─── – M24 sniper

So these were 18 guns made using by keyboard symbols. But if the topic is guns and weapons, why stop at guns? How about some other fun artillery and military vehicles? Here’s a cool tank made just by using keyboard symbols.

So this was how to make a gun using keyboard symbol. Instead of doing all the hard work of meticulously making these symbols using your keyboard, you can just copy these symbols and paste it somewhere.

How to name a gun

In some cases, in-game weapons cannot 100% be linked with one single real-world gun, because the game does not fully match the real-world firearm. Payday’s guns are reportedly often modeled after airsoft guns, which in their own are not 100% accurate representations to begin with.

I am no gun expert, merely just a movie lover and gamer, so while trying to be mostly accurate, I will also try to keep it simple, and look at things from the game’s perspective. Payday is not a scientific weapon simulator. It’s a game, it’s supposed to be fun, so have fun with it.

Weapon titles link to the Payday wiki. If possible, I list real-world name, country of origin and original manufacturer. For more informations, check the Wikia link, or IMFDb and Wikipedia. (In cases like the Krinkov, it also helps to check the Talk pages.)

Note, I mostly stick to basic real names; a) for simplicity, and b) because depending on customization with mod parts, the exact real-world name would change, e.g. the unmodded Lion’s Roar represents the VHS-D2, and the CQB barrel makes it the VHS-K2. That’s why I simply list it as «VHS». Check the Trivia section in the Wikia link to find out which mod turns it to which variant. Sometimes, there’s even Trivia info on the mod part’s page.

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO

The AMCAR is an 11.5 inch barrel variant of the AR-15 family, which seems to be modeled after the Colt 733 from the movie «Heat», similar to the XM177-style mock-ups seen in countless movies and series. «Colt Commando» refers to ultrashort 11.5-inch barrel assault rifles of the Model 733 series. (Regular M4 carbines have an 14.5-inch barrel, while the M16 series has a 20-inch barrel.)

The CAR-4 is based on the AR-15 platform. Due to the highly modular nature, there is no such thing as «the one true» M4 carbine, there are many variants. Note that regular AR-15s can’t equip the folding stock, it’s from the LR-300 assault rifle kit by Z-M, which has a specially designed barrel.

«The rifle that defeated the Nazis,» the M1 was the first military standard-issue semi-automatic rifle. Produced from 1934 to 1956, but mainly during World War II, more than 5 million were made. It was the backbone of the US troops, and its success led to the increased development of semi and full auto firearms. Its reliability kept it in service well into the Vietnam War, until it was replaced by the M14.

The M308 is one of those in-game weapons whose characteristics don’t simply match the real-world counterparts, kind of suggesting that the Payday gang is using (illegally) modified guns.

The M14 was introduced in the 1960’s, developed to replace 4 different guns – an ambitious goal that prooved impossible. It was too powerful to be a SMG, and too light to act as LMG. In 1967, it was replaced by the M16, but the M14 earned some popularity among the troops for its accuracy and effectiveness at long range. (Early M16s had poor reliability, often jamming – Vietnam’s tropical climate sure didn’t help.) The M14 was the last «heavy caliber» battle rifle given to regular troops, later rifles focused on the 5.56 cartridge. It made a post-2000 comeback when the Army suddenly needed DMRs in quantity again, and spawned numerous variants.

The classic M14 has a wooden stock – unlike the in-game variants – and is often used (and seen in movies) as ceremonial gun. It was «virtually uncontrollable» in full-auto mode (Wikipedia), most M14s were permanently set to single fire. Springfield’s M1A is civilian version of the M14, without fire-mode switch. The default M308 mixes an M1A SOCOM 16 + M2A stock, the Jaeger body applies a fictional chassis, and the Abraham body looks like the SOPMOD / EBR variant, which has selective fire.

The Ak 5 is the Swedish version of the FN FNC, and the standard rifle of the Swedish army.

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO

The X95 is Israel’s standard infantry weapon, issued to troops since 2013. The prototype was referred to as MTAR-21. The X95 differs from the older TAR-21 variants by its redesigned stock, grip position and shape, and the vertical forgrip which lacks in-game. TAR-21s are widely used in Indian military.

Beginner’s guide to guns

If you’re brand new to guns (or need a refresher) and want a non-political and rational “for dummies” introduction, this guide is for you.

Maybe you thought you’d never even own a gun until recently. Or you fired your cousin’s shotgun that one time out at the farm 20 years ago and want a refresher before taking on the serious responsibility of gun ownership.

Millions of people of all walks of life have been buying firearms in record numbers as more rational people reject the culture war around this topic and recognize the need for self defense is still very real, even in an ‘advanced’ society. Women, liberals, urbanites, and people of color are some of the fastest growing groups of firearm owners, for example.

Regardless of politics or background, you are welcome here. We believe in modern and responsible gun ownership — and think our communities and civil debates will be much better off if people at least accurately understood the topic of firearms before arguing about or fearing them.

Critical gun safety rules

Before we talk about anything else, you must commit to these simple but very important rules:

Modern, quality firearms do not just fire on their own, even if dropped or bumped. 99.9% of gun accidents are caused by human error. By strictly following those rules, you don’t allow the circumstances where something bad can happen to begin with.

Finger off trigger, muzzle down, no one down range, and an obvious backstop berm

And it’s not the sort of thing where people get more relaxed with those rules as they become more experienced — in fact, the most advanced gun owners are typically the most stubborn about these rules because they know how important this framework is. That’s why you’ll hear old timers angrily call out things like “muzzle discipline!” at the shooting range when someone new waves their barrel in the wrong direction.

It is your responsibility that firearms are safe, secure, and locked away from people or children who shouldn’t get to them. There are 1.7 million children in the US that live in homes with loaded but unlocked firearms. There are often serious legal punishments if you are careless with a gun, like leaving a loaded gun where a small child can access it.

Be prepared. Don’t be a victim.

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The basic steps and gear you need

If you just want to go from “never had a gun” to “the bare minimum to protect myself and be responsible”, this is a typical set of needed gear and steps to take:

How to buy a gun

You can buy in person or online. If you’re totally new to firearms, experts suggest you buy in-person because you can feel how different models fit in your hand and ask questions.

Some gun stores and shooting ranges allow you to rent various guns. That’s a great idea for new shooters so you can get a feel before you buy.

And if you’ve never shot before, don’t worry! Stores love new shooters because you’re a new customer that will keep buying new toys. Just say you’re new at this and looking for help.

Don’t be intimidated by going into a gun shop due to cultural differences. Even if you’re the most pride-flag-waving liberal with your Bernie/Warren 2020 shirt on, any store worth your business will treat you with the same respect as a cowboy in an NRA hat.

Thankfully, the vast majority of legit businesses conduct themselves this way. If they don’t, then say thank you, leave, and share your experience on review sites.

If you do buy online, buy something new from a legit source. There are websites where individuals can sell guns to each other (which still goes through a background check). There are bonafide people and good deals in those marketplaces, but as a new shooter you probably don’t know enough yet to spot the really bad deals. And once you find out it’s probably too late. Guns do go through a lot of wear and tear, after all.

Legal process

Different states and cities have wildly different laws about the types of guns you can buy, who can buy them, what you can do with them, and so on. Some places like San Francisco, Chicago, and D.C. try to ban most or all guns altogether.

Some general requirements:

In almost all cases there will be a criminal background check. You’ll fill out a form and the store will run you through a federal database that usually only takes a few minutes to verify.

Cannabis: Note that even if you live in a state with legal marijuana, it’s still a crime at the federal level. These forms will ask if you are a “user of illegal drugs including marijuana.” There are no drug tests or verification.

Every gun has a serial number. Some states require you to register your gun and serial number in a government database.

Some states require a waiting or “cooling off” period. Which means you pick your gun, pay for it, and do the background check but then you can’t take it home for a while. The political thinking is that if someone is angry and walks into a store to buy a gun, by making them wait 7-10 days to carry it home they will cool off and not commit whatever crime they were intending.

Basic ammo terms: bullets, calibers, and clips vs magazines

Since the whole point of a gun is to make a chunk (or chunks) of metal fly downrange and hit a target, we’ll start there, with the ammunition.

What many people call a bullet is actually called a round. Like a “round” of drinks. But you’ll still hear people use the word bullet as slang for the whole cartridge.

A bullet is the specific part of the round that flies down the barrel and through the air to your target. During the firing process, other parts of the round are left behind and ejected as waste.

Other parts of the round are the casing, which is typically a brass, steel, or plastic housing that holds everything together. “Casing” and “brass” are the two most common lingo names.

Shotgun ammunition is a little different because it fires lots of little projectiles instead of one bullet. That’s why shotguns are used in bird hunting — it’d be too hard to hit a flying bird with just one pellet, so you fire a bunch of pellets at once that spray out in a larger zone.

Shotgun ammunition is called a “shell,” or “shotshell”, and the bullets are called “shot.” But the principles are the same. You have a casing with a primer, gunpowder, and then the projectiles that are launched down the barrel.

Some types of guns — particularly revolvers and shotguns — are designed to hold a few rounds of ammo inside the main body. Other types hold the ammo in a separate, detachable housing that you load into the main body of the gun.

Revolvers don’t use detachable magazines because the ammo storage is built right in.

Those detachable containers are called magazines. Many people make the mistake of calling those clips, but a clip is a specific type of old-school housing you likely won’t ever use.

Most states in the US limit the size of magazines to 10, 15, or 30 rounds in a single container. Their thinking is that by limiting how many rounds are in a single magazine, it makes it harder for a criminal to shoot lots of bullets since they have to take the time to replace an empty magazine with a new one. But that also creates limitations in something like a home-defense situation, too.

Bullet sizes (ammunition types and calibers)

Let’s say you know you want to get a pistol. One of the next big decisions is deciding what kind and size of ammunition you want to shoot.

Since the whole point is to sling metal downrange at a target, what metal you’re slinging can have an impact on everything else: how far it can go, how fast, what kind of sound it makes, what kinds of materials it’s meant to punch through, what the kickback feels like on your arm and shoulder, etc.

Click to expand

Sometimes the differences seem small, like the 9 millimeter round vs. the 10 millimeter round. But these are precision-built machines with exploding parts, so every fraction of a millimeter or extra grain of gunpowder matters.

Shotgun ammo sizes (gauges) work differently

Shotgun ammo types are simpler in that there’s fewer to choose from (only about eight). But the naming convention is often more confusing than standard pistol or rifle bullets, and in many ways is a leftover from before the industrial revolution.

By far, the two most common shotgun sizes are 12 gauge and 20 gauge. A 12 gauge is bigger than a 20, however.

Imagine you start with a one-pound block of lead and want to make spherical pellets to use as shot in a shotgun shell. The bigger you make each ball, the fewer balls you’ll be able to make from a single one-pound block. That’s why the gauge number goes down as the shot size goes up.

Another way to think about it: it would take 20 lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel of a 20-gauge shotgun to weigh one pound.

There are other words involved in shotshell labeling, such as “Buckshot” or “Birdshot.” We go deeper into this in other guides, but the general idea is the label means what they’re meant to hunt. Taking down a buck (deer) takes more force than a bird, so buckshot is configured differently than birdshot. If you shoot a methed-up home intruder with birdshot, for example, they will bleed but might not be hurt enough to go down.

Types of guns

The type of ammo used is typically dependent on the type of gun. Shotgun ammo is always limited to just shotguns. Most pistol and rifle ammo is separate, although there’s a few options that are used in both types.

Since the ammo and goals/role are unique for each category, this is often one of the first decisions new gun owners have to make. Some people might choose a pistol because it’s cheap, simple, and easy to carry, for example, while others might choose a rifle because it’s more versatile and powerful.

Basic gun terms / parts

It’s easy to get in the weeds on all of the little parts and names, but here’s the big stuff you should know as you learn more, make your first purchase, and navigate local laws:

Local gun laws are part of why it’s handy to know these names. Instead of making laws that focus on bad people and what causes them to do bad things, many governments instead regulate the specific mechanical pieces and designs for everyone.

For example, in most places you are not allowed to own a rifle with a barrel less than 16” unless you go through special background checks. And part of what makes the legal difference between a rifle with a short barrel and a pistol with a long barrel is the buttstock — if a gun has a buttstock you hold to your shoulder (creating three points of contact vs. a pistol’s two), it’s generally classified as a rifle and subject to those laws.

Similarly, some places limit or prohibit the use of vertical foregrips or detachable magazines. So if you find yourself in a place like California, you’ll need to learn how local laws regulate “evil features.”

How guns work

Guns work similarly to a car engine:

That “create an explosion in a tight space with only one way to escape” model is the same for firearms.

When you pull the trigger, a mechanical striker or firing pin hits the primer on the bottom/back of a round, sparking the explosion inside the casing. The explosion pushes against the back of the bullet (or the wad in a shotshell), forcing it to separate from the casing.

That energy keeps building as it continues pushing down the barrel. That’s why you might see “muzzle flashes” or small flames coming out of the end of the barrel as the bullet escapes — that’s the leftover gas quickly burning off now that it has room.

In fact, that’s why bullet speed and barrel length are often correlated. The more time a bullet and the gas/energy behind it are kept in that one-way-escape tube, the more time the bullet has to gain speed (and stability) before the energy is dispersed in the air.

Single shot vs. semi auto vs. full auto

What happens after the explosion pushes the bullet/shot out of the barrel? There has to be some kind of reset to eject the leftover casing and make room for a new round to fire. How that happens is the difference between labels like semi-auto or full-auto.

Think about the old-school guns used back in the 1700-1800s. You’ve seen in movies how people would fire one shot, then take an absurd amount of time to reload the gun. Fire, manually reload, fire, manually reload, repeat.

Those are single-shot guns. The gun doesn’t “do” anything else once it’s fired. You have to do a physical movement with your hand to eject the old round and bring in a new one.

Classic pump shotguns are single-action since you manually cycle it for each shot

There are still guns like that today. The main benefit is better accuracy since there are fewer moving pieces during the explosion, which should (in theory) help keep the muzzle more stable. That’s why most precision rifles are single-shot “bolt-action” guns.

Bolt-action rifles require this motion before each shot

In a car engine, the momentum gained from the first explosion is what helps the machine rotate around and reset itself for the next cycle.

The fundamental innovation that took us from 1800s-style guns to modern weapons is similar. Instead of letting the gas only escape in one direction (out the barrel), designers add a second escape path in the opposite direction. Newton’s Third Law of Physics says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So the same force pushing the bullet towards the front is also pushing backwards towards your body.

Semi-automatic and fully-automatic guns take advantage of that rearward force, using it to perform other mechanical actions such as physically ejecting the just-fired waste casing. So it becomes a loop that feeds and resets itself every time a bullet is fired.

Which brings us to semi-auto versus full-auto:

A well-trained person using a semi-auto gun in ideal conditions can fire up to 100 rounds per minute. In reality, you might max out at 40-50 rounds per minute (and even then you’ll be limited by magazines etc.)

Full-auto guns can shoot hundreds or even thousands of rounds per minute — just like a car engine that can cycle thousands of times per minute.

But that’s why full-auto guns are illegal basically everywhere. If you have to pull the trigger for each bullet, that theoretically makes things ‘safer’ than if you could just squeeze once and send a lot of bullets firing very quickly.

There are some minor exclusions for older grandfathered weapons (eg. built before 1986), but you have to pay a huge amount of money, go through years-long background checks, your home can be searched at any time without a warrant, you can’t cross state lines without permission, etc. It’s extraordinarily rare for a full-auto weapon to be used in a crime.

Single action vs. double action

Cocking a gun is the process of putting the hammer or striker (basically the same thing) in a spring-loaded position, so that when you pull the trigger, that hammer/striker can fly forward to hit the ammo primer and cause a spark.

So there are two mechanical actions here: spring-loading the striker, and then pulling the trigger to release it.

A weapon will be classified as single action or double action based on whether or not you can do both of those actions in one mechanical motion, or if you have to use your hand to physically cock the gun before pulling the trigger.

Classic revolvers have the hammer protruding out the back, so you can use your thumb to cock the weapon. This gif shows a single action:

A double action firearm is one where you can both cock and release the hammer/striker with just a trigger pull. The first part of the trigger pull cocks the hammer, while the end of the pull releases it. That means you can take a gun from uncocked to cocked and fired with just one finger pull.

Notice how this double-action trigger cocks the hammer back before firing it

For most of the weapons you’ll use, this only matters for the first trigger pull (taking the gun from cold to hot) because the semi-auto reset cycle will cock the trigger for your follow-up shots. That means you might have a double action gun that uses on the first pull but then becomes a SA on the following pulls.

Assault rifles, assault weapons, and AR15s vs AK47s

We’re specifically calling out assault rifles and AR-15s because there is a ton of disinformation in gun conversations (both innocent and intentional).

First, there is no real definition for an “assault weapon” — it’s simply a made up term people use for guns they think are more dangerous than others. Even though two different models might use the same type of bullet that has the same type of power, speed, and capacity, weapons that look like they’re from the military or an action movie often look scarier to people who don’t understand. They’re sometimes referred to as “black guns” because they tend to be a solid black color and made entirely of metal, instead of a more traditional wood design, and that somehow looks more dangerous.

It’s true that some guns have more destructive potential than others. A small revolver, for example, is not designed for large-scale self-defense the way an AR-15 is. But people often let perceptions override logic.

“Assault rifle” does have a definition, but almost everyone misuses the label. In reality, an assault rifle must have certain criteria, such as “select fire” functionality that lets the user switch from semi-auto to full-auto mode — but those features are already very strictly controlled by law and mostly left to the military and law enforcement, so very few civilians actually have an assault rifle.

A civilian AR-15 is a specific type of semi-automatic rifle. The AR does not stand for Assault Rifle. It actually stands for ArmaLite, the company that first designed them. Over time it became the most popular rifle platform in the western world and hundreds of companies now make their own variations of the AR-15 design. You can buy an AR-15 part from one company and it will usually work with an AR-15 part from another company.

So the name AR-15 has become one of those ubiquitous names like Tylenol or Xerox, and it morphed over time to mean any rifle based on that design. Many ignorant media reports will even refer to “scary” guns as an AR-15 even though the specific model is not even in the same category.

An AK-47 is basically the Russian equivalent of the AR-15. It has some design differences (the parts are not interchangeable) but fulfills essentially the same role. The AK-47 was cheap to make and maintain, which was important in the Soviet Union. It became very popular in the former Soviet countries and has since spread on the black market to be the weapon of choice for Middle Eastern terrorists, African warlords, etc.

Suppressors and “silencers”

What movies call “silencers” are actually called suppressors — mostly because you can’t make an explosion silent, you can only muffle it.

Remington 700 single-shot rifle with a suppressor on end of barrell

Adding a suppressor (or “can” in slang) to a firearm does not make it whisper silent. At best, a suppressor will reduce the overall noise to a level that won’t medically hurt your ears and it eliminates the sonic boom created by some faster-than-sound bullets.
For example, many people’s “bedside gun” uses a naturally-quieter weapon/caliber paired with a suppressor. That way if you have to fend off a home invader, you don’t blow out your and your family’s eardrums or have to rely on putting on earmuffs in the moment.

In yet another example of the disconnect between reality and the fear/media/legislation around firearms, suppressors are heavily regulated in the US under NFA laws because of this perception that suppressors somehow make the public less safe. This comes in part from movie tropes about stealthy assassins with whisper-quiet pewpews, even though there’s no data to suggest cans correlate with violence.

Contrast that with Europe — which generally has much stricter gun laws than the US — where you can just buy a suppressor over the counter without any fuss.

That’s because the only real value of a can is to make shooting safe on the ears. That’s why some in the US Congress are trying to pass the Hearing Protection Act.

Sources and footnotes:

Firearms parts and components. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Feb 2019.