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Contents

  • Understanding Basic Parts of a Gun

About the Author

OpticsPlanet Guest Expert

OpticsPlanet utilizes many guest experts to provide high quality informative content on products that we sell, how to choose the right one for your use, and provide expert advice and tips. OpticsPlanet guest experts cover a wide range of topics from microscopes for discovering the world of cells and other micro organisms to telescopes for exploring the vast universe, which our planet is a part of. Whether you are an amateur or an expert, we're sure you will find useful information among all of the articles that our guest authors have created.

Tags

  • gun parts
  • rifle parts
  • infographic
  • handgun parts
  • shotgun parts

Understanding Basic Parts of a Gun

For this post, we’ve put together a series of infographics to identify gun parts in different types of firearms. From long guns to pistols and revolvers, we’ve got you covered. While gun parts vary depending on model or manufacturer, we set out to identify basic external parts as well as controls. In the end, you’ll walk away with a general idea of any rifle parts, shotgun parts, or handgun partsimage

Looking at the infographics, you might notice a few things. First off, we’re combining rifles and shotguns under the catchall “long guns.” While it’s a standard term to describe both rifles and shotguns, the real reason is that they use pretty much the same parts and controls. It’s mainly the internal parts that are different (because they shoot different types of ammo).

With handguns, however, we opted to separate them into three groups: hammer-fired pistols, striker-fired pistols, and revolvers. Normally, you might see them categorized as either pistols or revolvers. Nonetheless, hammer-fired and striker-fired pistols are both very common yet different enough to merit their own graphic. This gives you a solid understanding of most guns you will encounter, letting you make an informed decision in every purchase.

Hammer-Fired Pistol Parts Infographic

Hammer fired pistol parts

Rifle Parts & Shotgun Parts Infographic

rifle parts shotgun parts

Striker-Fired Pistol Parts Infographic

striker fired pistol parts

Long Guns Parts by Action Infographic

rifle actions shotgun actions

Revolver Parts Infographic

revolver parts

Upgrade Your Knowledge & Gear With OpticsPlanet!

If you want to learn more about the basics of firearms and shooting skills, check out OpticsPlanet’s library of How-To Guides. In it, you’ll learn basics like gun terminology, the differences in shotgun shells, how to clean a Glock, and much more. If you have more questions about gear or training, send them directly through our Contact Us page.

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