SHOTGUN TERMS

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

Barrel Selector- determines which barrel of a double barrel gun 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 design and intended use

Box-Lock a type of gun action, often recognizeable by its squarred appearance

Breech- the end of the barrel nearest the stock

Broken Gun- 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 box, providing access to the chamber

Improved Cylinder- least constricted of the described 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 barrelled shotgun with one barrel placed over the other

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

Recoil- the force with which the gun moves backwards in the shoulder when fired

Safety- a safety device that, in the "on" position prevents the gun from firing

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

Shot- round projectiles, usually of lead or steel

Shot Pattern- the concentration of 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 gun

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

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