Parts of a Rifle

The rifle shares parts with the shotgun and the handgun, but it also has some parts that are all its own. Here are the parts that make up one of the most common types of rifles, the bolt action rifle. Learning the parts of the rifle is important for anyone wishing to own or use one, and in fact, many gun safety courses require that you know all of the parts of the rifle before you can pass their certification.

Major Parts of the Rifle

The Muzzle: The first part that we are going to talk about is the muzzle of the rifle. This is the end of the barrel where whichever projectile that you are using, like a bullet or shot, exits the gun. The muzzle is likely named after the process of muzzling a dog, or making it quiet, although the etymology or the term is somewhat unknown.

The Barrel : The barrel is the long round metal tube that the projectile travels through. The barrel of a rifle has grooves on the inside that began the spiral of the projectile. Sending a projectile that is spiraling through the air will make it more accurate and will also make it travel farther than if you sent the ammunition down a smooth barrel like in a musket.

The Forestock : The forestock extends along the barrel and underneath and is in front of the receiver. You hold onto the forestock to support the gun while you are firing it. The forestock will usually be made of wood, such as walnut or beech but can be made up of other materials such as laminated wood or synthetic materials that resemble the wood.

The Magazine : The magazine is the part of the rifle that holds the ammunition until it has been loaded into the chamber. Generally, the magazine will be made up of a box or a tube and it is attached to the receiver. You can find the magazine by looking underneath the rifle, in front of the trigger and on the forestock.

The Trigger : The part that almost everyone knows by name on a gun is the trigger. The trigger is a small metal lever that is depressed in order to make the gun fire. Most guns have a safety button that can be changed in order to lock the trigger into place and keep it from firing. Some guns have two triggers for various purposes. An example from history is the double barrel double trigger flintlock pistol.

The Trigger Guard : The trigger guard is a metal ring that is shaped to fit around the trigger and it protects the gun from being fired automatically. If the gun had no trigger guard, the mere act of setting it on the ground could depress the trigger and fire the weapon.

The Butt of the Rifle : On the other end of the gun, opposite the muzzle that we have already talked about is the butt of the rifle. This is the back end of the stock and is the part of the gun that you press against your shoulder when you fire to keep the gun steady.

The Safety : The safety on a rifle is a mechanical device that locks into place and keeps the trigger from being pulled. This is a standard feature on guns today, and comes from the fact that in the past, guns could be fired accidentally. The safety may lock the trigger itself or it may lock the hammer so that it cannot come down. Either way, you should always be cautious even when the safety is engaged in case it fails.

The Bolt Handle : The bolt handle is found on a bolt action rifle, and the gun bears the name because of it. This is the part of the rifle that you pull back so that you can open the bolt action. The lever is made of metal and usually has a knob on the end of it to prevent fingers from slipping when the bolt lever is being pulled.

The Bolt : The Bolt is the other half of the bolt handle, and is the part of the rifle that actually moves the cartridge into the chamber. The bolt is located on the top part of the rifle and you can find it by looking at the very rear of the barrel behind where the chamber rests.

The Chamber : The chamber is the next part of the rifle to discuss. This is the part of the gun that is directly in front of the bolt and is for the most part out of sight. The job of the chamber is to hold the cartridge or shot shell in an area just before it is shot. The chamber is located at the base of the barrel.

The Sight : The last main part of the rifle is an important one as well. It is the sight of the rifle, and it is located on the end of the barrel on the top of the gun. While the sight does have another section to it, closer to the trigger, it is usually just the section on the end that is called the sight. These pieces are metal and allow you to line up a target using both of them to be able to accurately hit it. Some rifles are instead, or additionally, equipped with scopes that allow you to sign much more accurately.

Other Rifle Parts

The Bore : The bore is the part of the rifle in which the projectile travels when it is fired, essentially the inner part of the barrel.

Breech : The breech is the name of the part of the gun that is the rear end of the barrel, inside the gun.

Firing Pin : A piece of the gun with an important job to do is the firing pin. The firing pin strikes the cartridge primer which causes it to ignite.

Receiver : The working parts of the bolt action are housed in an area of the rifle that is called the receiver.