C.A.L.M. An Introduction to Firearms

Rules of Firearm Handling - Treat all firearms as if they are loaded. - Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to fire. - Keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times. - Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

Anatomy of Firearm Hammer Frame Muzzle Barrel Trigger Cylinder Grip Firearms 101 3 Anatomy of Firearm Hammer Frame Muzzle Barrel While there are different kinds of firearms, most share a basic anatomy. In pistols, the cylinder is replaced by the chamber which holds one cartridge at a time in firing position, just like the cylinder in the revolver. Trigger Cylinder Grip

Double Action Revolver This is a double action revolver – pulling the trigger serves both to cock and discharge the firearm

Revolver Cocked

Revolver Unloaded As you can see, there are no cartridges (containing the bullets) in the cylinder

Revolver Loaded

Unloading a Revolver Unloading a revolver requires pushing down on the plunger pictured on the left which release all the cartridges

Semi-Automatic “On Safe” The safety is the small lever on the upper right of this semi-automatic

Semi-Automatic “Off Safe” Here, the safety has been turned OFF, revealing the RED (or ready) dot indicating that the gun is “HOT” and ready to fire

Semi-Automatic with Slide Open To begin to shoot a semi-automatic, the slide must be pulled back to load the first cartridge into the chamber. After the first shot, subsequent cartridges are automatically “chambered” or loaded.

Semi-Automatic with Loaded Magazine The magazine which holds the cartridges (see the one visible at the top of the magazine) must be inserted into the pistol’s grip. A typical magazine may hold 7 to 10 cartridges. Some can hold more.

Semi-Auto with Cartridge in Chamber Even when the magazine is removed, there may still be a cartridge in the chamber. This has led to many unintentional shootings even among those who are well-trained.

Pump Action Shot Gun Firearms 101 14 Long guns – shot guns and rifles – can also be used for suicide, particularly among young people who generally use what is most accessible to them.