breechloaders
Guns loaded behind
Breechloaders are firearms loaded from the rear of the barrel rather than the muzzle.
This design, which became standard in the mid-19th century, allows faster reloading and loading while prone or behind cover.
The term distinguishes these weapons from muzzleloaders, which require ramming ammunition down the barrel from the front.
Sealed container for supplies
- bolt-actionManual rifle mechanism
- lever-actionFirearm cycling mechanism
- hingeMovable connecting joint
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
ejector · extractor · action · repeating · loading · receiver · trapdoor
Sealed container for supplies
- bulletFired metal projectile
- shellHard outer covering
- caseContainer or instance
- primerPreparatory coat or guide
powder · caliber · bore · grain · charge · projectile · brass · centerfire
Sound through impact
- riflingBarrel's helical grooves
- self-containedWhole without external parts
- gunsmithingFirearm repair craft
- SpringfieldCommon American placename
centerfire · rimfire · patent · prototype · standardization · mass-production · industrialization
Long gun firing shot
- rifleLong-barreled shoulder weapon
- gamekeeperEstate wildlife manager
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- wildfowlHunted aquatic birds
safari · fieldcraft · double-barrel · over-under · side-by-side · game · pheasant · grouse
cartridge
Sealed container for supplies
- bolt-actionManual rifle mechanism
- lever-actionFirearm cycling mechanism
- hingeMovable connecting joint
chamber · ejector · extractor · action · repeating · loading · receiver · trapdoor
cartridge
Sealed container for supplies
primer · powder · caliber · bore · grain · charge · projectile · brass · centerfire · rimfire
percussion
Sound through impact
- riflingBarrel's helical grooves
- self-containedWhole without external parts
- gunsmithingFirearm repair craft
Springfield · centerfire · rimfire · patent · prototype · standardization · mass-production · industrialization
shotgun
Long gun firing shot
- rifleLong-barreled shoulder weapon
- gamekeeperEstate wildlife manager
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
wildfowl · safari · fieldcraft · double-barrel · over-under · side-by-side · game · pheasant · grouse · deer
rifle
Long-barreled shoulder weapon
- carbineShort-barreled lightweight firearm
- musketMuzzle-loaded infantry firearm
- infantryGround combat troops
cavalry · artillery · ordnance · volley · salvo · armament · munition · regiment · battlefield · tactics
breechloadersmuzzleloaders
Guns loaded via barrel
muzzle-loaders · flintlocks · matchlocks · muskets · blunderbusses