a) The area within a weapon the cartridge enters prior to firing.
b) to chamber, the act of closing the action of a weapon, especially a bolt-action rifle, thus inserting the cartridge into the chamber of the weapon.
Cartridge
A self-contained cylinder, commonly made from brass, containing the primer, powder and the bullet.
Primer
The powder in the base of the cartridge which when hit by the striker ignites, thus triggering a chain reaction igniting the main powder in the body of the cartridge.
Primer pocket
The pocket within the cartridge the primer is contained within.
Bullet
Usually made of lead, occasionally with a jacket of a cupro-nickel alloy, designed to be expelled from the gun by the detonation of the powder within the cartridge.
Striker
Long pin-form piece of hardened metal, designed to punch into the base of the cartridge and detonate the primer.
Mainspring
a) The main spring inside the body of an air rifle which, when compressed and released, compresses the air behind the pellet thus forcing it out of the barrel.
b) The spring which propels the striker into the cartridge.
Bolt
The general name for the action of a bolt-action rifle, which usually looks like the bolt from a garden gate.
Stock
The part of the weapon designed to be held onto, esp. the fore-end and the pistol-grip
Pistol-grip
The grip of the weapon designed to be held with the trigger hand.
Fore-end
The portion of the stock designed to be held with the non-trigger hand.
Sights
Used to aim the weapon. Consists of fore-sight at the front of the weapon and rear- or back-sight at the rear end of the weapon.
