Ballistics Vocabulary Flashcards

Key vocabulary and terms related to ballistics and firearms.

Flintlock

Early gun using sparks from flint to ignite powder.

Matchlock

First firearm using a wick to light gunpowder.

Muzzleloaders

Guns where the shooter manually packed powder and bullets.

Breechloaders

Modern firearms loaded from the rear of the barrel.

Handgun

Small firearm held and operated with one hand.

Rifle

A long-barrel gun that fires bullets with precision.

Revolver

A pistol with a rotating chamber for multiple rounds.

Semiautomatic

Fires one round per trigger pull.

Automatic

Fires continuously while the trigger is held.

Ballistics

Study of firearms, bullets, and their movement.

Bullet

The projectile propelled from a firearm.

Casing

The shell left behind after a bullet is fired.

Gunpowder

The chemical propellant in a cartridge.

Primer

Ignites the gunpowder when struck.

Cartridge

Contains the bullet, primer, casing, and powder.

Caliber

The diameter of the barrel and bullet.

Rifling

Spiral grooves inside a barrel that spin the bullet.

Bore

Internal diameter of a gun barrel.

Breech

Rear part of the barrel where cartridges are loaded.

GSR (Gunshot Residue)

Powder and residue from firing a gun.

Gravity

Affects a bullet’s curved path over long distances.

NIBIN

National Integrated Ballistics Information Network – FBI database for bullet and casing evidence.

IBIS

Integrated Ballistics Identification System – Stores bullet image data.

Pythagorean Theorem

Used to calculate bullet trajectories.