Firearms Functioning, Maintenance, and Safety Study Guide

Classifications and Definitions of Firearms Under Licenses E and D

There are four primary categories of firearms defined by how they operate and cycle ammunition. An automatic firearm is one that reloads automatically after every shot and can fire several shots in succession with a single pull of the trigger. In contrast, a semiautomatic firearm also reloads automatically after each discharge but only permits a single shot to be fired for every individual trigger pull.

A repetition firearm is defined as a weapon that reloads after each shot through a mechanism specifically operated or actuated by the shooter. Finally, a single-shot firearm is a weapon without a magazine or ammunition depot; it must be loaded before every shot by manually introducing a cartridge into the chamber or into a specialized housing located at the entrance of the barrel.

Principal Components and Groups of Firearms

The barrel ($cañón$) is the fundamental element of a firearm designed to guide and stabilize the projectile during discharge. The end of the barrel where the cartridge is housed is known as the chamber ($recámara$), while the opposite end where the projectile exits is called the muzzle ($boca$). Firearms designed for long-range rifled hunting typically feature a chamber shaped specifically to match the shape of the cartridge.

The buttstock ($culata$) serves a practical ergonomic purpose by allowing the shooter to support the weapon against their shoulder to stabilize it for firing. Within the structure of the weapon, the trigger ($disparador$) is shielded by a part known as the trigger guard ($guardamonte$). In the internal mechanism of a magazine-fed rifle, the magazine spring serves to maintain constant pressure on the cartridges and elevates them to place them correctly in front of the chamber for feeding.

Specific Mechanisms and Barrel Features

Shotgun barrels characteristically have bores ($ánimas$) that may be either smooth or rifled. However, the barrels of a rifle are strictly rifled ($estriadas$). In shotguns, a feature known as the choke consists of the narrowing or constriction of the muzzle ($estrangulamiento de la boca de fuego$) to control the spread of the shot. Semiautomatic rifles, by contrast, lack a choke mechanism.

In semiautomatic shotguns, the bolt ($cerrojo$) is a complex component containing the firing pin ($percutor$), the extractor, and the locking block ($grapón$). For over-and-under ($superpuestas$) shotguns, a ventilated intermediate band is often placed between the barrels. This band serves a dual purpose: the refrigeration of the barrels to dissipate heat and the mitigation of the effects of lateral winds.

Loading, Feeding, and Percussion Systems

The process of preparing a weapon for use involves distinct states. A weapon is considered "fed" ($alimentada$) when it has ammunition stored within its feeding mechanism. It is considered "armed" or "cocked" ($montada$) when the firing and percussion mechanisms are in a functional position and ready to fire. Cargar (loading) and Alimentar (feeding) are distinct actions; loading refers to the act of cocking or preparing the weapon to fire, while feeding refers specifically to the introduction of cartridges into the magazine or depot.

In a rifle, the bolt is the piece that drags the cartridge into the chamber. The percussion mechanism, located inside the bolt, consists of the firing pin ($percutor$) and the firing pin spring ($muelle del percutor$). For big-game long-rifled weapons, the system typically utilizes central percussion ($percusión central$). To remove a cartridge, the extractor claw ($uña extractora$) engages the rim or base of the cartridge while it is in the chamber. In semiautomatic shotguns, the casing is ejected through the ejection port ($ventana de expulsión$) by utilizing the force of the recoil to move the bolt.

Sighting, Safety, and Fundamental Legal Parts

Aiming a weapon involves the sighting mechanism. The rear sight ($alza$) is the component used to regulate the displacement of an impact both in terms of height (elevation) and lateral position (windage). To transmit the movement from the trigger to the internal firing mechanism, a part called the sear ($fiador$) or a linkage bar ($biela$) is utilized.

According to the Weapons Regulations ($Reglamento de Armas$), fundamental parts are strictly defined for legal purposes. For a shotgun, the fundamental parts are the barrel ($cañón$) and the receiver or action ($báscula$). For a rifle, the fundamental parts are the barrel ($cañón$) and the bolt ($cerrojo$). Other parts, such as the buttstock or the sighting elements, are not legally considered fundamental parts.

A manual safety ($seguro manual$) is a device that allows the shooter to block the functioning of the firing mechanism at will, preventing a shot even if the weapon is armed. On some weapons, a safety position marked with "S" indicates the weapon cannot fire. Some rifles may also feature one or two holes in the front of the receiver designed to allow gases to escape safely in the event of a cartridge rupture.

Maintenance and Conservation Practices

Proper care of a firearm is essential for safety and longevity. The interior of the barrel is cleaned using a specialized rod known as a cleaning rod ($baqueta$). Wooden portions of the firearm should be maintained using linseed oil ($aceite de linaza$). It is vital to clean and grease a weapon as soon as possible after it has been exposed to moisture or rain during hunting to prevent oxidation.

One critical warning regarding maintenance is to avoid dry-firing (firing the weapon while the chamber is empty), as this can lead to the breakage of the firing pin ($aguja percutora$). If the operation of a specific firearm is unknown, it should never be manipulated by the individual.

Safety Measures in Storage, Transport, and Handling

Safety protocol dictates that every weapon must be handled as if it were always loaded. Whenever a weapon is picked up, the first action must be to confirm that it is unloaded. When picking up a firearm, the finger must never be placed on the trigger. During the closing of a shotgun, the muzzle should always be pointed toward the ground ($suelo$). When firing a big-game rifle, the shooter must strictly ensure they can visualize the impact zone of the projectile.

Storage of Category 2.2 weapons must occur within the owner's home inside a homologated gun safe ($armero homologado$). Weapons must be stored unloaded and unfed. For transport in a vehicle, weapons must always be unloaded. They should never be left in a parked vehicle's trunk on a public road overnight. Finally, the safest place to clean a firearm is in a room where the individual is alone, thereby preventing accidents involving others.