Reference library
Guides to rifles, shotguns, handguns, ammunition, optics and archery, plus hunting know-how by species for the United States and Canada. Every page lists the sources behind it.
Guide · Rifles
A single-shot rifle holds one cartridge in the chamber and must be loaded manually for each shot. The main types differ in how they open the breech: break actions hinge open, falling blocks move a breechblock down and up, and rolling blocks rotate a breechblock to expose the chamber.
Guide · Rifles
Gas-operated semi-automatic rifles use propellant gas to unlock, extract, eject, feed and lock the action after each shot. The main concepts are internal gas systems such as the AR-15/M16 family, short-stroke piston systems such as the FN SCAR, and long-stroke piston systems such as the Galil ACE.
Guide · Scopes and Optics
Exit pupil is the bright circle of light leaving a scope or binocular eyepiece. It helps explain brightness, low light use and forgiving eye position, but it is only one part of optical performance.
Guide · Firearm Safety and Storage
Gun safe humidity matters because moisture supports metal corrosion, while very dry or unstable storage can harm wood and other organic materials. A practical target for many mixed firearm collections is about 40 to 55 percent relative humidity, managed with safe placement, desiccants, heated rods, and regular inspections.
Guide · Handguns
A revolver works by rotating a chambered cylinder so one chamber lines up with the barrel and firing pin before each shot. The hand turns the cylinder, the cylinder stop or latch locks it in alignment, the hammer and firing pin fire the cartridge, and the ejector rod helps remove cartridges or fired cases.
Article · Rifles
The AMD-65 is a Hungarian Kalashnikov-pattern rifle associated with the AKM family and with armored infantry and paratrooper use. Its short barrel, metal folding stock, perforated fore end, and vertical foregrip make it one of the easiest AK variants to recognize.
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