How Well Do You Know Your Bullets and Firearms?

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Well Do You Know Your Bullets and Firearms?
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About This Quiz

The first firearm dates as far back as the 10th century in China where soldiers used bamboo tubes which contained gunpowder and small pellet projectiles. By the 13th century, metal-barreled hand cannons were created and so begins the story of the true firearm.

Today these weapons come in a wide variety including handguns, machine guns, rifles (including automatic and assault), shotguns and carbines. Guns can be described by the type of action employed as well as their caliber. They can also be grouped by the firing mechanism, the type of barrel and barrel length. 

A bullet, on the other hand, is the ammunition which goes into the firearm. The word bullet comes from the word boulle which means "small ball" and is made up of several components including the bullet, the propellant which is typically gunpowder or cordite, the rim and the primer, which ignites the propellant and the cartridge which holds all the parts together.

How well do you know your firearms and bullets? Would you be able to correctly answer questions about these weapons if you were asked? Well here's your opportunity to prove how much of an expert you are on all things rifles and their ammunition. Take this quiz to test your knowledge. 

Primers may be located in what areas of the cartridge?
Center and Rim
Port and Bow
Center and Length
Rim and Point
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Primers may be located in either the center or the rim of the cartridge. They are referred to as centerfire and rimfire.

Solid metal within a cartridge refers to which of the following?
Birdshot
Buckshot
Slug
Cannonball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Solid metal within a cartridge refers to a slug.

A bullet with lead that shows at the tip would be called what?
Soft point
Bird shot
Buck shot
Slug
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bullet with lead that shows at the tip would be called a soft point. It was designed to flatten upon impact.

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Which of the following is the most common shotgun round?
12-gauge
10-gauge
8-gauge
6-gauge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

12-gauge is the most common shotgun round.

A bullet is actually which of the following?
Case
Primer
Propellant
Projectile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bullet is a projectile. It is the only part of the cartridge that is actually projected.

Which of the following metals is typically NOT used to make bullet casings?
Brass
Nickel
Gold
Steel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gold is typically not used to make bullet casings.

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Which of the following would be better for hunting than self-defense?
.44 Remington Magnum
.357 Magnum
.38 Special
.40 Smith & Wesson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The .44 Remington Magnum would be better for hunting than self defense. It might be too powerful for the average user.

What is the technical name for the thing that holds a bullet?
cartridge
smasher
shooter
propeller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bullet is a component of the cartridge. The cartridge also contains a propellant and a primer.

Which of the following is a hand-operated firearm?
Revolver
Rifle
Carbine
Machine gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A pistol is a hand-operated firearm. The bullets are housed in revolving chambers.

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What type of gun fires one bullet every time the trigger is pulled?
Automatic
Semi-automatic
Assault weapon
Cannon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A semi-automatic fires one bullet every time the trigger is pulled.

Many little metal balls within a cartridge refers to which of the following?
Birdshot
Buckshot
Slug
Minnie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many small metal balls within a cartridge refers to birdshot.

Which of the following is used in revolvers?
Hand round
Shooter
.38 Special
1500
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The .38 Special is the most common ammo for revolvers. It was once standard issue for FBI agents.

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.357 revolvers can also shoot which of the following types of ammo?
.38 Special
.422
.355
12 gauge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

.357 revolvers can also shoot .38 Special ammo.

What is the bullet weight of the twenty-two long rifle?
one grain
70-100 grains
30-40 grains
seven grains
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The twenty-two long rifle has a bullet weight around 30 to 40 grains. It is an inexpensive bullet and useful for beginners.

What type of gun uses pneumatic pressure to launch a projectile?
BB gun
Rifle
Handgun
Uzi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A BB gun uses pneumatic pressure to launch a projectile. It is a type of air gun.

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What firearm modification is used to hide the flash from the shot?
Flash suppressor
Muzzle loader
Brake
Silencer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A flash suppressor is used to hide the flash from a shot. It is attached to the muzzle of the firearm.

Larger metal balls within a cartridge refers to which of the following?
Birdshot
Buckshot
Slug
Maxie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Larger metal balls within a cartridge refers to buckshot.

An "Uzi" is what type of gun?
Cannon
Handgun
Submachine gun
Rifle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An Uzi is a submachine gun.

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What does caliber mean?
Diameter
Length
Weight
Color
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Caliber refers to the diameter of the barrel. Ammo size must match barrel size.

Which of the following is a bullet's "ignition"?
Case
Primer
Propellant
Projectile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The primer is a bullet's ignition. It is the small bump on the base of the bullet.

What type of gun will fire bullets for as long as the trigger is pulled?
Automatic
Semi-automatic
Cannon
Revolver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A gun that fires as long as the trigger is pulled is an automatic. A machine gun is an automatic.

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Which of the following refers to gunpowder within a bullet?
Case
Primer
Propellant
Projectile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gunpowder is a propellant. The Chinese were the first to use gunpowder.

Which term describes a bullet that is a hollow point covered in plastic?
Full Metal Jacket
Hollow Point
Open Tip
Ballistic Tip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A ballistic tip is a bullet that is a hollow point covered in plastic. It looks like a Full Metal Jacket.

.22LR stands for which of the following?
Twenty-two long range
Twenty-two long rifle
Twenty-two lever rifle
Twenty-two listing rifle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Twenty-two long rifle is a very common caliber. It is often used for newbies.

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Which term describes a bullet that expands when it hits a target?
Full Metal Jacket
Hollow Point
Open Tip
Ballistic Tip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hollow points are made to expand when they hit something. They are commonly used by police.

Bullet weight is defined using what term?
Pound
Ounce
Grain
Gram
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bullet weight is defined in grains.

Which type of bullet would have an alloy core?
Soft Point
Armor Piercing
Lead
Hollow Point
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Armor piercing bullets have an alloy core. Most bullets have a lead core.

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What type of bullet is tapered at the end so that it is stabilized?
Hollow point
Boat tail
Armor piercing
Lead
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Boat tail bullets are tapered at the end. This allows the bullet to fly with stability.

What type of firearm might be used exclusively for trick shooting?
Cannon
Shotgun
Single action revolver
Machine gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A single action revolver is almost exclusively used only for trick shooting.

What can happen if a bullet has an air bubble in its core?
It can explode
It can pop
It can fly unpredictably
It can leak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bullet with an air bubble or with an uneven jacket will be off balance. It may not travel along the intended trajectory when fired.

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The acronym, ACP, refers to which of the following?
Automatic Caliber Pistol
Automatic Colt Prop
Angler Colt Pistol
Automatic Colt Pistol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Automatic Colt Pistol is a handgun cartridge. It was designed by John Browning in 1905.

Which caliber is considered to be just right for many gun enthusiasts?
.22
.25
9mm
Hand grenade
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A 9mm cartridge is the same size as the .38 special. Many police use 9mm cartridges.

Which term describes a bullet that is softer, surrounded by a harder casing?
Full Metal Jacket
Hollow Point
Open Tip
Ballistic Tip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Full metal jacket is the most common type of bullet. They are typically made of lead and copper.

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Which is less expensive - full metal jackets or hollow points?
hollow points
full metal jackets
they're about the same
depends on the caliber
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Full metal jacket rounds are less expensive. Therefore, they're often used for practice shooting.

The word "ballistics" is from a Greek word meaning what?
to shoot
to spit
to throw
to kill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "ballistics" is from a Greek word meaning "to throw." Bullets follow an arced path.

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