Classification of FirearmsThree System of Power or Actuation in Conventional

Small ArmsA. Gas Operated

- An automatic or semi-automatic firearm with a locked breech, that uses smallamount of
expanding gas, created by the burning powder charge to cycle the action. Example M16
rifle or Armalite

B. Recoil Operated

- a locked breech semi-automatic or automatic system, using a portion of the

recoilenergy to cycle the action. Ex. Machinegun invented by Hiram Maxim in 1884.

C. Blowback Operated

- a semi-automatic or automatic system, in which the breech is not lockedduring the

firing, but held close only by the recoil spring and the weight of the bolt. Ex. Ultimax.

Two General Classification of Firearms

(According to Interior Barrel Construction)

1.Smooth Bore Firearms =

Firearms that have no rifling (lands and grooves) inside their gun barrel.Examples:
Shotguns and Musket

2. Rifled Bore Firearms

= Firearms that have rifling inside their gun

barrel. Examples: Pistols, Revolvers, and other modern weapons.

Main Types of Firearms(According to the Caliber of the projectile propelled)1.

Artillery =

Refers to those type of firearms that propels projectile with more than one inch
diameter.Examples:

Cannons

- this is the first European firearm pre dated by many decades prior to the development
ofsmall arms.

Mortars

- developed by the U.S during the Second World War and termed it “little david”

Bazooka

- this is a lightweight rocket launcher Invented in America. It was first used in the battle
againstGermen tank in North Africa. The term bazooka was then derived from the
weapons resemblance to musicalprop of an American Comedian Bob Burns in the early
1940’s.

Howitzer

- this is a cannon used to deliver shells loaded along a parabolic trajectory.

Missile-
An object as a weapon, thrown or projected to a target at a distance.

Guided Missile-

a missile whose course maybe altered during the flight.

Pyrotechnic pistol

- pyrotechnic is a Greek word for firework, this is designed to fire fireworks for
thepurpose of illuminating, marking and signalling during military operation.

2. Small Arms =

Are firearms that propels projectile with less than one inch diameter and it can be
handled,moved and operated by one man.Examples: Machine gun, shoulder arms and
handguns.

2.1 Machine guns

Machine gun is a type of firearm that is primarily designed for military use. Even in
investigation ofshooting cases done in the city, it is not usual or common to encounter
this type of firearm having been used. Itcan be grouped in three general types:

a. TSMG Model 1921-28- operating handle is located above the receiver.

b. TSMG Model 1940-41- operating handle is located at the side of the receiver.

c. M-3 this is called the Grease Gun.

Sub Machine Gun

Is a light, portable form of machine gun, utilizing a pistol size ammunition, having a
shoulder stock thatmay or may not be folded and designed to be fired with both hands.

2.2 Shoulder Arms

are those types of firearm that were normally fired from the shoulder.

Rifles

= A shoulder weapon designed to fire a projectile with more accuracy through a long
rifledbore barrel, usually more than 22 inches.

Armalite Rifle-

known as the 5.56 mm1. Commercial AR15- Designed for Semi-automatic only2. Military-
designed for semi and full automatic

Magazine Type

1. Short Magazine- contains 20 rounds of ammunition2. Long/banana type magazine-

contains 30 rounds of ammunition

Carbine =
 A short barrel rifle, with its barrel rifle, measuring not longer than 22 inches. It
fires asingle projectile though a rifle-bore either semi-automatic or fully automatic, for
every press of thetrigger.

Types of Carbine

1. M-1- Semi-automatic carbine

2. MIA1- Carbine with folding stock made of metal and usually used by paratroopers.

3. M-2- A type of carbine which is either automatic or semi-automatic.

4. M-3- type of carbine which has a telescopic sight and automatic firing.

5. M-14- improvised carbine version, full automatic.

Muskets = is an ancient smoothbore and muzzle loading military shoulder arms

designed to firea shots or a single round lead ball.

Shotgun = A smooth bore and a breech loading shoulder arms designed to fire a
number oflead pellets or a shots in one charge (FBA Manual)

The barrel construction of shotgun may also be found in different bore

construction.

cylinder bore type = the bore size is the same throughout the barrel

choke bored gun = designed with a diminishing or reducing bore diameter type
towardsthe muzzle. This type is designed to cause an effect to the travel of the shots. It
makes theshots travel longer before it spreads.

“ paradox gun”.= still in a very rear occasions another type of shotgun can be
observedto be having rifling only a few inch from its muzzle points.

Types of Shotguns According to Number of Barrel

1. Single Barrel

2. Double Barrel (side by side, over or under)

2.3 Handguns = those type of firearms that are designed or intended to be fired using
one hand. Ex. Pistols and Revolvers

a. Pistol

In early firearm history, all handguns are generally called as pistols. There were three
classes of pistols in the period. The single shot pistol, the semi automatic and the
revolving pistols now known as the revolver.

b. Revolver

Revolver is a type of firearm designed to position cartridge into position for firing with
the aid of a rotating cylinder serving as its chamber. There are two types of revolvers
according to its mechanical firing action.
b.1 Single action

, a type of revolver that needs a manual cocking of the hammer before squeezing the
trigger

b.2 Double action

, a type of revolver that does not need manual cocking. Just press the trigger and it both
cocked and released the hammer causing a much faster firing.

b. 3Swing out Cylinder

- in this type of revolver, the cylinder swing out to the left of the solidframe.

b. 4Tip-up or Top Break

- the top strap is unlatched from the breech and the barrel is swungdownward to open
the gun.

Types of Firearms (According to Mechanical Construction)

1. Single shot firearms =

types of firearms designed to fire only one shot every loading. Examples: Single shot
pistols, Revolvers and shotguns.

2. Repeating Arms =

A type of firearms designed to fire several loads (shot) in one loading. Examples:
Automatic pistols revolvers rifles and shotguns.

3. Automatic F/A =

type of firearms that constitutes a continuous firing in a single press of the trigger and
while the trigger

is press. Examples: Machine guns and rifles

4. Slide Action type =

types of firearms in which loading take place by back-and-forth manipulation of the

under/over forearms of the gun. Examples: Shotgun and pistols

5. Bolt Action Type =

Type of firearms in which reloading takes place by manipulating the bolt. back and forth.
Examples: Rifles, shotguns and machine guns.

6. Lever type (Break type) =

loading takes place by lever action on the firearms. Examples: Rifles and shotguns.

Miscellaneous Types of Gun1. Cane gun, knife pistols, cellphone gun, etc.
 = devices principally designed for other purpose to which agun mechanism is
incorporated also called as Freakish gun.

2. Flare gun

= designed for tracing or sending signals or locating enemy troops.

3. Freakish gun =

a tool in which firearm mechanism is attached to prevent easy identification.

4. Gas gun

= generally referring to all gun designed from firing tear gas.

5. Harpoon guns

= refers to a barbed spear in hunting large fish.

6. Liberator

= U.S. government made smooth bore gun used in Europe during war designed to fire
anautomatic colt pistol cartridge caliber .45.

7. Multi – Barrelled gun

= refers to all types of gun containing a number of barrels.

7. Paradox gun

= a type of gun which contains lands and grooves a few inch from the muzzle point.

8. Tools

= are those devices which resembles a gun designed but are generally used for
construction offurniture.

9. Traps

= refers to gun used for trapping animals that are fired to woods.

10. Zip Gun

= refers to all type of homemade gun.

Other Miscellaneous Firearm

a. paltik pistolsb. paltik revolversc. paltik riflesd. paltik shotgun

Classification of Firearm According to use

a. military firearms

b. pocket and home defense firearm

c. target and outdoor men’s firearms