How do guns work?

Question

I play video games with guns and various other weapons. I have always wondered how they work. I think up crude models, but I want to know how they really work, how to reload them. I've never actually touched a gun other than a toy gun and thus have not had a chance to study them. Is there a place online where I can learn this stuff? Or would I have to actually take classes and get licensed.

Please none of the ethical crap - I just wish to understand them, not necessarily use them - directed to moonrose. Also, I'm not just some lowlife idiot that has nothing to do - directed to Ya-sai. I'm a pre-med student in college and I do exceptionally well. Also I'm not inquiring about their operation.

Thanks Aaron for the support.

A reminder to people, please answer the question maturely and you won't be reported.

Answer 1

A gun harnesses the stored chemical energy contained in gunpowder.
When you pull the trigger on a semi-automatic pistol, the mechanical energy from your finger causes a device called a "hammer" to fall on the back of the cartridge (often incorrectly called the "bullet.")
At the end of the hammer is a metal protrusion called a "pin" which is designed to strike the back of the cartridge.
The pin's target is something called the "primer." The primer bascially shoots off hot sparks into the interior of the cartridge.
The powder contained in the cartridge burns very quickly - the gases generated by the ignition of the powder are confined by the walls of the cartridge (the "casing") and expel the projectile ("bullet") from the barrel of the gun.
In the case of the semiautomatic pistol, the gases and/or forces generated by the detonation of the powder are harnessed.
The top of the gun (the "slide"), moves back to cock the gun and feed another cartridge into the place where it sits waiting to be fired.
The casing, bereft of an active primer, powder and bullet is ejected by the gases... it's an empty shell.

Pokemania:

I'm with you on your responses to most of the other people who answered... the purpose of answering here is to share knowledge, not discourage your or others' curiosity.

Many states have "rent a gun" ranges in which you can actually borrow and fire many types of handguns, some rifles, and even machine guns!

It's an excellent, fairly inexpensive way to acquaint yourself with firearms.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

A gun is a common name given to a device that fires high-velocity projectiles. The projectile, its caliber, or diameter, usually designated in fractions of an inch or in millimeters, is fired through a hollow tube known as the gun's barrel. Differing from the musket, the modern gun is rifled, excluding smoothbores on tanks, AFVs and some artillery, with a series of grooves spiraling along the barrel, and indeed the first rifles were known as 'rifled guns'.
USS Iowa (BB-61) fires a full broadside during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984.
USS Iowa (BB-61) fires a full broadside during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984.

The term "gun" is often used synonymously with firearm, but in military usage the term refers only to artillery that fires projectiles at high velocity, such as tank guns, or naval guns (naval guns are never referred to as cannon). A gunner is a member of the team charged with the task of operating and firing a gun. Thus, by military terms, mortars and all hand-held firearms are excluded from this definition. The exception to this is the shotgun, which is hand-held, has a smooth bore and fires a load of shot or a single projectile known as a slug.

The word "gun" is also applied to some more or less vaguely gun-like or gun-shaped tools, such as staple guns and glue guns.

In a gun-type fission weapon the "gun" is part of a nuclear weapon. The "projectile" is fissile material that is fired and captured inside the device. In the case of nuclear artillery it should not be confused with the gun that fires the whole warhead.

At times, the word gun is used to describe the person holding the weapon rather than the weapon itself, as in "a hired gun"

Answer 3

You can get a gun on the street corner and learn to use it in ten seconds. You pull the trigger and it goes booooommmm! Someone falls over dead. The next gang banger runs up and grabs the gun and it starts all over again.

Answer 4

Unless there is no food stores around your area and the only means of eating is to hunt then there no reason you should concern yourself about guns, look around and you be the judge, I freaking hate guns, play halo instead.

Answer 5

How old are you? If young, you should be concentrating on your studies. If over 18, get a job why don't you

Answer 6

One quick easy way to understand guns, is to read this http://science.howstuffworks.com/machine-gun.htm

Answer 7

You pull the trigger and put comes out!

I know you've watch "Cops".

Answer 8

i dunno what kind of gun your lookin for but you should check out future weapons on the Discovery Channel but check this site out if you wanna read up on them http://science.howstuffworks.com/machine-gun.htm

Answer 9

go sell some crack on a street corner and run from the po-pos and ull find out!!