How exactly does a gun fire?

Question

I know that the powder or whatever is in the bullet, but what makes it shoot, and does only the tip shoot out of the barrel?

Answer 1

Your typical modern self contained cartridge contains, starting at the base of the round, a primer, then the main body of the round is the casing, which is typically brass, but can sometimes be made of steel or alloys. The casing as a hole in the bottom for the primer that connects the primer to the powder chamber. So what you have so far is a metal casing filled with smokeless gun powder usually and a primer at the bottom. The casing is then topped with a bullet, the bullet is the only thing that actually comes out of the barrel. The bullet is typically made from lead, sometimes covered in copper.

When the trigger is pulled on any modern gun, the firing pin, a thin piece of metal somewhat resembling a thick needle, strikes the firing pin, and that impact ignites the primer which in turn ignites the powder charge, which burns very quickly and generates a great deal of pressure, and it is that pressure that forces the bullet from the neck of the casing and the bullet ejects from the casing and out of the barrel. Gun poweder does not explode, it burns really fast and generates a lot of pressure, and it is that pressure that forces the bullet out of the casing.

Older types of guns work differently, matchlocks used a burning piece of cord to ignite loose black powder, which burns dirtier and generates more smoke, and force a lead ball from the barrel. The powder was poured down the barrel from the muzzle, and the ball was rammed down the barrel with a ramrod.

A flintlock used a piece of flint striking steel to generate a spark to ignite the black powder, but otherwise worked the same as a matchlock.

Percussion Rifles use a percussion cap, similar to a primer, to ignite the powder charge. The cap was placed on a nipple and then struck with a hammer to ignite the powder, and other then that it worked fairly similarly to the flintlocks and matchlocks in its method of loading, loose powder and a lead projectile loaded from the muzzle (the tip of the barrel).

Answer 2

with a smokeless powder rifle: when the trigger is pulled the hammer hits the primer in the back of the shell. The primer shoots out a spark that sprays through the gunpowder igniting the powder. The discharged powder produces a lot of gases that force the bullet out the barrel.

with a musket: depending on the type of gun, the hammer holds a piece of flint that hits against a rough surface causing sparks to fall into a flash pan, or it hits a primer cap that's attached to a nipple close to the breech. Black powder explodes when it's ignited forcing the bullet out of the muzzle.

Answer 3

If you ever had a cap pistol the primer in the base of the shell acts as a cap.* When you pull the trigger the firing pin strikes the primer and sets off the primer which acts like a cap thereby igniting the gun powder in the shell, which in turn propels the bullet down and out the barrel of the firearm.*The empty brass remains in the chamber until it is extracted by the bolt which surrounded and kept the shell in the chamber for firing of the bullet inside the shell.*

Answer 4

The hammer/firing pin hits a primer that ignites the powder. The powder burns, as it burns it creates gas that expands until the gas pressure forces the bullet (tip) to leave the cartridge case and then the gun. Depending on the gun, this pressure can be anything from 3 to 20+ tons per square inch. That's all it is, gas pressure, simple eh?

Answer 5

The impact of the firing pin on the "primer" at the back of the bullet sets off the gunpowder. The bullet casing is flanged at the back so it is held in place by the gun barrel, the explosion of powder then forces the tip only to move forward. This is a very simplified explanation as they have rimfire and center fire rounds but it is basically what happens.

Answer 6

DJ gave you a very good link there is a lot involved so i will not go into detail here but check out the link DJ gave you

Answer 7

Check out this webpage, it's about six short pages with illustrations, so read and click 'next'.

Answer 8

pull the trigger