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Foundations

Firearms 101

Start here if you are new to firearms or need a clean baseline before diving into AR-specific topics. This guide explains what firearms are, how they work, the major parts of a firearm, basic ammunition concepts, core safety principles, and the federal ownership rules every new owner should understand.

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Types of Firearms

Understand the major ways firearms are commonly classified. This guide explains the differences between handguns, rifles, and shotguns; manual and self-loading actions; black powder, smokeless powder, compressed gas, and electromagnetic propulsion; and broad bore-size categories like small bore, large bore, and shotgun gauge.

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Firearm Parts & Components

Learn the major parts that make up a firearm and what each one does. This guide explains barrels, chambers, actions, receivers, fire control systems, magazines, stocks, grips, sights, optics, and muzzle devices so new readers can understand how firearm components work together.

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Ammunition 101

Understand the basic parts and terminology of modern ammunition. This guide explains cartridges, shotshells, cases, primers, propellant, projectiles, rimfire vs. centerfire ammunition, caliber, gauge, chambering, and why ammunition must match the firearm.

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Firearm Glossary

A plain-language reference for common firearm terms. Use this glossary to understand words like action, barrel, bore, caliber, chamber, cartridge, magazine, receiver, frame, rimfire, centerfire, semi-automatic, suppressor, SBR, FFL, NFA, and more.

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