Letter: P

A type of front sight of triangular appearance. Also called Barleycorn Sight.

The insertion of a centerfire primer or battery cup in the head of a cartridge case or shotshell. Properly seated, it should be flush or below the face of the head.

The condition when a primer, or battery cup primer assembly, moves partially out of its proper location in the primer pocket of a metallic cartridge or shotshell during firing.

A tube for holding primers in a handloading press.

A combination of explosive and/or pyrotechnic-type ingredients, which, when pressed into a cup or spun into the rim cavity of a rimfire shell, will ignite upon sufficient impact from a firing-pin and, in turn, initiate the propellant in a cartridge or shotshell.

A smokeless propellant in which the burning rate is controlled by physical and/or chemical means.

An object propelled from a firearm by the force of rapidly burning gases or other means.

The kinetic energy of a projectile.

A stamp applied at or near the breech or other stressed component of a firearm after it has passed a proof test.

The test of an assembled firearm or individual components by firing a Definitive Proof Cartridge. See Definitive Proof Cartridge.