Knowra Small arms Small arms Small arms are portable firearms designed for individual use, including pistols, rifles, and similar weapons. They are distinguished from crew-served weapons by their intended handling and operation.
Cartridge (firearms) : A self-contained unit of ammunition combining a case, primer, propellant, and projectile. Most modern small arms fire cartridges that package the components needed for each shot.
Handgun : A firearm designed to be held and fired with one or both hands rather than from the shoulder. Handguns are the compact, hand-held branch of small arms.
Hand cannon : An early portable firearm consisting of a metal barrel fired by igniting its powder charge. Hand cannons are among the earliest weapons that fit the idea of a portable firearm.
Infantry : Ground combat troops who fight primarily on foot, supported by weapons and other military capabilities. Small arms are the infantry's principal personal weapons.
Small arms trade : The international and domestic movement and sale of portable firearms and related weapons. Trade routes influence which small arms reach governments, armed groups, and civilians.
Action (firearms) : A firearm's mechanism for loading, firing, extracting, and ejecting ammunition. The action determines how a small arm cycles between shots.
Rifle : A shoulder-fired firearm with a rifled barrel, typically designed for aimed fire. Rifles are a major small-arms type built around a shoulder stock and rifled barrel.
Matchlock : A firearm ignition system that uses a slow-burning match to ignite gunpowder. Matchlocks made early small arms easier to fire than hand-ignited guns.
Military doctrine : A military's established principles for how forces should prepare for and conduct operations. Doctrine shapes how armed forces equip and use small arms.
Arms trafficking : The illicit movement or transfer of weapons in violation of applicable laws. Diversion from legal supply chains can place small arms in unauthorized hands.
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