Opinion ID: 502252
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: How Rifle Fires

Text: 21 We now turn to the facts. It is necessary to first understand how the firing mechanism in this particular rifle works. As with any rifle, it fires a bullet, a metal projectile which is seated into the front end of a cartridge. The cartridge consists of a metal casing filled with fast-burning powder and a primer at the bottom end. When the primer is struck with sufficient force, it ignites the powder in the cartridge case. As the powder burns, it forms a gas which, as it expands, drives the bullet out of its seat in the end of the cartridge into the barrel of the rifle and towards the target. 22 The Winchester 94 is loaded by hand; as many as eight cartridges can be pressed into the magazine. If eight cartridges are used, the last one remains in the chamber; it is in a position to be fired. 23 The integral parts of the firing mechanism are a trigger, a hammer, a bolt, which contains a free floating firing pin, and a locking bolt which contains a firing pin striker. The firing process begins by opening the lever. As the lever is opened, the bolt is retracted and passes backward pushing the hammer into the full cock or firing position. The opening of the lever also causes the locking bolt to be pulled downward so that the striker is not lined up with the firing pin in the bolt. As the lever opens, a cartridge is released by spring tension from the magazine into guides leading it to the chamber. As the lever is closed, the cartridge is forced forward into the chamber, the bolt goes forward so that the free floating firing pin is lined up with the primer on the cartridge, and the locking bolt, which had been depressed, rises behind the bolt locking it in position. The striker in the locking bolt is now lined up directly behind the firing pin in the bolt. The trigger, which is attached to the hammer by a sear, is then pulled. The hammer falls hitting the striker which drives the firing pin into the primer on the cartridge and the bullet is on its way. The lever is operated manually. It must be opened and closed to fire a round or to unload. The trigger has a safety catch which is independent of the lever action.