ALL ABOUT GUNS DICTIONARY-P
Paltic (alt. Paltik) -- Term applied to handmade, improvised firearms indigenous to the Philippines. Paltic weapons are often crudely made firearms of basic construction but some are very well made and finished firearms of advanced design. One of the more common types of Paltic weapons is the Paliuntod, which is a single-shot, slam-fired shotgun. The World’s Fighting Shotguns, Volume 4, page 38 by Thomas B. Swearengen, has a photo of a Paliuntod along with an improvised, 20 gauge, selective-fire shotgun, both made in the Philippines. -- Feb. 17, 2013
Percussion cap -- A small, copper, cup shaped or top hat shaped cap containing a priming compound used to ignite the powder charge in a firearm. Percussion caps are normally used with percussion firearms, such as the Springfield Model 1842 musket, and cap-and-ball revolvers such as the Colt Model 1860 Army. The NRA Handloader’s Guide, 1962 edition, pg. 9 attributes the introduction of the percussion cap in 1814 to Joshua Shaw, a resident of Philadelphia. The Rifle in America, pg. 18 by Philip B. Sharpe notes that the invention of the percussion cap has also been attributed to two English gunmakers, Joseph Manton and Joseph Egg. The NRA Handloader’s Guide, 1962 edition, pg. 9 states that percussion caps were originally made of iron or pewter but have been made of copper in the U.S. since 1817. -- January 31, 2014
Pie crimp -- A method used to seal the mouth of a shotgun hull. Pie crimps normally have either six or eight equal sized petals that are arranged in a manner similar to pie wedges. Pie crimps are sometimes referred to as fold crimps.-- August 20, 2017*
Pneumatic airgun -- A type of airgun that uses compressed air or to expel a projectile. The most common pneumatic airguns, such as the Sheridan Blue Streak or Crosman 760 rifles, have air reservoirs that are manually charged by the shooter using a built-in pumping mechanism that is attached via a lever to the forearm. The velocity of the projectile varies with the number of pumps. Other pneumatic airguns, such as the Feinwerkbau 601, are charged with a single stroke. -- April 14, 2015
Proof -- Testing process by which a firearm is deemed safe to use. Modern firearms that use smokeless powder are proved by firing a special cartridge in it that is loaded to significantly higher than normal pressure. Proof rounds in the U.S. are sometimes referred to as “blue pills.” -- June 5, 2013
Proofmark -- A mark or impression, usually applied to the receiver and/or barrel/barrels of a firearm with a special punch, indicating that it has successfully passed proof and is safe to fire with the correct ammunition. Proof testing in Europe and the UK is normally done by a government-approved proof house while in the U.S., proof testing is done by the manufacturer of a firearm. -- June 5, 2013
Pumpkin ball -- Spherical lead projectile used in shotgun ammunition. Pumpkin balls are normally at or close to bore diameter, allowing a modern shotgun shell to hold only one ball per round. They are traditionally used in the United States of America for shooting big game at short range. -- August 24, 2016* (see photo)
Copyright August 2017 John Swikart
