Word Glossary

As an engineer, I use many words that are familiar to me - but which you might not fully understand. So - here's a list of the common words, and their meanings.

Alphabetical Listing

.177

Smaller size caliber rifle, pistol and ammunition.  With air-rifles - this caliber is more suitable for birds  (many would argue otherwise). .177 are light and powerful - and often go 'through-and-through' the prey/pest without causing fatality. .177 in an air-rifle should not be shot above the sonic barrier (above 1050 fps) as the pellet begins to tumble and loose accuracy.  In a firearm, the .17 is a very powerful and hard hitting caliber - using the .22lr  or .22Mag cartridges necked down to accommodate the .17 projectile - reaching speeds of 3500fps.

 

.22

Quite heavier than the .17, the .22 is more suitable for small game - possums and rabbits - providing the rifle is capable of reaching a velocity of around 750fps or above. The .22lr firearm is the most common and inexpensive rifle to own. Air-powered .22 rifles come in spring-powered, PCP, Pump-Action and CO2.

 

Anodizing

Anodizing is an electro-chemical process that coats the surface of an aluminum item with a hard layer of ceramic that can be colored before the final process of sealing. Anodizing is harder than the original metal and is ideal for high pressure, sliding or moving contact points - as well as adding a aesthetic value to your item (i.e. looks mint!)

 

CO2

Carbon Dioxide. Liquid that produces a gas stable at 850psi - used for low powered pistols, rifles & paintball markers - up to approximately 600fps. The only challenge with CO2 is that the pressure it produces fluctuates with heat - dropping in the winter and increasing in summer - making accuracy a challenge.

 

FPE   

Foot Pound Energy - the amount of force behind a bullet/pellet. The heavier the pellet, and the faster it travels - the greater the FPE. When shooting prey or pests, it is not always the bullet wound that kills, but the instant shock to the nervous system - and the greater the FPE, the greater the impact and shock.

 

FPS

Feet Per Second - speed of the bullet/pellet, also measured in MPS (meters per second). Low powered spring powered, CO2 powered or PCP powered start at around 400fps - which is suitable for backyard plinking and target shooting. Middle powered (FPS) rifles and pistols are from around 700fps upwards, and give a greater distance for shooting of around 20 meters. Highest PCP powered rifles are around 1250fps - having broken the sonic barrier and are suitable for small game and pest shooting - having an effective range of around 75 meters.

 

Muzzle-Brake

Porting around a suppressor body that disperses noise/energy sideways - thereby stabilizing the bullet path and accuracy. The muzzle-brake can be internal (inside the suppressor) or external - at the far end away from the barrel.

 

 

Over-Barrel Suppressor

A suppressor that extends back over the rifle barrel, as well as in front of it. The suppressor internals force the noise/air/gas back down over the barrel.

 

PCP Rifle

Pre-Charged Pneumatic - rifle or pistol that uses compressed air stored in a chamber to fire a pellet - usually around 2500psi to 3500psi. Although many new PCP owners also purchase a Scuba Tank and adapter to charge their PCP rifle, they soon realize that the pressure in the Scuba Tank drops below the requirements to charge the rifle after several 'charges' and for that reason a Hand-Pump is better and cheaper. However, a scuba tank and adapter is helpful when filling the rifle from empty. Up to 75 or 100 shots can be obtained from a single pressure charge, with less shots if the PSI is increased.

 

PSI 

Pounds per Square Inch - the pressure of a gas/air/CO2 - that pushes the pellet from the rifle or pistol. Most PCP rifles and pistols range from 2000psi to 3500psi. CO2 powered guns are pressured to around 850psi - fluctuating with the weather, either hot or cold.

 

Reverse Flow Venturi 

Suppressor internal unit that looks like a funnel, forcing noise backwards down the suppressor body

 

Sonic 

Any velocity above the speed of sound. (Air temperature of 23*c = speed of sound @ 1133fps)

 

Sonic Crack 

The loud crack/boom produced when a bullet passes the speed of sound. Only one sonic crack is possible, even if a bullet travels at twice or three times this speed. No suppressor in the world can remove the sonic crack.  My suppressors will remove everything except the sonic crack - and tune it to a loud crack rather than a rumbling thunder boom.

 

Sub-Sonic

The speed of a bullet/pellet under the speed of sound at 1075 fps - these projectiles are able to be suppressed very efficiently - often so well that the sound of the projectile hitting the target is louder than the shot.

 

Suppressor 

Reduces the noise from a rifle - also known as Silencer, Moderator. Most suppressors are screw on to the end of the rifle barrel, or over-barrel.

 

Vortex

The spiral of air/gas produced by specific suppressor internal units - enhancing a straight pellet/bullet flight and increasing accuracy.

 

 

Wet-Fire & Bio-Tech 

Process to cool the hot gasses that cause noise, or vaporize the kinetic energy in  a PCP. This liquid is inserted into the suppressor and is retained in the porous Bio-Tech material I make the internal units from.