Not everyone knows what the parts of a semi-automatic pistol are called. Some of us need some help in figuring out the correct terminology. This is a basic primer on the basic parts of a pistol so you can at least know what to call something besides “that shoulder thing that goes up.”
The image used below is of a modern Colt 1911-style .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Many other companies, such as Remington, Springfield, Taurus, Smith & Wesson, Wilson and others have reproduced the basic design of this pistol. Use this as a guide to identify and locate the components on your pistol.
For additional reference, we have included an annotated photo of a typical European-style 9mm pistol in the form of the Beretta Model 92 pistol. The Beretta is a popular pistol that shows the European influence by the placement of the safety and the use of a double-action trigger. Semi-automatic pistols may have their controls in other locations or lack certain features (e.g. no external safety on the GLOCK pistol).
Colt 1911-style pistol
Beretta Model 92 Pistol
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Term
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Definition
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Notes
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| Back strap | The rear portion of the grip frame | |
| Barrel | A hollow tube with spiral rifling to guide and launch a bullet on its path to the target. | Barrel lengths vary. Beretta’s exposed barrel is nearly unique. Most barrels are enclosed by the slide. |
| Beavertail | The extension at the rear of the pistol that protects the user’s hand from being pinched when the hammer is cocked by the slide during recoil. | The beavertail is a modern extension of the “tang” that prevents the user’s hand from riding too high on the grip. |
| Bore (not shown) | The inner diameter of the barrel opening. The size of the bore can be in decimal fractions of an inch (.45) or in millimeters (7.63 mm, 9 mm). | |
| Chamber (not shown) | The rear portion of the barrel which accepts the cartridge and positions it for firing. Pistols have only one chamber. | |
| Cocking Serrations | Grooves cut into the rear of the slide to facilitate a solid grip when pulling the slide back to chamber a cartridge and “cock” the pistol. Some pistols include serrations at the front of the slide too. | |
| Ejection Port | The opening in the slide or mechanism by which cartridges are ejected from the gun. | Usually on the right side of the pistol. Beretta’s open slide design eliminates the “port”. |
| Front Sight | The projection on the barrel used for aiming | |
| Front Strap | The front edge of the grip frame. | |
| Grip | (a) The grip frame or area of the pistol that is gripped by the hand. (b) The material applied to the grip frame to make the revolver easier to grip. See also: Grip Panel | Grips (plural) often refers to the grip panels on the gun. |
| Grip Panel | The material applied to the grip frame to make the pistol comfortable in the hand. These may be made from wood, rubber, ivory, plastic, or other materials. Often called grips. | Sometimes referred to as the grip or grips. |
| Grip Safety | A lever integrated to the grip of the pistol, which when depressed allows the firearm to be fired. When the hand is off the grip, the safety is engaged to prevent accidental discharge | This is a passive safety because it activates automatically without the user doing anything special. |
| Hammer | The primary ignition device. The hammer is pulled back against spring tension and, when released, strikes the cartridge primer to fire the revolver. | Some hammers are concealed or shrouded. Some pistols may lack a hammer and be fired by an internal striker, such as a Glock. |
| Lanyard Loop | A loop or cutout that allows the attachment of a lanyard to prevent loss of a pistol if dropped. | Found mostly on military arms. |
| Magazine | The container for the cartridges, usually inserted into the grip frame of the pistol. | The detachable magazine allows for fast reloading. |
| Magazine Release | The mechanism that releases the magazine from the pistol frame. | Locations vary. US pistols usually use a button as shown. Some European guns use a latch at the base of the grip. |
| Muzzle | The end of the barrel, where the bullet exits. | |
| Rear Sight | The sighting mechanism with which the front sight is aligned for accurate shooting. | Fixed sights shown. Adjustable sights are also common. |
| Recoil Spring Guide Rod | The rod that is used to prevent binding in the recoil spring under the barrel. Usually visible below the muzzle. | Not all pistols use a full-length guide rod (some 1911′s). |
| Safety Lever | A lever that prevents accidental discharge of the pistol. Some may prevent the trigger from being pulled (1911) or disconnect the trigger (Beretta). Applying the safety may also decock the pistol. | The location of the safety varies by maker. Be sure to understand how your pistol’s safety works. |
| Slide | The upper portion of the firearm that moves rearward after firing. The slide houses the barrel and firing mechanism. | Slides may enclose the barrel (1911) or be partially cut away (Beretta). |
| Slide Stop | The device that locks the slide open to the rear when the last round is fired or when manually operated. | Common to most pistols. Location may vary. Some smaller pistols may not have this feature. |
| Striker (Not shown) | A device internal to the slide of the pistol which replaces the role of the hammer. Striker-fired pistols usually lack an externally visible hammer. | |
| Take Down Lever | The lever used to disassemble the pistol for normal cleaning and maintenance. | Older pistols may lack this feature and use more difficult disassembly procedures. |
| Trigger | The device which releases the firing mechanism to fire the pistol. The trigger releases the hammer or striker to fall forward under spring pressure to fire the gun. | |
| Trigger Guard | A projection or loop that serves to protect the trigger from accidental movement or snagging. |
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