• Fabrique Nationale

    FN was created in 1889 by a consortium of Belgian financiers to manufacture Mauser rifles under license for the military of that country. Ironically, Ludwig Lowe of Germany helped the Belgians set up the machinery and factory. Lowe is best known for his involvement in the development of the Luger pistol.

    The Mauser rifle production did not provide the profit margin anticipated by FN's backers so the company began to look for other products to manufacture to increase profits. More

  • Federal Cartridge Company

    For the past 80 years Federal Cartridge Company has been making ammunition from its Anoka, Minnesota, plant. It is considered a fixture in not only the ammunition community, but also in conservation, hunting and youth movements that date back to 1934.

    The first two attempts at launching the ammunition manufacturing business fell flat. In 1916 the company started out as the Federal Cartridge and Bicycle Company by Harry and Lewis Sherman. More

  • Feed Throat

    A component that guides the bullet from the magazine to the chamber More

  • Firearm

    Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projetile by the action of an explosive More

  • Firing Pin

    The mechanism that strikes the primer or rim, causing it to ignite the load and fire the firearm More

  • Firing Pin Protrusion

    The distance the firing pin sticks out from the breech face when it is in its most forward position More

  • Flash Hole

    The hole, or holes in the bottom of a primer pocket through which the primer flame passes to contact the main charge. Boxer-primed centerfire cases have one central flash hole. Berdan-primed centerfire cases typically have two flash holes on either side of the anvil. More

  • Focal Plane

    The reticle of a variable-power riflescope may be located in the first focal plane, associated with the objective lens; or it may be in the second focal plane, associated with the ocular lens. The practical consequences of the design choice are immediately evident when using the scope. A first-image-plane reticle changes size in lock-step with the target image as you change the magnification setting. Increase the power, and the target and reticle grow simultaneously. Decrease the power, and they both shrink. More