All modern firearms have three basic groups of parts: the action , the barrel , and the stock.

The three basic groups

  • Action
    • The action is the moving mechanism that loads, fires, and ejects the ammunition.
* It is often described as the “heart” of the firearm because it controls the firing cycle.
  • Barrel
    • The barrel is the metal tube the projectile travels through when the gun is fired.
* Its length and internal design (rifled or smooth) affect accuracy, range, and how the firearm is classified.
  • Stock
    • The stock supports and houses the action and, in many designs, also supports the barrel.
* It provides the surface the shooter holds against the shoulder or grips for stability and control.

Quick note on handguns

Some handgun-focused sources instead group parts as action, frame, and barrel , where the frame plays the supporting role similar to a stock on long guns. However, for “all modern firearms” in general hunter-education style questions, the standard three groups are action, barrel, and stock.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.