Firearms
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Military History, Technology, Inventions
- Curriculum: Worldwide
A firearm is a weapon in which a projectile, normally made of lead, is propelled by confined gas generated by the rapid burning of some kind of gunpowder. Firearms have repeatedly revolutionized the tactics and strategy of warfare as they developed. They are universally the weapon of the individual soldier.
Gunpowder and the Earliest Firearms
Black powder is the earliest form of gunpowder. It consists of a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal. When ignited by a flame, it burns rapidly and generates a great deal of gas. This gas, expanding in a...[The entire page is 2903 words long]
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