Intro to Gun Technology

A person has to learn about guns correctly before he can have a favorite intelligently discuss the subject. Modern video games depict a wide variety of firearms and teach the "advanced basics". For a person to better understand guns after learning the "advanced basics" he has to get the historical context. There are many parts which a person can begin with, but it is best to first learn about matchlock guns of post-medieval Europe and work up to modern weapons. The Following diagram from the book How Weapons Work by Christopher Chant depicts the technological developments in firing mechanisms starting with the matchlock and working up to the percussion cap mechanism popular during the American Civil War. Note that the last weapon featured at the bottom of the page is of a wheel-lock mechanism which was invented centuries before the percussion cap mechanism.