Firearms have become more and more advanced with each generation. As technology advances, so does the availability of parts and mods. These mods allow you to customize your firearm to fit your needs and wants.
Many of these mods are available for both rifles and handguns. Rifles can have scopes mounted on them, bullet carriers called magazines installed, and they can be wired to activate certain features such as a red dot sight or sound suppressor.
Handguns can have different grips put on them, be wired to activate safety features such as a safety switch or trigger safety, and can have concealed carry holsters attached.
One unique mod that has become popular is the automatic conversion kit. These kits are available for some rifles, like the AR-15, that allow the user to convert their semi-automatic rifle into an automatic rifle.
There are very specific ways that these conversions must be done in order to be legal and safe.
Grip safety
Another feature that has made its way into most pistols is the grip safety. This feature was first introduced in 1911 models and are now standard in most pistols.
The grip safety is a mechanism that requires the pistol to be in a certain position before it can be fired. The pistol cannot be fired unless the shooter is gripping the weapon securely in their hand.
This prevents accidental discharges when handling or carrying the weapon. It also prevents someone from grabbing your gun and firing it because they can not pull the trigger unless they have a firm grasp on it.
Some models have replaced this with an electronic safety that detects if the gun is being held correctly or not. These are called ‘smart’ firearms and are increasing in popularity due to their safety features.
Automatic trigger block
The automatic trigger block functions the same way as the lock on a muzzleloader, but it does so with more sophisticated technology.
All firearms have a safety feature that disables the gun from being fired. There are different types of safety features, but most require you to physically move something to make the gun safe. Some require you to move a lever or switch, while others require you to re-position the gun.
In most cases, you have to re-position the firearm to be in a safe position. With automatic trigger blocks, however, you can re-position the gun and it will not be able to be fired.
This technology was created by German firearm manufacturer Heckler & Koch and first introduced in 1994 on their HK94 Automation Rifle.
Loaded chamber indicator
The loaded chamber indicator is the part of the firearm that indicates there is a bullet in the chamber. This system was developed as an alternative to checking the muzzle for a bullet before pulling the trigger.
Many guns have a safety feature that requires the trigger to be pulled before the gun can be fired. Unfortunately, this safety feature has led to many accidental shootings when it was mistakenly turned off.
With the loaded chamber indicator, you can trust that if there is a red dot visible, then the gun is ready to fire. This helps with safety protocols and keeps people from being too casual about checking the gun before use.
Not all guns have this feature, but they are becoming more and more common as they are proven to enhance safety measures.
Separate hammer
In contrast, most modern firearms use what is called a separate hammer system. This means that the trigger does not act directly upon the hammer to strike the firing pin.
There is instead a separate component, the trigger, that moves the hammer into position to strike the firing pin. This system creates a significant safety advantage over the intrinsic hammer system.
Since the trigger does not act directly on the hammer, it cannot accidentally fire before you intend to. This gives you complete control over when you want to discharge the firearm. You can even deactivate the trigger completely if you want to use it as a sort of stun gun.
The downside is that if the trigger becomes disengaged or faulty, then the firearm will not recognize your attempts to stop it. There are many safety protocols and checks in place to prevent this from happening, but it is still a possibility.
Can use semi-automatic mode
One of the most important parts of most modern firearms is the magazine. The magazine is the part of the firearm that stores ammunition and allows it to be fed into the firing mechanism.
Most magazines are inserted in a similar way. You first remove the ammunition, then you slide in the magazine, and then you press down on a button or switch that re-loades the new ammunition into the firing mechanism.
Some models require you to press a button before inserting the magazine, which re-loads ammunition once it is inserted. Others are automatic, or you have to re-load manually by using a button or switch.
Some guns are semi-automatic, which means that once you press down on the trigger, it re-loads the firing mechanism and fires another shot. Other guns are fully automatic, meaning that when you press down on the trigger, it continuously fires until you stop pressing down on it.
Easy to maintain
One of the biggest reasons many people are switching to semi-automatic rifles is because they are easy to maintain. While there may be some maintenance required, it is nothing like the maintenance required for a traditional firearm.
Semi-automatic rifles use magazines which contain some sort of ammunition loader. These magazines need to be maintained every once in a while, and they require special tools to do so.
Besides that, the gun itself does not require much upkeep. The internal parts may need oiling every now and then, but that is about it. The rest of the gun is as reliable as it is because of its construction.
Because there are no complicated mechanisms inside of the gun, there is no risk of something going wrong because you did not clean or grease something. The only reason something would fail is if you purchased a faulty model, which happens with any type of firearm.
Comparable ammunition capacity
One of the biggest changes that came with the modern firearm was the ability to fire multiple rounds before needing to be reloaded.
Unlike muzzleloaders, modern firearms can discharge multiple bullets of ammunition without having to be reloaded. This means that shooters can fire more than one round before needing to reload, making them considerably more lethal.
Magazines allow for a comparable amount of ammunition capacity, making this feature crucial in the development of modern firearms. A magazine is a container that holds the bullets before being fired and is inserted into the gun.
The average magazine size is between ten and twenty rounds, giving the shooter enough time to take down multiple targets or evade them if necessary. Smaller magazines are great for personal defense as well, giving you enough time to take down your target before needing to reload.
Consistent accuracy
Consistent accuracy is another feature that sets modern firearms apart from older models. You can pick up almost any model of gun and it will be able to handle a range of ammunition sizes.
As long as the gun is of good quality, it should not greatly affect accuracy. This is not the case for all weapons throughout history.
Muskets, for example, had very little variation in its barrel length. This made it more accurate when firing one type of ammunition, but less so with another kind.
Modern firearms have internal components that compensate for differences in ammunition size. This allows for consistent accuracy regardless of what you are shooting.
