In firearms, the chamber is the cavity at the back end of a breechloader's barrel or

cylinder A cylinder (from ) has traditionally been a three-dimensional solid, one of the most basic of curvilinear geometric shapes. In elementary geometry, it is considered a prism with a circle as its base. A cylinder may also be defined as an infin ...

, where the

cartridge Cartridge may refer to: Objects * Cartridge (firearms), a type of modern ammunition * ROM cartridge, a removable component in an electronic device * Cartridge (respirator), a type of filter used in respirators Other uses * Cartridge (surname), a ...

is inserted before being fired. The rear opening of the chamber is the breech, and is sealed by the breechblock or the bolt.

Function

Rifles and pistols generally have a single chamber integral to their barrels, but revolvers have multiple chambers in their cylinder, and no chamber in their barrel. Thus, rifles and pistols can usually still be fired with the magazine removed as long as a

is inserted into the chamber, while a revolver cannot be fired at all with its cylinder swung out. Taurus 627-KLM 357MAG 008

The act of ''chambering'' a cartridge means the insertion of a round into the chamber, either manually or through the

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

of the weapon, e.g., pump-action,

lever-action The toggle-link action used in the iconic Winchester Model 1873 rifle, one of the most famous lever-action firearms Lever-action is a type of action for repeating firearms that uses a manually operated cocking handle located around the trigger g ...

bolt action Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed). Most bolt-actio ...

, or Autoloading operation generally in anticipation of firing the weapon, without need to "load" the weapon upon decision to use it (reducing the number of ''actions'' needed to discharge). In firearms design or modification, "chambering" is fitting a weapon's chamber for a particular caliber or round, so a Colt Model 1911 is ''chambered'' for

.45 ACP The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it ...

.38 Super The .38 Super, also known as .38 Super +P, .38 Super Auto, .38 Super Automatic, .38 Super Automatic +P, or 9×23mmSR, is a pistol cartridge that fires a bullet. It was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP, a ...

, or ''re-chambered'' for .38/.45 Clerke. While the majority of firearms are chambered for one caliber, some are chambered for multiple calibers; however firing an oversized or undersized cartridge can be hazardous.

Forensics

The chamber is a key component to the practice of Forensic firearm examination. The chamber is known to imprint its surface striations irregularities on the

case, in what are called chamber marks, due to the pressure produced when shooting. Such imperfections in chamber may be produced in the manufacturing process or through extensive use. Such chamber marks are even more pronounced on substandard firearms or when firing from an undersized chamber. In recent years there has been a push to automate this process via the use of automated firearms databases. Ballistics identification has also seen the development of microstamping technology which purposefully creates chamber marks through engravings on the

firing pin A firing pin or striker is a part of the firing mechanism of a firearm that impacts the primer in the base of a cartridge and causes it to fire. In firearms terminology, a striker is a particular type of firing pin where a compressed spring ...

and breech face.

Sources

External links

Chamber
Firearm components {{Firearms

Function

Forensics

Sources

See also

External links