Accuracy - The measure of precision in consistently obtaining a desired result. In shooting, the measure of a bullet’s or gun’s ability to place all shots close to the same point.


Action - The mechanism of a firearm by which it is loaded, locked, fired and unloaded.


Air Resistance - The slowing effect of air on a projectile in flight.


Annealing - In handloading, the controlled heating of brass after work-hardening to prevent it from becoming too brittle. Only the neck should be annealed, and great care should be taken not to overheat and thus soften the head and rear portion of the case. See Work-harden.


Antimony - A metallic element that increases the hardness of lead when combined as an alloy.


Anvil - In the priming system, a fixed metallic point against which the priming mixture is crushed and thereby detonated by the action of the firing pin. Boxer anvils are part of the primer; Berdan anvils are part of the cartridge case.