Discover the origins of these projectile weapons and the mechanical principles still used in guns today

WORDS AILSA HARVEY

Early versions of guns are estimated to have been invented over 1,000 years ago, but the first record of their use in battle was during the Battle of Auray in 1364. This devastating technology was only made possible after the accidental discovery of gunpowder. In 850 BCE, Chinese experimenters were trying to create a powder that could be used to achieve eternal youth. Instead they discovered the explosive properties that resulted from combining charcoal, saltpetre and sulphur. The powder could be ignited and used to launch projectiles from cannons. Over time these cannons were improved, and smaller portable versions were developed – this was the birth of the modern gun.

Today, semi-automatic and automatic guns are the most common types produced. Both are self-loading, but the difference between the two is what happens when the trigger is squeezed. Semi-automatic guns release one bullet every time the trigger is squeezed while automatically reloading the next one. Automatic guns will continuously reload and fire projectiles for as long as the trigger is held down, either until the gun’s magazine is emptied of bullets or the user releases the trigger.