Page 142 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE

Figure 16: Various bolt/charging handle/forend assemblies.

forward, feeding and closing the breech, the catch out of line of the bolt/slide and
or it may be driven forward automati- allowing it to travel forward freely. The
cally by an action/recoil spring (the same catch can be manually operated, allowing
is true of the slide for a semi-automatic the user to clear and lock the action open
pistol). The bolt/charging handle can also and clear malfunctions. The bolt/slide
be used to clear malfunctions, if the need catch is typically made from steel so that
arises. The bolt/charging handle may be it can withstand the impact from the steel
integral with the bolt/carrier or a separate bolt or slide.
assembly. With the pump/slide style ac-
The magazine catch is also specific to
tion, the forend acts as the bolt/charging
semi-automatic firearms, but only ones
handle and is manipulated manually, back
that utilize a removable magazine. The
and forth.
magazine catch serves to trap the maga-
The bolt/slide catch is a part specific to zine in the magazine well, in the proper
semi-automatic, magazine-fed firearms.
The bolt/slide catch serves to hold the
bolt/slide in the open position when the
magazine is empty. A small tab or protru-
sion on the magazine’s follower engages
the bolt/slide catch when the magazine
is empty and the follower has bottomed
out against the top of the magazine body.
The tab or protrusion forces the bolt/slide
catch upward into the path of the bolt or
slide. As the action/recoil spring drives
the bolt/slide forward, it will be restrained
by the catch. A tab or lever on the exte- Figure 17: Various bolt/slide catches.
rior of the catch can be depressed, moving

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