Patent Breech.—See false breech.
Pepper Box Pistol.—One form of revolver pistol, in which the barrels are made full length from one piece of metal. The rotation of the barrels and the action of the lock to fire the arm was produced by pulling the trigger.
Picker.—A small wire implement hung to the shot-pouch of the hunter in the days of the old flint-lock, and used when occasion required for picking priming into the touch-hole of the gun.
Pipes.—Short tubes attached to a barrel or to a rib attached to the barrel to receive the ramrod and hold it in place.
Pistol.—A small variety of fire-arm, so made as to be easily carried in the pocket or a holster, and readily manipulated and fired with one hand.
Pistol Grip.—A gun stock whose grip inclines to turn down like the handle of a pistol, is said to have a pistol grip.
Play.—A rifle which does not shoot with regularity is said to play its balls.
Plungers.—The pins which are struck by the hammers, in breech-loaders, and which in turn strike and explode the ignition.
Powder Bed.—The chamber, in a muzzle-loader, where the powder lies when the gun is charged.
Priming.—The powder in the pan of a flint-lock gun.