Ask Foghorn: What Does ‘High’ or ‘Low’ Bore Axis Mean?

By Nick Leghorn

Robert Farago asks: “What exactly does it mean to have a high or low bore axis? What effect does that have on shooting the gun?” Great question, Robert! Bore axis has a huge impact on how a handgun shoots, and understanding that concept will give you a better idea which firearm best fits your needs . . .

Every semi-automatic handgun on the market works in pretty much the same way: there’s a barrel that stays more or less fixed in position, and a slide that moves back and forth in order to eject the spent cartridge and load a fresh one into the chamber. As always there are exceptions to the rule, but 99% of what you’ll find out there operates this way. The guns are designed so that there’s enough space between the top of your shooting hand and the bottom of the slide that the slide shouldn’t interfere with your fleshy bits. Every so often a gun manufacturer will cut that margin too slim and the slide will “bite” the webbing of your hand while moving, a phenomenon known as “slide bite.”

The phrase “bore axis” in this context refers to the relationship between the barrel …Read the Rest

Source:: Truth About Guns