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Glossary Of Firearms Terms 2023
Term | Definition |
| Accidental Discharge | The unintentional firing of a firearm. |
| Action | The mechanism that loads, fires, and ejects cartridges. |
| Airgun | A gun that uses compressed air to propel projectiles. |
| Airsoft | A sport using replica firearms that shoot plastic pellets. |
| AK-47 | A widely known assault rifle developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. |
| Ammunition | Bullets, shells, or cartridges used in firearms. |
| Anti-Cant Device | A tool to ensure a rifle scope is level during shooting. |
| Armalite Rifle (AR) | A family of semi-automatic rifles developed by Armalite, commonly known as AR-15. |
| Armorer | A person trained to maintain and repair firearms. |
| Assault Rifle | A military-style, selective-fire rifle. |
| Automatic Firearm | A gun that continuously fires as long as the trigger is held. |
| Background Check | A review of a person’s criminal history before firearm purchase. |
| Ballistic Coefficient | A measure of a bullet’s ability to overcome air resistance. |
| Ballistic Trajectory | The path a bullet follows when fired. |
| Ballistics | The study of the flight and behavior of bullets. |
| Barrel | The long, cylindrical tube through which a bullet is fired. |
| Barrel Length | The length of a gun barrel, affecting accuracy and velocity. |
| Benchrest | A shooting discipline using a rest for maximum accuracy. |
| Benchrest Shooting | A shooting discipline using a rest for enhanced accuracy. |
| Birdshot | Small pellets used in shotgun shells for bird hunting. |
| Black Powder | The early form of gunpowder used in antique firearms. |
| Bolt Action | A manually operated firearm that requires manual action to cycle the bolt. |
| Bore | The interior of a gun barrel. |
| Bore Sight | Aligning the gun’s bore with the sights for initial accuracy. |
| Break Action | A firearm that hinges open for loading and unloading. |
| Breech-loading | A firearm where bullets are loaded from the rear or side. |
| Bull Barrel | A thick and heavy barrel for improved accuracy. |
| Bullet | The projectile fired from a gun. |
| Bullet Drop | The decrease in bullet trajectory over distance. |
| Bullpup | A rifle with the action and magazine behind the trigger. |
| Caliber | The internal diameter of a gun’s barrel or the size of its ammunition. |
| Carbine | A lightweight, shorter-barreled rifle. |
| Carbine | A lightweight, shorter-barreled rifle. |
| Carry Permit | A license allowing someone to carry a concealed firearm. |
| Cartridge | A complete round of ammunition, including casing, primer, powder, and bullet. |
| Case | A cartridge case containing the primer, powder, and bullet. |
| CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) | A firearm carried in a concealed manner. |
| Center Mass | The area around the center of a target. |
| Centerfire | A cartridge with the primer located in the center of the base. |
| Centerfire Cartridge | A cartridge with the primer located in the center of the base. |
| Choke | A narrowing at the end of a shotgun barrel to control shot spread. |
| Cleaning Kit | Tools and materials used to clean and maintain firearms. |
| Combat Pistol | A handgun designed for military or self-defense use. |
| Compensator | A device to reduce recoil and muzzle rise. |
| Concealed Carry | Carrying a concealed firearm for personal protection. |
| Crosshair | The reticle or aiming point in a scope. |
| Detachable Magazine | A magazine that can be easily removed and replaced. |
| Double-Action | A trigger mechanism that both cocks and releases the hammer. |
| Double-Barrel | A shotgun with two barrels. |
| Double-Feed | A malfunction where two cartridges jam in the chamber. |
| Double-Stack Magazine | A magazine with staggered rows for increased capacity. |
| Dry Fire | Practicing trigger control without live ammunition. |
| Dry Firing | Pulling the trigger of an unloaded firearm for practice. |
| External Safety | A safety mechanism located outside the gun’s trigger. |
| FFL (Federal Firearms License) | A license to manufacture or sell firearms. |
| Fire Selector | A switch allowing selection between firing modes (e.g., semi-auto and full-auto). |
| Firearm | A portable gun designed to be fired by one hand. |
| Firearm Instructor | A trained professional who teaches gun safety and usage. |
| Firearm License | A permit allowing the legal ownership of a firearm. |
| Firearm Safety Course | A training program to educate users about gun safety. |
| Firing Pin | The part of a gun that strikes the primer to ignite the powder. |
| Firing Range | A designated area for shooting practice and training. |
| Flash Suppressor | A device to reduce the visible flash when firing. |
| Flashbang | A non-lethal device that produces a bright flash and loud noise. |
| FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) | A bullet with a soft lead core surrounded by a harder metal shell. |
| FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) | A bullet with a soft lead core surrounded by a harder metal shell. |
| Follow Through | Maintaining proper shooting technique after firing. |
| Full-Auto | A firearm capable of continuous fully automatic fire. |
| Grip | The part of the firearm held by the shooter’s hand. |
| Gun Control | Laws and regulations regarding the use and ownership of firearms. |
| Gun Owner Protection Act | Federal legislation protecting gun owner’s rights. |
| Gun Range | A facility designed for shooting practice and training. |
| Gun Rights | Advocacy for the protection of the right to bear arms. |
| Gun Safety Rules | Basic safety guidelines for handling firearms. |
| Gun Show | An event where firearms are bought, sold, or traded. |
| Gun Vault | A secure storage container for firearms. |
| Gunpowder | The explosive substance used to propel bullets in firearms. |
| Gunsmith | A person who repairs, modifies, or builds firearms. |
| Hammer | The part of the gun that strikes the firing pin or primer. |
| Handgun | A small firearm designed to be used with one hand. |
| High Brass | Shotgun shell with a high metal head for increased pressure. |
| High-Capacity Magazine | A magazine that holds more rounds than standard. |
| High-Power Rifle | A rifle designed for long-range shooting. |
| Hollow Nose | A bullet with a hollowed-out tip for expansion on impact. |
| Hollow Point | A bullet designed to expand upon impact for better stopping power. |
| Hollow Point | A bullet designed to expand on impact for increased stopping power. |
| Home Defense | The use of firearms for protecting one’s home. |
| Home Invasion | Unlawful entry into a person’s home, often for robbery. |
| Hunting | The practice of pursuing and capturing or killing wild animals. |
| IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) | A first aid kit for treating gunshot wounds. |
| Incendiary | A bullet designed to ignite upon impact. |
| Incendiary | A bullet designed to ignite on impact, often used for tracer rounds. |
| IR Laser | An infrared laser used with night vision equipment. |
| IWB (Inside the Waistband) | A method of concealed carry with the gun inside the waistband. |
| JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) | A bullet with a metal jacket and a hollow point tip. |
| JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) | A bullet with a metal jacket and a hollow point tip. |
| Kevlar | A synthetic material used in bullet-resistant vests. |
| Lever-Action | A repeating firearm with a lever to cycle rounds. |
| Long Gun | A firearm with a longer barrel, such as a rifle or shotgun. |
| Luger | A semi-automatic pistol designed by Georg Luger. |
| M1 Garand | A semi-automatic rifle used by the US military in WW2. |
| Machine Gun | A fully automatic firearm capable of continuous fire. |
| Mag Release | The mechanism to eject a magazine from a firearm. |
| Magazine | A container that holds ammunition and feeds it into the gun. |
| Magazine Release | The mechanism used to eject a magazine from a firearm. |
| Marksmanship | The skill of shooting accurately and precisely. |
| Match Ammunition | Precision ammunition for accuracy competitions. |
| Match Grade | Ammunition or firearm components designed for accuracy. |
| Muzzle | The front end of a firearm where the bullet exits. |
| Muzzle Brake | A device to reduce recoil and muzzle rise. |
| Muzzle Energy | The kinetic energy of a bullet when leaving the muzzle. |
| Muzzleloader | A firearm loaded through the muzzle, typically using black powder. |
| Negligent Discharge | Accidental firing due to mishandling or carelessness. |
| NFA (National Firearms Act) | A federal law regulating certain firearms and accessories. |
| NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) | A federal system for firearm background checks. |
| Night Sights | Sights with tritium inserts for low-light visibility. |
| NRA (National Rifle Association) | A gun rights advocacy organization in the US. |
| Open Bolt | A firing system where the bolt is held to the rear until the trigger is pressed. |
| Open Bolt | A firing system where the bolt is held to the rear until the trigger is pressed. |
| Open Carry | Carrying a firearm in plain view in public places. |
| Open Carry | The practice of openly carrying a firearm in public. |
| Over-Under | A shotgun with two barrels, one above the other. |
| Overpenetration | A bullet’s ability to pass through a target and continue traveling. |
| Paper Target | A target made of paper used for shooting practice. |
| PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbine) | A rifle chambered in a pistol cartridge. |
| Personal Defense | The use of firearms for individual protection. |
| Picatinny Rail | A standardized mounting rail for firearm accessories. |
| Pistol | A type of handgun, usually semi-automatic. |
| Plinking | Informal target shooting for fun and practice. |
| Point Blank Range | The distance at which a bullet’s trajectory matches the aiming point. |
| Primer | The part of the cartridge that ignites the gunpowder. |
| Pump Action | A manually operated firearm that requires pumping to cycle the action. |
| Recoil | The backward force generated when firing a gun. |
| Recoil Pad | A cushioned pad on the buttstock to reduce recoil. |
| Red Dot Sight | A non-magnifying sight for rapid target acquisition. |
| Revolver | A handgun with a rotating cylinder holding multiple bullets. |
| Revolver | A handgun with a rotating cylinder holding multiple bullets. |
| Rifle | A long-barreled firearm designed for accuracy and range. |
| Rifling | Spiral grooves inside a gun barrel to stabilize the bullet. |
| Rimfire | A cartridge with the primer located in the rim of the base. |
| Rimfire Cartridge | A cartridge with the primer located in the rim of the base. |
| Rimfire Cartridge | A cartridge with the primer located in the rim of the base. |
| Safety | A mechanism that prevents accidental firing of a gun. |
| Safety Catch | A device to prevent the trigger from accidental firing. |
| Safety On | Engaging the firearm’s safety to prevent accidental firing. |
| Sawed-off Shotgun | A shotgun with a shortened barrel, often illegal. |
| Semi-Automatic | A firearm that reloads automatically after each shot. |
| Semi-Wadcutter | A bullet with a flat nose, often used for target shooting. |
| Shooting Glasses | Protective eyewear for shooting sports. |
| Shooting Range | A designated area for shooting firearms. |
| Shooting Stance | The position and posture when shooting a firearm. |
| Sights | Devices used to aim a firearm, like scopes or iron sights. |
| Silencer / Suppressor | A device that reduces the noise of firing a gun. |
| Single-Action | A trigger mechanism that requires manual hammer cocking. |
| Single-Stack Magazine | A magazine with a single column of bullets. |
| Skeet Shooting | A clay target shooting sport with specific flight paths. |
| Slide | The moving part of a semi-automatic handgun or pistol. |
| Sling | A strap used to carry a long gun over the shoulder. |
| Slug | A single, large projectile used in a shotgun shell. |
| Smoothbore | A firearm barrel without rifling, commonly in shotguns. |
| Snap Caps | Dummy rounds used for dry firing and firearm storage. |
| Snub-Nose | A revolver with a short barrel, often for concealed carry. |
| Sporting Clays | A shooting sport involving clay target shooting. |
| Stock | The part of a long gun held against the shoulder. |
| Stockpiling | Accumulating a large amount of ammunition or firearms. |
| Stopping Power | The ability of a bullet to incapacitate a target. |
| Supersonic | A bullet traveling faster than the speed of sound. |
| Supersonic | A bullet traveling faster than the speed of sound. |
| Tactical Scope | A scope designed for military or law enforcement use. |
| Tactical Shotgun | A shotgun modified for military or law enforcement use. |
| Takedown Rifle | A rifle designed to be easily disassembled for transport. |
| Target Acquisition | The process of locating and focusing on a target. |
| Target Stand | A stand used to hold targets during shooting practice. |
| Three-Point Sling | A type of sling that provides multiple carry positions. |
| Trajectory | The curved path a bullet follows after leaving the muzzle. |
| Trajectory | The curved path a bullet follows after leaving the muzzle. |
| Trigger | The part of a gun that, when pressed, fires the weapon. |
| Trigger Discipline | The practice of keeping the finger off the trigger until ready to fire. |
| Trigger Guard | The part of a firearm surrounding the trigger. |
| Trigger Pull | The force required to pull the trigger and fire the gun. |
| Trigger Reset | The distance the trigger must be released to reset and fire again. |
| Two-Stage Trigger | A trigger with two distinct stages for better control. |
| Ultimate Trigger Kit | Aftermarket upgrades to improve trigger performance. |
| Under-Over | A shotgun with two barrels, one below the other. |
| Unload | Removing all ammunition from a firearm. |
| Varmint Rifle | A rifle designed for hunting small pests and varmints. |
| Velocity | The speed at which a bullet travels. |
| Versatility | The ability of a firearm to be used for multiple purposes. |
| Wadcutter | A flat-fronted bullet often used in target shooting. |
| Walnut Stock | A rifle or shotgun stock made from walnut wood. |
| Warning Shot | Firing a shot to warn without intending to hit a target. |
| Webley Revolver | A British top-break revolver used in the past. |
| Windage Adjustment | The horizontal adjustment of a scope’s reticle. |
| Youth Model | A firearm designed for younger or smaller shooters. |
| Zeroing | Adjusting the sights or scope for accurate aiming. |
