sig226
Member
Since the question was asked, and this board actively encourages new shooters to learn more about firearms and shooting, how about a thread that defines terms that most of us think are obvious, but may be a little obscure to persons new to shooting.
It's late and I'm tired, so here's the list and a few others I added. Anyone is welcome to add to it, but if possible, can you cut and paste the list and insert your additions in alphabetical order? That way, anyone curious can go to the end of the thread for the most comprehensive list.
AR - assault rifle
AR - an AR-15 rifle; a semi automatic rifle chambered for the 5.56 millimeter x 45mm cartridge, made with a polymer stock and handguard, an aluminum receiver, and which accepts a detachable magazine.
AR type - any of the various copies of the AR-15 available
ASSAULT- for the purpose of this list, assault is threatening another person. If an strike is inflicted upon the other person, it is generally considered to be battery.
AW - assault weapon; used to be a semi automatic rifle that had a military appearance, but has been expanded to include handguns that hold a lot of ammunition.
AWB - assault weapon ban; generally the federal ban passed in 1994, but may also refer to bans in some states, for instance New Jersey.
AOW - any other weapon; firearms regulated by the 1934 GCA which do not fall into the act's other categories. An AOW is a weapon that was not designed to be a long gun or a handgun. The AOW classification includes so called gadget guns, like palm pistols, firearms designed to appear to be something else, like pen guns, and burglar alarm guns, which fired a cartridge when they were activated by some mechanism like a trip wire. AOW also includes AR type pistols with vertical forward grips, and holsters that make the weapon appear to be something else while still allowing it to be fired.
ACTION - 1) the part of the firearm that holds all of the other parts together. The frame of a rifle is the action. The barrel, magazine, stock, and fire control mechanisms are attached to it.
2) the mechanism by which a firearm works; bolt action, locked breech action, etc.
AUTOMATIC - this term must be defined by it's context. A true automatic weapon is a machine gun, which will fire, reload, and fire as long as the trigger is held back. The term is also used as an abbreviated way to describe a semi automatic firearm.
AUTOMATIC KNIFE - an automatic knife is a lockblade knife that opens and locks the blade when the user presses a button.
BALLISTICS - the study of moving projectiles.
BALLISTIC KNIFE - largely a fantasy, a ballistic knife shoots the blade out of the knife when a button is pressed. The Soviets had some of these for special ops teams to use for stealth attacks, but they are often junk made by unscrupulous sellers. A ballistic knife ejects the blade with enough force to make the blade penetrate flesh at some distance.
BATTERY - the most common use of the term battery describes a firearm that is ready to fire. When a firearm has a cartridge in the chamber and all mechanical conditions are met which will allow the the weapon to fire, the firearm is said to be in battery. Battery may also mean a group of weapons which can be commanded to fire at the same time, generally several cannon which are all aimed at a single target.
BATTERY - the crime, or tort, of actually striking another person. In some states, battery may also be the actual preparation to strike another person. When you say, "I'm going to beat you up," it is assault. When you assume a fighting stance and take hold of an object to use as a weapon, it may be battery depending on the laws in your state.
BG - bad guy
BLOW BACK - this is a type of semi - automatic firearm action in which the action is kept closed by the mass of the slide and the pressure of a spring. In order for the slide to go back, the pressure in the chamber has to overcome the inertia of the slide and the force of the spring.
BOLT - the part of a firearm that causes a cartridge to be secured in the chamber. This term is generally used to describe a turnbolt action rifle, in which the the user manually operates a lever which unlocks the action, allows the spent cartridge to be ejected, and when pushed forward, loads another cartridge into the chamber. It is not always a manually operated device. The thing that holds the cartridge in a semi automatic rifle is a bolt. The part of a revolver that locks the cylinder in place to allow the firearm to fire is technically known as a bolt.
BRASS - cartridge cases. Cartridge cases may be made of brass, but also of steel or aluminum.
BREECH - the part of a firearm that closes the back of the chamber. This is whatever the back of the cartridge will press against when the cartridge is fired. A breech may be moveable, as in a turnbolt, hinged, or semi automatic firearm. A breech may also be fixed, as in a revolver or a muzzle loader.
BREECHES - 1) a part of your clothing which should not be visible when you police your brass at a range
2) a part of your clothing that might become soiled when certain unsafe conditions are met (see below.)
BUG - back up gun
BULLET - the bullet is the round thing that comes out of the front of a firearm after the firearm is fired. A bullet is not a Cartridge.
BULLSEYE - aside from the obviou, Bullseye is a type of handgun shooting competition in which shooters use three different calibers of firearm to try to achieve the highest score. Bullseye shooters use a .22, a .38, and a .45 handgun. It was originally intended to allow three groups of shooters to compete in categories that would emphasize all of their strengths - the civilian's .22, the police officer's .38, and the soldier's .45. We know, nobody shoots any of that stuff anymore . . . But if you can consistantly shoot high scores in Bullseye, you're an outstanding handgun shooter.
BUTTERFLY KNIFE - A knife with a two piece handle that encloses the blade. When closed, the handle covers both edges of the blade. The user can flip a catch, snap his wrist, and cause the blade to rotate out of the handles and make the knife usable as a weapon. Butterfly knives are banned in some states.
CARTRIDGE - in modern terms, a cartridge is an assembly. It has a bullet, a primer, and powder, all contained in a cartridge case.
CC - concealed carry of a weapon, not always a firearm.
CCP - concealed carry permit; concealed carry pistol
CCW - concealed carry weapon; this term is often used to describe a concealed carry permit or the act of carrying a concealed weapon. It may also mean that the state that issued it allows concealed carry of weapons besides firearms. Florida, for example, allows a permit holders to carry automatic knives as well as firearms.
CHAMBER - the part of a firearm which contains the cartridge when the cartridge is actually fired. In most firearms, the chamber is an integral part of the barrel, but in a revolver, the cylinder holds several chambers to accomodate each cartridge.
CLASS III - part of the National Firearms Act of 1934. Class III weapons include short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, automatic weapons, silencers, and AOW.
CLIP - a clip is a stamped piece of metal that holds cartridges together. It is most often used to hold five rounds together, so that the clip can be inserted into a guide built into a rifle, and the cartridges can be pushed into the magazine. The thing that falls out of a firearm when you press the button is not a clip. It is a magazine. Some revolvers use circular clips to hold several cartridges together to make it easier to load them and unload them.
CM - the torso; where most of the vital organs are located. Wounds to the center mass of a body are easiest to inflict because it is the largest area of the body, and a wound there is expected to incapacitate quickly.
CROWN - the finished tip of a muzzle. Damage to the crown affects the last part of a firearm to touch the projectile in flight, so an imperfect or damaged crown can have dramatic effects on firearm accuracy.
CYLINDER - the part of a revolver that rotates to align each chamber with the barrel is the cylinder.
DA - District attorney; a prosecutor.
DA - Double Action; a type of trigger that performs two actions. It cocks a hammer and then releases it to fire a firearm. In a DA revolver, the trigger also turns the cylinder to align another chamber with the barrel. It should be called a triple action trigger, but it isn't.
DAO - Double Action Only; most DA firearms have a hammer that can be cocked manually. This reduces the work that has to be done when the trigger is pulled, changes it to single action mode, and causes a lighter trigger pull. Double Action Only firearms do not have a hammer that can be cocked. This has two effects. It means that every pull on the trigger has to exert the same force, so the trigger pull is always the same. It also makes it more difficult to accidentally fire the firearm.
DAGGER - I've yet to find a consistent definition for a dagger. It is generally taken by law enforcement to mean a double edged blade of 6" or greater length, but the definition varies greatly.
DIE - a set of tools used in reloading cartridges. Dies restore the cartridge case to the proper dimensions, seat a bullet above the powder charge, and crimp the mouth of the cartridge case to hold the bullet in place.
DIE - what you hope will happen to the other guy when you CC in an RTC and the SHTF so you DT the BG in the CM.
DIRK - see dagger. From what I've seen, a dirk is either a longer or shorter dagger.
DISCONNECTOR - this is a part of a semi automatic firearm what disengages the fire control mechanism so that a cartridge can not be fired unless the firearm is in battery. This typically means a part or group of parts that mechanically disconnect the trigger from the sear so that the cartridge can not be fired until the firearm is in battery.
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS - the study of projectile's motion after it leaves the barrel of a firearm.
FA - see Full Auto.
FIRING PIN SAFETY - a device which holds the firing pin off the primer and prevents the gun from firing if inadventantly dropped. Firing pin safeties are passive safeties.
FPS - feet per second.
FTE - failure to eject; a type of jam that occurs in automatic and semi automatic firearms. After the cartridge is fired, the empty cartridge case is not ejected from the firearm.
FTF - failure to feed; another type of jam that occurs in semi automatic firearms. An FTF jam occurs when the empty cartridge is ejected and the firearm pushes a fresh cartridge out of the magazine, but the cartridge does not fully enter the chamber.
FULL AUTO - a machine gun; the term is used to distinguish between fully automatic weapons which continue to fire as long as the trigger is held, compared to semi automatic weapons which will only fire one shot when the trigger is pressed.
GAS OPERATED - this term refers to a firearm which uses the burning powder gases to operate the action. A vent in the barrel directs some of the gas back to move the mechanism of the firearm.
GOA - Gun Owners of America; a group that promotes firearm rights in the United States (good bunch, too.)
GRIP SAFETY - a safety which is disengaged by grasping the gun in a firing grip. Grip safeties are passive safeties.
HAMMER - a device which pivots about a pin to strike the firing pin.
HINGE ACTION - a firearm action in which the breech and chamber are connected by a hinge. A double barrel shotgun, and the New England Firearms series of single shot rifles are hinge action firearms.
IDPA - International Defensive Pistol Association; an organization that sanctions firearms matches designed to emphasize the principles of defensive firearms combat.
IWB - a holster that is worn inside the trousers for concealment.
IPSC - International Practical Shooting Association; an organization that sanctions firearm competitions employing movement, multiple targets, and other creative stuff. IPSC is a video game with live ammo. If you've never been to an IPSC match, go. You might not like it, but you will defintiely meet some good people and learn some interesting things. IPSC, and IDPA matches are worth your time to investigate. You might not like what one particular group is doing, but each local organization does its own thing. Attending these matches will introduce the shooter to all kinds of firearms enthusiasts and it's also a hoot.
INTERIOR BALLISTICS - the study of a projectile's motion in the period when it is moving inside a firearm.
IWB - Inside Waist Band; a kind of holster that is held in place between the waist of your clothes and your body.
JPFO - Jews for the Preservation of Firearms ownership; a pro gun rights group whose membership is not limited to Jews. Anyone can join.
LE - Law enforcement
LEO - Law enforcement officer
LINK - a part which connects the breech end of the barrel with the lower frame of the gun in Browning designs. As the slide moves backward, the link pulls the breech end of the barrel down, disengaging the locking lugs and bringing the barrel to a halt as the slide continues rearward.
MAGNUM - a cartridge that propels a bullet at a higher velocity than a standard cartridge. For example, a .30-06 Springfield cartridge fires a 180 grain bullet at 2700 fps. A .300 Winchester Magnum fires a 180 grain bullet at 2960 fps. A .300 Remington Ultra Magnum cartridge fires a 180 grain bullet at 3250 fps. (Remington factory load data.)
MUZZLE - the forward end of a firearm barrel; the little hole in the front where the bullet comes out.
NRA - National Rifle Association; a national organization first started to promote civilian marksmanship due to poor shooting by soldiers during the Civil War. NRA now works with gun friendly legislators to protect the rights of gun owners, it promotes marksmanship and gun safety, and trains firearms instructor for civilian and government training programs.
OWB - Outside the Waist Band; A holster that is worn outside the trousers. The term generally means a holster that has loops for a belt to pass through it, but some OWB holsters are secured by other means.
PADDLE HOLSTER - A holster that is attached to a large paddle made of plastic or some other substance. The paddle is worn between the waistband and the body. Friction holds it in place.
RUM - 1) Remington Ultra Magnum; a designation for a family of cartridges that propel bullets to higher speeds than cartridges designated as 'magnum.'
2) A substance that is useful for alleviating shoulder aches after sighting in a rifle chambered in .300 Remington Ultra Magnum.
RSUM - Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum; a designation for a family of cartridges that use short cartrsidge cases to fire bullets at higher velocity than standard cartridges.
SA - Single Action; a type of trigger. A single action trigger performs only one function. It releases a hammer to fire a firearm.
SAFETY - a device which prevents inadvertent firing by disabling the gun. Safeties may be active (you have to apply them) or passive (they work without conscious action by the shooter.)
SASS - Single Action Shooting Society; an organization that runs firearm competitions based on the weapons available at about 1900. SASS shooters use single action revolvers, lever action rifles, and double barrel shotguns in their matches. Some SASS classes also use blackpowder firearms or cartridges. SASS competitors are supposed to wear period style clothing during the match. Many SASS shoots use scenarions taken from history, or from Hollywood cowboy movies. If you've never been to a SASS match, you should go immediately. Even if you don't shoot, you'll meet good people and see some incredible firearms and shooting. I've never seen any group have more fun shooting than at a SASS match.
SEAR - the part which holds the gun cocked and releases the hammer or firing pin to fire the gun. The part on which it acts is the BENT.
SHTF - Excrement Hits The Fan; When the ultimate disaster occurs.
STRONG SIDE - The favored side; For a right-handed person, the right side is the Strong Side.
TEOTWAWKIT - The End Of The World As We Know It. In an SHTF scenario, things are bad, but they may eventually return to normal. Hurricane Katrina and the Rodney King riots are examples of SHTF. The end of the world as we know it is a Mad Max movie. Things will never return to normal. The destruction of society and infrastructure would be so complete that it would be impossible to return to the lifestyle we enjoy now.
TRIGGER - the part which activates the sear. Triggers (called "trickers") were originally used to mechanically drop a match into the pan of a matchlock.
USPSA - United States Practical Shooting Association; the group that organizes IPSC matches in the USA.
WEAK SIDE - The less favored side; For a right-handed person, the left side is the Weak Side.
WSM - Winchester Short Magnum; a designation for certain cartridges designed by Winchester Ammunition. WSM cartridges are shortened versions of other magnum cartridges.
Okay, I'm tired and it's late. Here's some other stuff. Anyone want to pitch in and we'll compile the thing tommorrow?
NFA FFA GCA
SBS SBR SILENCER MG
TRIGGER BAR, MAGAZINE, GAS RETARDED, LOCKED BREECH, REVOLVER, LEVER ACTION, TURNBOLT, HINGE, SLIDE ACTION, PUMP ACTION, BREECH, BREECH LOADER, MUZZLE LOADER, BLACKPOWDER, SMOKELESS POWDER, DETONATION, DEFLAGRATION, CONDITION 1, CONDITION 2, CONDITION 3 HAMMER FOLLOWS PUSH OFF crown, muzzle, barrel, chamber, unsupported chamber, ramp, extractor, ejector, slide stop, slide release, magazine catch, decocker, magazine, magazine safety, hammer block safety, active safety, passive safety, takedown catch, field strip, windage, elevation, MOA, reticle, turret, crosshair, picatimmy rail, forearm,
gas retarded, locked breech, blowback, gas operated, direct gas impingement, piston operated, o ring, gas piston, gas block, gas tube
propellant, smokeless powder, black powder, primer, flintlock, matchlock, wheellock, pin fire, breechloader, cap and ball
pistol, revolver, handgun, long gun, shotgun, rifle,
what's the ATF term for a shotgun of legal length with a pistol grip instead of a buttstock? (can't recall)
rtc, shall issue, may issue, 2A
Probably some double entries in here. Keeping track of all this can be difficult. Anyone who spots an error, please post a reply so that I can fix it.
It's late and I'm tired, so here's the list and a few others I added. Anyone is welcome to add to it, but if possible, can you cut and paste the list and insert your additions in alphabetical order? That way, anyone curious can go to the end of the thread for the most comprehensive list.
AR - assault rifle
AR - an AR-15 rifle; a semi automatic rifle chambered for the 5.56 millimeter x 45mm cartridge, made with a polymer stock and handguard, an aluminum receiver, and which accepts a detachable magazine.
AR type - any of the various copies of the AR-15 available
ASSAULT- for the purpose of this list, assault is threatening another person. If an strike is inflicted upon the other person, it is generally considered to be battery.
AW - assault weapon; used to be a semi automatic rifle that had a military appearance, but has been expanded to include handguns that hold a lot of ammunition.
AWB - assault weapon ban; generally the federal ban passed in 1994, but may also refer to bans in some states, for instance New Jersey.
AOW - any other weapon; firearms regulated by the 1934 GCA which do not fall into the act's other categories. An AOW is a weapon that was not designed to be a long gun or a handgun. The AOW classification includes so called gadget guns, like palm pistols, firearms designed to appear to be something else, like pen guns, and burglar alarm guns, which fired a cartridge when they were activated by some mechanism like a trip wire. AOW also includes AR type pistols with vertical forward grips, and holsters that make the weapon appear to be something else while still allowing it to be fired.
ACTION - 1) the part of the firearm that holds all of the other parts together. The frame of a rifle is the action. The barrel, magazine, stock, and fire control mechanisms are attached to it.
2) the mechanism by which a firearm works; bolt action, locked breech action, etc.
AUTOMATIC - this term must be defined by it's context. A true automatic weapon is a machine gun, which will fire, reload, and fire as long as the trigger is held back. The term is also used as an abbreviated way to describe a semi automatic firearm.
AUTOMATIC KNIFE - an automatic knife is a lockblade knife that opens and locks the blade when the user presses a button.
BALLISTICS - the study of moving projectiles.
BALLISTIC KNIFE - largely a fantasy, a ballistic knife shoots the blade out of the knife when a button is pressed. The Soviets had some of these for special ops teams to use for stealth attacks, but they are often junk made by unscrupulous sellers. A ballistic knife ejects the blade with enough force to make the blade penetrate flesh at some distance.
BATTERY - the most common use of the term battery describes a firearm that is ready to fire. When a firearm has a cartridge in the chamber and all mechanical conditions are met which will allow the the weapon to fire, the firearm is said to be in battery. Battery may also mean a group of weapons which can be commanded to fire at the same time, generally several cannon which are all aimed at a single target.
BATTERY - the crime, or tort, of actually striking another person. In some states, battery may also be the actual preparation to strike another person. When you say, "I'm going to beat you up," it is assault. When you assume a fighting stance and take hold of an object to use as a weapon, it may be battery depending on the laws in your state.
BG - bad guy
BLOW BACK - this is a type of semi - automatic firearm action in which the action is kept closed by the mass of the slide and the pressure of a spring. In order for the slide to go back, the pressure in the chamber has to overcome the inertia of the slide and the force of the spring.
BOLT - the part of a firearm that causes a cartridge to be secured in the chamber. This term is generally used to describe a turnbolt action rifle, in which the the user manually operates a lever which unlocks the action, allows the spent cartridge to be ejected, and when pushed forward, loads another cartridge into the chamber. It is not always a manually operated device. The thing that holds the cartridge in a semi automatic rifle is a bolt. The part of a revolver that locks the cylinder in place to allow the firearm to fire is technically known as a bolt.
BRASS - cartridge cases. Cartridge cases may be made of brass, but also of steel or aluminum.
BREECH - the part of a firearm that closes the back of the chamber. This is whatever the back of the cartridge will press against when the cartridge is fired. A breech may be moveable, as in a turnbolt, hinged, or semi automatic firearm. A breech may also be fixed, as in a revolver or a muzzle loader.
BREECHES - 1) a part of your clothing which should not be visible when you police your brass at a range
2) a part of your clothing that might become soiled when certain unsafe conditions are met (see below.)
BUG - back up gun
BULLET - the bullet is the round thing that comes out of the front of a firearm after the firearm is fired. A bullet is not a Cartridge.
BULLSEYE - aside from the obviou, Bullseye is a type of handgun shooting competition in which shooters use three different calibers of firearm to try to achieve the highest score. Bullseye shooters use a .22, a .38, and a .45 handgun. It was originally intended to allow three groups of shooters to compete in categories that would emphasize all of their strengths - the civilian's .22, the police officer's .38, and the soldier's .45. We know, nobody shoots any of that stuff anymore . . . But if you can consistantly shoot high scores in Bullseye, you're an outstanding handgun shooter.
BUTTERFLY KNIFE - A knife with a two piece handle that encloses the blade. When closed, the handle covers both edges of the blade. The user can flip a catch, snap his wrist, and cause the blade to rotate out of the handles and make the knife usable as a weapon. Butterfly knives are banned in some states.
CARTRIDGE - in modern terms, a cartridge is an assembly. It has a bullet, a primer, and powder, all contained in a cartridge case.
CC - concealed carry of a weapon, not always a firearm.
CCP - concealed carry permit; concealed carry pistol
CCW - concealed carry weapon; this term is often used to describe a concealed carry permit or the act of carrying a concealed weapon. It may also mean that the state that issued it allows concealed carry of weapons besides firearms. Florida, for example, allows a permit holders to carry automatic knives as well as firearms.
CHAMBER - the part of a firearm which contains the cartridge when the cartridge is actually fired. In most firearms, the chamber is an integral part of the barrel, but in a revolver, the cylinder holds several chambers to accomodate each cartridge.
CLASS III - part of the National Firearms Act of 1934. Class III weapons include short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, automatic weapons, silencers, and AOW.
CLIP - a clip is a stamped piece of metal that holds cartridges together. It is most often used to hold five rounds together, so that the clip can be inserted into a guide built into a rifle, and the cartridges can be pushed into the magazine. The thing that falls out of a firearm when you press the button is not a clip. It is a magazine. Some revolvers use circular clips to hold several cartridges together to make it easier to load them and unload them.
CM - the torso; where most of the vital organs are located. Wounds to the center mass of a body are easiest to inflict because it is the largest area of the body, and a wound there is expected to incapacitate quickly.
CROWN - the finished tip of a muzzle. Damage to the crown affects the last part of a firearm to touch the projectile in flight, so an imperfect or damaged crown can have dramatic effects on firearm accuracy.
CYLINDER - the part of a revolver that rotates to align each chamber with the barrel is the cylinder.
DA - District attorney; a prosecutor.
DA - Double Action; a type of trigger that performs two actions. It cocks a hammer and then releases it to fire a firearm. In a DA revolver, the trigger also turns the cylinder to align another chamber with the barrel. It should be called a triple action trigger, but it isn't.
DAO - Double Action Only; most DA firearms have a hammer that can be cocked manually. This reduces the work that has to be done when the trigger is pulled, changes it to single action mode, and causes a lighter trigger pull. Double Action Only firearms do not have a hammer that can be cocked. This has two effects. It means that every pull on the trigger has to exert the same force, so the trigger pull is always the same. It also makes it more difficult to accidentally fire the firearm.
DAGGER - I've yet to find a consistent definition for a dagger. It is generally taken by law enforcement to mean a double edged blade of 6" or greater length, but the definition varies greatly.
DIE - a set of tools used in reloading cartridges. Dies restore the cartridge case to the proper dimensions, seat a bullet above the powder charge, and crimp the mouth of the cartridge case to hold the bullet in place.
DIE - what you hope will happen to the other guy when you CC in an RTC and the SHTF so you DT the BG in the CM.
DIRK - see dagger. From what I've seen, a dirk is either a longer or shorter dagger.
DISCONNECTOR - this is a part of a semi automatic firearm what disengages the fire control mechanism so that a cartridge can not be fired unless the firearm is in battery. This typically means a part or group of parts that mechanically disconnect the trigger from the sear so that the cartridge can not be fired until the firearm is in battery.
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS - the study of projectile's motion after it leaves the barrel of a firearm.
FA - see Full Auto.
FIRING PIN SAFETY - a device which holds the firing pin off the primer and prevents the gun from firing if inadventantly dropped. Firing pin safeties are passive safeties.
FPS - feet per second.
FTE - failure to eject; a type of jam that occurs in automatic and semi automatic firearms. After the cartridge is fired, the empty cartridge case is not ejected from the firearm.
FTF - failure to feed; another type of jam that occurs in semi automatic firearms. An FTF jam occurs when the empty cartridge is ejected and the firearm pushes a fresh cartridge out of the magazine, but the cartridge does not fully enter the chamber.
FULL AUTO - a machine gun; the term is used to distinguish between fully automatic weapons which continue to fire as long as the trigger is held, compared to semi automatic weapons which will only fire one shot when the trigger is pressed.
GAS OPERATED - this term refers to a firearm which uses the burning powder gases to operate the action. A vent in the barrel directs some of the gas back to move the mechanism of the firearm.
GOA - Gun Owners of America; a group that promotes firearm rights in the United States (good bunch, too.)
GRIP SAFETY - a safety which is disengaged by grasping the gun in a firing grip. Grip safeties are passive safeties.
HAMMER - a device which pivots about a pin to strike the firing pin.
HINGE ACTION - a firearm action in which the breech and chamber are connected by a hinge. A double barrel shotgun, and the New England Firearms series of single shot rifles are hinge action firearms.
IDPA - International Defensive Pistol Association; an organization that sanctions firearms matches designed to emphasize the principles of defensive firearms combat.
IWB - a holster that is worn inside the trousers for concealment.
IPSC - International Practical Shooting Association; an organization that sanctions firearm competitions employing movement, multiple targets, and other creative stuff. IPSC is a video game with live ammo. If you've never been to an IPSC match, go. You might not like it, but you will defintiely meet some good people and learn some interesting things. IPSC, and IDPA matches are worth your time to investigate. You might not like what one particular group is doing, but each local organization does its own thing. Attending these matches will introduce the shooter to all kinds of firearms enthusiasts and it's also a hoot.
INTERIOR BALLISTICS - the study of a projectile's motion in the period when it is moving inside a firearm.
IWB - Inside Waist Band; a kind of holster that is held in place between the waist of your clothes and your body.
JPFO - Jews for the Preservation of Firearms ownership; a pro gun rights group whose membership is not limited to Jews. Anyone can join.
LE - Law enforcement
LEO - Law enforcement officer
LINK - a part which connects the breech end of the barrel with the lower frame of the gun in Browning designs. As the slide moves backward, the link pulls the breech end of the barrel down, disengaging the locking lugs and bringing the barrel to a halt as the slide continues rearward.
MAGNUM - a cartridge that propels a bullet at a higher velocity than a standard cartridge. For example, a .30-06 Springfield cartridge fires a 180 grain bullet at 2700 fps. A .300 Winchester Magnum fires a 180 grain bullet at 2960 fps. A .300 Remington Ultra Magnum cartridge fires a 180 grain bullet at 3250 fps. (Remington factory load data.)
MUZZLE - the forward end of a firearm barrel; the little hole in the front where the bullet comes out.
NRA - National Rifle Association; a national organization first started to promote civilian marksmanship due to poor shooting by soldiers during the Civil War. NRA now works with gun friendly legislators to protect the rights of gun owners, it promotes marksmanship and gun safety, and trains firearms instructor for civilian and government training programs.
OWB - Outside the Waist Band; A holster that is worn outside the trousers. The term generally means a holster that has loops for a belt to pass through it, but some OWB holsters are secured by other means.
PADDLE HOLSTER - A holster that is attached to a large paddle made of plastic or some other substance. The paddle is worn between the waistband and the body. Friction holds it in place.
RUM - 1) Remington Ultra Magnum; a designation for a family of cartridges that propel bullets to higher speeds than cartridges designated as 'magnum.'
2) A substance that is useful for alleviating shoulder aches after sighting in a rifle chambered in .300 Remington Ultra Magnum.
RSUM - Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum; a designation for a family of cartridges that use short cartrsidge cases to fire bullets at higher velocity than standard cartridges.
SA - Single Action; a type of trigger. A single action trigger performs only one function. It releases a hammer to fire a firearm.
SAFETY - a device which prevents inadvertent firing by disabling the gun. Safeties may be active (you have to apply them) or passive (they work without conscious action by the shooter.)
SASS - Single Action Shooting Society; an organization that runs firearm competitions based on the weapons available at about 1900. SASS shooters use single action revolvers, lever action rifles, and double barrel shotguns in their matches. Some SASS classes also use blackpowder firearms or cartridges. SASS competitors are supposed to wear period style clothing during the match. Many SASS shoots use scenarions taken from history, or from Hollywood cowboy movies. If you've never been to a SASS match, you should go immediately. Even if you don't shoot, you'll meet good people and see some incredible firearms and shooting. I've never seen any group have more fun shooting than at a SASS match.
SEAR - the part which holds the gun cocked and releases the hammer or firing pin to fire the gun. The part on which it acts is the BENT.
SHTF - Excrement Hits The Fan; When the ultimate disaster occurs.
STRONG SIDE - The favored side; For a right-handed person, the right side is the Strong Side.
TEOTWAWKIT - The End Of The World As We Know It. In an SHTF scenario, things are bad, but they may eventually return to normal. Hurricane Katrina and the Rodney King riots are examples of SHTF. The end of the world as we know it is a Mad Max movie. Things will never return to normal. The destruction of society and infrastructure would be so complete that it would be impossible to return to the lifestyle we enjoy now.
TRIGGER - the part which activates the sear. Triggers (called "trickers") were originally used to mechanically drop a match into the pan of a matchlock.
USPSA - United States Practical Shooting Association; the group that organizes IPSC matches in the USA.
WEAK SIDE - The less favored side; For a right-handed person, the left side is the Weak Side.
WSM - Winchester Short Magnum; a designation for certain cartridges designed by Winchester Ammunition. WSM cartridges are shortened versions of other magnum cartridges.
Okay, I'm tired and it's late. Here's some other stuff. Anyone want to pitch in and we'll compile the thing tommorrow?
NFA FFA GCA
SBS SBR SILENCER MG
TRIGGER BAR, MAGAZINE, GAS RETARDED, LOCKED BREECH, REVOLVER, LEVER ACTION, TURNBOLT, HINGE, SLIDE ACTION, PUMP ACTION, BREECH, BREECH LOADER, MUZZLE LOADER, BLACKPOWDER, SMOKELESS POWDER, DETONATION, DEFLAGRATION, CONDITION 1, CONDITION 2, CONDITION 3 HAMMER FOLLOWS PUSH OFF crown, muzzle, barrel, chamber, unsupported chamber, ramp, extractor, ejector, slide stop, slide release, magazine catch, decocker, magazine, magazine safety, hammer block safety, active safety, passive safety, takedown catch, field strip, windage, elevation, MOA, reticle, turret, crosshair, picatimmy rail, forearm,
gas retarded, locked breech, blowback, gas operated, direct gas impingement, piston operated, o ring, gas piston, gas block, gas tube
propellant, smokeless powder, black powder, primer, flintlock, matchlock, wheellock, pin fire, breechloader, cap and ball
pistol, revolver, handgun, long gun, shotgun, rifle,
what's the ATF term for a shotgun of legal length with a pistol grip instead of a buttstock? (can't recall)
rtc, shall issue, may issue, 2A
Probably some double entries in here. Keeping track of all this can be difficult. Anyone who spots an error, please post a reply so that I can fix it.
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