JONTILLMAN.COM | Part of the problem since 1976

This page is based on the complete text of a booklet entitled A Glossary of Terms Relating to Firearms, Their Use, and Possession for the Hoplophobe, the Non-shooter, or Individuals Employed by the Media, originally published and copyrighted by Fr. Frog in 1994 (with subsequent updates). It was designed to correct and to help prevent “inaccurate reporting” and dispel myths when dealing with non-shooters and media types.

It is available in a nicely printed handy 5½” x 8½” booklet form for distribution or your library from:

Excalibur Press
1365 Saddleback Drive
Cottonwood, AZ 86326-4743

The cost is $5.50 per booklet to cover production and 1st Class postage. (Quantity discounts are available.)

It has been reproduced here with the kind permission of Excalibur Press. What is shown here can legally be called a “derivitive work”, as I have taken the liberty of making some corrections and amendments to the original text.

The definitions here are all gun related. For more general terminology, please see our Site Glossary.

Accident

An unexpected and undesirable event caused by circumstances beyond the control of the participant(s). There are practically no firearms related “accidents.” See Negligent Discharge.

Action Shooting

A shooting sport in which the competitors attempt to hit a number of small metallic targets of various shapes in the shortest possible time using a pistol drawn from a holster.

Aperture Sight (”Peep Sight”)

A type of rear sight used on rifles and shotguns that features a thick-rimmed aperture with a small opening mounted on the firearm’s receiver. It is used with a flat topped blade front sight and provides a high degree of accuracy. However, it is difficult to use in dim lighting conditions, especially if an extremely small opening “target” type aperture is used. Compare with Ghost Ring Sight.

Armor Piercing Ammunition

Ammunition utilizing a projectile specifically designed to penetrate hardened, or armor-plated targets such as tanks, trucks, and other vehicles. Depending on the definition used for “armored” any small arms ammunition could be considered armor piercing. As an example, a target designed to resist pistol fire can be penetrated by rifle ammunition, or a target designed to resist rifle fire can be penetrated by a light cannon. Thus the term “bullet proof” is improper and the term “bullet resistant” should be used. When a bullet of such characteristics in of a pistol caliber it is referred to by the media as an “evil cop- killer bullet” although no cop has ever been killed by such a bullet penetrating his body armor.

Arsenal

A government establishment where firearms and ammunition are stored, repaired, or manufactured. The term is misused by the media to mean more than one firearm or any quantity of ammunition, as in “they found an arsenal.”

Artillery

Large bore diameter (nominally 3″ or greater) firearms designed to be operated by a crew of individuals. They are utilized to project explosive, armor defeating, incendiary, or nuclear projectiles over great distances. They are normally moved by vehicle because of their size and weight. “Cannon,” mortars, howitzers, and similar are considered artillery.

Automatic Firearm (”Fully Automatic Firearm”)

A firearm that may be discharged successively without interruption by a single actuation of its firing device until its ammunition supply is exhausted or until it is deliberately stopped by its user. Generically referred to in the media as a “machine gun.” Contrast this definition with Semiautomatic Firearm. The possession, use, and transportation of automatic firearms have been tightly controlled under federal law since 1934. See NFA 34.

Assassinate

To kill a human being unlawfully but for a non-personal, political, or religious reason deemed justifiable to the killer.

Assault Rifle

A military issued Selective Fire or Fully Automatic rifle with a short overall length designed to fire a reduced power rifle cartridge. The term is popularly but incorrectly used by the media and Hoplophobes to label any firearm that has a large capacity magazine, especially those that look “military,” and have such characteristic as a flash suppressor, bayonet lug, pistol grip stock configuration, or a plastic stock.

Ballistics

The study of moving projectiles. Internal ballistics deals with what happens inside of a firearm upon discharge. External ballistics is the study of a projectile’s flight, and terminal ballistics is the study of the impact of a projectile.

Bayonet Lug

A mounting point on a small arm that allows a bayonet or other accessory to be attached. While these attachment points on a small arm have caused the media and Hoplophobes to shudder in fear, and are generally considered by them to be a key identifying point of an “Assault Rifle.” Drive-by bayonetings and holdups at bayonet point are a non-issue in crime control.

Benchrest (Shooting)

A shooting sport in which the competitors seek to place five or ten consecutive shots into the smallest possible group on a paper target at various ranges. All firing is done from an artificially supported shooting position. It is a severe test of the mechanical precision of both the small arm and its ammunition.

Biathlon

A shooting sport that combines both skiing and rifle shooting. It is the only shooting activity in the Winter Olympics. There is also a summer biathlon which involves running and shooting but it is not yet an Olympic event.

Bird Shot

Individual projectiles of less than .24″ in diameter, designed to be discharged in quantity from a shotgun. The size of the shot is given as a number or letter–with the larger number the smaller the shot size. The size designation was originally based upon the size of a mesh through which the shot would pass. The finest size generally used is #9 which is approximately .08″ in diameter and the largest common size is #2 which is approximately .15″ in diameter. However, bird shot is available in a range of sizes from .05″ (#12-also called dust shot which is used in .22 RF shotshells) to .21″ (TT). A quick rule of thumb states that shot diameter in hundredths of an inch is given by subtracting the shot number from 17.

Black Powder

A propellant powder once used in ammunition and as the bursting charge in artillery projectiles. Generically called “gunpowder.” Black powder is no longer in general use except in replicas of antique firearms. It is classed by the Department of Transportation as an explosive. See Smokeless Powder.

Blank Ammunition

A type of ammunition that contains powder but no solid projectile that is used to simulate gun fire or launch a grenade or other large projectile from a suitably equipped firearm. While a blank cartridge contains no projectile the blast and resulting debris can be extremely dangerous or lethal at close range.

Buck Shot

Individual projectiles of .24″ in diameter or greater, designed to be discharged in quantity from a shotgun.

Bullet

The projectile(s) of bore diameter that comes out of the muzzle of a small arm.

Bullet Proof Vest

A popular but incorrect term for bullet resistant clothing. See Armor Piercing Ammunition.

Caliber

The measurement of the bore diameter of a firearm expressed in inches, although such a measurement may be frequently stated in millimeters. It is correctly expressed as “.40 caliber” (note the decimal point) or as “10 millimeter” (without “caliber” or the leading decimal point). The term is also frequently used in the military to describe the length of an artillery piece’s barrel in relation to the bore diameter. (A 5″ - 38 caliber naval cannon has a barrel 38 x 5″ or 190″ long.) See Gauge for shotgun bore measurements.

Carbine

Originally a shortened version of a standard rifle. Commonly used today to indicate any rifle of short overall length.

Cartridge

A complete unit of ammunition for small arms consisting of a cartridge case, primer, propellant, and projectile(s), which is inserted into the firing chamber.

Cartridge Case

A container made of metal or other material that holds the propelling charge, primer, and projectile in a single unit of ammunition.

Centerfire Cartridge

A design of ammunition in which the Primer is centrally located in the base of the cartridge case. Centerfire cartridge cases are generally reusable. See Rimfire Cartridge.

Chamber

That portion of a firearm in which the cartridge is placed for firing. In cannons, rifles, shotguns, single shot pistols, and semiautomatic pistols it is the interior of the rearward portion of the barrel. In revolvers the chamber(s) are located in the revolving cylinder. Used as a verb (to chamber) it means to place a cartridge in a firearm’s chamber in preparation for firing.

Clip

A device for holding cartridges together before inserting them into a firearm’s magazine. Incorrectly used to mean a detachable Magazine.

Combat Shooting

A generic reference to a shooting sport (generally using handguns) that seeks to simulate the use of small arms as an instrument of personal protection. Depending on the particular type of match and equipment used it may or may not provide a realistic simulation. It is often used for training purposes. Contrast with Practical Shooting.

Crime Control

Correctly, controlling the actions or possible actions of a Criminal. Unfortunately this term is used by the media to mean taking firearms away from honest citizens while doing nothing to stop or punish actual criminals. Since only a moral person’s behavior is controlled by the laws of society, the passing of laws making a certain behavior, or the possession of certain items illegal has no effect upon crime and the criminal. What does control crime is to make criminal behavior a very risky business. This best done by means of swift, sure, and severe punishment, either meted out by their intended victims at the time of the act or by the courts upon conviction, followed by the removal of the criminal from society.

Criminal

Correctly, an individual who as a course of normal behavior disregards their moral duty, the rights of others, and the laws of the land, for personal gain. Many people feel that the term is synonymous with “politician.” It is incorrectly used by many politicians and Hoplophobes to mean anyone who owns a firearm, who disagrees with their ideas, or who has at one time committed a minor infraction of the law.

Decimate

To reduce by a tenth. The term properly refers to the Roman practice of disciplining a military unit by selecting a tenth of its force by lot and killing them. It is incorrectly used by the media to refer to a large number of casualties in a group.

Double-Action

A type of firearm that may be discharged either by manually cocking the weapon and then pulling the trigger or by using trigger action to both cock and fire the weapon. This term is commonly (although incorrectly) used to indicate the operation of a weapon using the trigger cocking mode, or to describe a firearm capable of being operated in the trigger cocking mode. Compare with Single Action.

Double-Tap

Two very quick shots fired from a handgun with both directed by the sights. Also referred to as a “pair.” The two shots are fired at a slower cadence than a “Hammer” which is fired at close to the cyclic rate of the firearm.

Dud

A popular term for a cartridge that fails to fire after its primer is struck by the firearm’s firing pin. See Hangfire.

Dum Dum

(Sometimes seen as dumdum.) A stupid individual. The term is incorrectly used by the media and Hoplophobes to mean any bullet that is designed to expand upon impact, which somehow makes it “evil.” The concept was originally thought up at Dum Dum Arsenal in India where they modified the fully jacketed service rifle bullets by clipping off the closed nose so they would expand, when they found that the normal fully jacketed bullet was not effective on drug crazed enemy.

Dry Firing

The operation of a firearm without the use of ammunition, as a means of obtaining or retaining operational familiarity and technique. Dry firing must be done very carefully since the primary rule of firearm safety is that all firearms are always loaded.

Execute

To kill a human being under jurisdiction of the sovereign law of the place of death.

Expert Marksman

A person who can hit anything they can see—within the effective range of their weapon.

Fire (To)

To begin an artillery bombardment. Also, the act of discharging any artillery or firearm.

Firearm

Any instrument that projects a missile by gas pressure generated by the combustion of a propellant. Thus, airguns are not, by definition, firearms.

Firepower

A volume of fire delivered by a military unit. Incorrectly used by the media to mean the ability of a small arm to be discharged many times without reloading.

Flash Hider (Flash Suppressor)

A device attached to the muzzle of a firearm designed to eliminate or reduce the incandescent flash of the firearm’s discharge. Although they can reduce the visibility of the firearm’s location when fired they are primarily designed to prevent the shooter’s vision from being blinded by the flash at night. Many flash hiders also act as a Muzzle Brake.

Four Rules (The)

If these four basic safety rules are established and scrupulously followed, safe firearms handling will be assured and negligent discharges will be avoided.

1. All firearms are loaded. Always! Period.
2. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it.

There is also an unwritten but implied fifth rule which applies not only to firearms safety, but also to tactics: Take nothing for granted. Check everything by sight and touch.

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)

A bullet design that is completely encased in a hard metal jacket, which is not intended to expand upon impact. They are utilized in military small arms ammunition where bullet expansion is proscribed by the Hague Accords (and not the Geneva Convention) and in hunting ammunition where extremely deep penetration is required. Sometime called a “full metal cased” bullet.

Gauge

Sometimes (incorrectly) spelled gage. The measurement of the diameter of a shotgun’s bore expressed as the number of lead balls of bore diameter that weigh one pound. The sole exception to this is the .410 shotgun, which has a diameter of .41 inches (i.e., .41 caliber). See Caliber.

Geneva Convention(s)

A set of international agreements to provide for “civilized” behavior between nations at war. It is most frequent referenced for it’s banning of the use of expanding bullets in small arms ammunition by warring parties (which was actually originally proscribed by the Hague Accords of 1899 and 1907 ). In actuality this “ban” is very misleading for while expanding projectiles are proscribed, the use of mines, explosives, and flame weapons which indiscriminately shred and maim their victims are not. In fact an expanding bullet is simply an attempt to make a small diameter projectile as effective as a large diameter non-expanding one.

GCA 68 (Gun Control Act of 1968)

The set of federal regulations that govern the sale and possession of firearms. It, among other things:

• Prohibits the sale of handguns to anyone under 21 years of age.
• Prohibits the sale of rifles and shotguns to anyone under 18 years of age.
• Prohibits the mail order sale of firearms to individuals.
• Prohibits the sale of handguns to non residents of the state of purchase.
• Prohibits the sale of rifles and shotguns to non residents of a state unless their home state borders the state of purchase, and their home state has passed legislation allowing them to do so.
• Prohibits the sale of firearms to anyone under indictment or convicted of a crime that is punishable by more than one year in jail, and certain other offenses.
• Requires that dealers record the sale and identity of the purchaser of all ammunition that is usable in pistols in a record book.
• Requires that dealers record the sale and identity of the purchaser of all firearms on a federal form and in a record book.
• Requires the licensing of anyone engaged in the sale or manufacture for sale of firearms and ammunition.

Ghost Ring Sight

A type of rear sight used on rifles or shotguns. It features a thin-rimmed, large-opening rear aperture (as opposed to a small aperture “target” or “peep” sight) mounted on the firearm’s receiver. Used together with a flat topped front blade sight it allows extremely fast target acquisition while still allowing precise aiming under all kinds of lighting conditions.

Gun Control

Hitting what you shoot at. Incorrectly used by the media to mean “Unilateral Personal Disarmament.”

“Gun down” (To)

To manifest a disrespect for the English language.

Gun Lobby

A term used by the media and Hoplophobes to describe the National Rifle Association, and anyone else who does not like anti-gun legislation or who fights against useless and restrictive firearms laws. Often called the “powerful gun lobby that goes against the will of the people” when anti-gun legislation is in fact voted down by the people.

Handgun

An alternate term for a Pistol.

Hangfire

The discharge of a cartridge after an appreciable interval when its primer is struck by the firing pin. This condition can be caused by a deteriorated or defective primer or from a weak firing pin blow.

Hammer

The mechanical part of a firearm that causes the firing pin to ignite the cartridge’s primer. The term is also, used to describe two very quick shots fired from a handgun with the first directed by the sights and the second held on target by the power of the shooter’s grip.

Hollowpoint

A metal jacketed or unjacketed bullet design in which the core of the bullet is exposed by means of a cavity in its nose to ensure the expansion of the bullet upon impact. Often abbreviated “JHP” (Jacketed Hollow Point) or “HP.” They tend to give more shallow penetration than a similar bullet of Soft Point design. They are not more “deadly” than non-expanding bullets but are simply an attempt to make a small diameter bullet as effective as a non expanding bullet of a larger diameter.

Hoplophobe

An individual with an unreasonable fear of weapons in and of themselves, or of the practice of weaponcraft, who refuses to be properly educated about the subject out of such a fear. From the Greek hoplon meaning tool or weapon and phobes meaning fear.

Kill

To cause death, period. Note that the correct translation of the Hebrew language of the Sixth Commandment is: “You shall do no murder.”

Lethality

The ability of any item to cause eventual death by its use or misuse. Contrast with the term Stopping Power.

Loaded

A firearm is loaded when a cartridge is in its firing chamber. However, for safety reasons all firearms are always treated as loaded at all times. See The 4 Rules. The term is also used to describe an individual who has consumed too much liquor (which has the potential to make them much more dangerous than any loaded firearm).

Machine Gun

A fully automatic firearm using a cartridge designed and intended for use in rifles or larger firearms. Incorrectly used by the media to describe any repeating firearm, especially if it looks “military.”

Machine Pistol

A fully automatic Small Arm using a cartridge designed and intended for use in pistols. Commonly called a “submachine gun.”

Magazine

A removable or fixed device designed to hold cartridges for feeding into the firing mechanism of a firearm.

Marksman

A person who can make their weapon do what it was designed to do—most of the time.

Massacre

To kill those who have surrendered without due process of law.

Magnum

Properly, a large bottle of wine holding about 2/5 of a gallon. The term is popularly used to mean a small arms cartridge loaded to higher than “standard” power levels. (The .357 Magnum cartridge is actually the .38 Special cartridge loaded to about twice the normal power level.)

Master Marksman

A person who can shoot up to the mechanical capability of their weapon.

Militia

As defined by the framers of the US Constitution in their original writings, the body of all citizenry who are armed. Incorrectly used by the media to mean the either the National Guard or supremacist and separatist paramilitary groups.

Military Firearm

Any firearm that is or has been used by the military services (which includes just about every commercial small arm ever made). Incorrectly used by the media to label any small arm that is equipped with a flash suppresser, bayonet lug, large capacity magazine (over five cartridges), black plastic stock, or any combination of these items. See Sporting Firearm.

Misfire

The condition of a cartridge not firing when an attempt to fire it is made. It can be caused by either a defective cartridge or a defective firearm. The term has some times been misused to indicate a Negligent Discharge of a firearm.

Murder

To kill a human being unlawfully, without morally or legally adequate cause. Note that the correct translation from the Hebrew of the sixth commandment is “You shall do no murder,” and not “You shall not kill.”

Muzzle Brake

A device attached to the muzzle of a firearm which is designed to reduce the recoil of the firearm by redirecting the powder gases produced during firing. Many muzzle brakes also act as a flash hider.

Negligent Discharge

The unplanned discharge of a firearm caused by a failure to observe the basic safety rules. See The 4 Rules. Firearms related injuries or property damage are due to negligent discharges, not accidents. See Accident.

NFA 34 (National Firearms Act of 1934)

The set of federal regulations that govern the sale and possession of certain classes of firearms. It among other things:

• Requires the registration of all fully automatic firearms.
• Requires the registration of all “sawed off” rifles and shotguns.
• Requires the registration of firearm silencers.
• Imposes a transfer tax on the above items.
• Regulates the sale, manufacture, transfer, and transportation of the above items.

NRA

The National Rifle Association. Referred to by the media and hoplophobes as “THE gun lobby.” This organization coordinates shooting events on a national level, provides firearms training to civilians and law enforcement, fights useless harassing and restrictive firearms legislation and supports the constitutional right of law abiding citizens to own and carry firearms, and the swift and sure punishment of those who criminally misuse firearms.

Open Sight

A type of rear sight characterized by an open topped notch. It is mounted on the rear portion of the barrel on rifles and shotguns or on the rear portion of a handgun’s receiver and used in conjunction with a blade type front sight. This is the standard type of sight on handguns. When fitted to rifles and shotguns, it is imprecise and slow to acquire due to the distance between the sights and the distance of both the front and rear sights from the eye.

Overshoot (To)

A term used in artillery to indicate a projectile impact beyond the designated target. It is euphemistically being used in law enforcement circles to refer to the tendency of many officers to rely on a semiautomatic pistol’s ability to fire many shots to secure a possible hit on a target rather than marksmanship. See Spray and Pray.

Pair

Two shots fired quickly with the use of the sights.

Pistol

A non-repeating, repeating, or semiautomatic Small Arm designed and intended to be efficiently discharged by a single individual, using one hand. Also called a Handgun.

Practical Shooting

A shooting sport that simulates the use of a small arm in its intended role either as a tool for hunting or personal defense. True practical shooting limits the small arms, ammunition, and accessories used to those items that would actually be used in the role simulated. However, for the most part, practical shooting has degraded into a sport requiring all kinds of specialized firearms with the competitors using every rule beating gadget they can.

Primer

That component of ammunition that ignites the propelling charge when struck by the firearm’s firing mechanism. Some military cannon ammunition primers are electrically fired.

Receiver

The portion of a firearm that contains the operating parts and into which the barrel is fitted. Sometimes referred to as the firearm’s “action.”

Registration

A political course of action that claims that by maintaining a list of a particular class of law abiding citizens and/or their possessions (normally the owners of privately held small arms) that crime or misuse will some how be reduced. In fact, throughout history registration has always led to harassment and taxation of honest citizens and the eventual confiscation of their lawful property by the government. It serves only to facilitate the control of a country’s citizens by the government. It has been proven repeatedly by historical evidence to have absolutely no effect on crime and criminals.

Repeating Firearm

A firearm that may be discharged repeatedly without recharging by means of deliberate, successive mechanical actions of the user.

Revolver

A repeating pistol characterized by having a revolving cylinder separate from the barrel, that contains a set of chambers that rotate into line with the barrel for firing.

Rifle

A Small Arm characterized by spiral grooves cut on the inside of its projection tube or barrel, which is designed and intended to be operated by a single individual, using both hands. The barrel length of a rifle is restricted under federal law to not less than 16 inches.

Rifling

A series of spiral grooves cut in the bore of a firearm designed to stabilize a projectile by spinning it.

Right to Bear Arms

The inalienable right (not a given privilege) of all of the people, stated in the Second Amendment of The Bill of Rights, to possess and use personally owned firearms for sport, recreation, personal protection, and the defense of the nation. Contrary to many claims by uneducated individuals it has been proven from historical documents that this is an individual right and not restricted to any organized body of citizens.

Rimfire Cartridge

A design of ammunition in which the Primer is located around the outside edge of the base of the cartridge case. Currently used only in .22 caliber and smaller ammunition. Rimfire cartridge cases are not reusable. See Center Fire Cartridge.

Riot Gun

A popular term for a short barreled repeating shotgun as frequently used in law enforcement and personal protection.

Round

An artillery projectile or a complete unit of artillery ammunition. The term is commonly used to mean an individual small arms cartridge.

Sabot

From the French word for shoe. A type of ammunition used in small arms or artillery in which a cylindrical projectile of less than bore diameter is encased in a bore diameter sleeve that is discarded in flight after discharge. It is commonly used in large (.50 caliber or greater) diameter military ammunition to provide high velocity armor defeating capabilities. The common term for this kind of ammunition is “SLAP” (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator). The concept has found commercial application with shotgun slugs and some other specialized use small arms ammunition.

Saturday Night Special

A $9.95 steak and salad weekend special at your local pub. Incorrectly used by Hoplophobes and the media to designate any small concealable (but not necessarily inexpensive) handgun.

Safety

A state of mind or action intended to reduce the risk of personal harm. It also refers to a mechanical device on a firearm intended to lock the firing mechanism to prevent discharge. See The 4 Rules.

“Sawed Off”

A generic term used to describe a rifle or shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches, or a barrel length of less than 18 inches in the case of a shotgun or less than 16 inches in the case of a rifle. Possession of firearms of this type has been tightly controlled under federal law since 1934. See NFA 34.

Second Amendment (The)

The second article in the United States Bill of Rights which states, “A well regulated militia being necessary for a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Note that the Bill of Rights is a statement of the rights of the all citizens accorded them by their Creator and that freedoms implied by the ten articles are not privileges granted by the state to be denied the citizens at the whim of the state.

Selective-Fire Firearm

Any firearm that may be operated in either the fully automatic or semiautomatic mode at the selection of the user. Selective fire firearms are legally classed as fully automatic firearms.

Semiautomatic Firearm (”Self-Loading” Firearm)

A firearm that may not be discharged more than once at a single actuation of its firing device and that reloads automatically, from a self-contained magazine, one round at a time, until its ammunition supply is exhausted. Incorrectly called a “machine gun” by Hoplophobes. Contrast this with Automatic Firearm.

Semiwadcutter

A bullet design featuring a conical extended nose, with a flat point, and a sharp edged shoulder that serves to cut a full diameter hole in the target. This design also may be found with a hollow point to facilitate expansion. Often abbreviated “SWC.”

Shell

To hit a target with artillery fire. Also the explosive projectile fired from a cannon. Incorrectly used to mean “Cartridge“.

Shoot (To)

To discharge a small arm at a target.

Shot

Individual projectiles of less than bore diameter designed to be discharged in quantity from a shotgun.

Shotgun

A small arm with a smooth unrifled bore designed to project multiple missiles of less than bore diameter at one discharge, which is intended to be operated by a single individual using both hands. The barrel length of a shotgun is restricted by federal law to not less than 18″ in length.

Silencer

A device used to reduce the sound of a firearm’s discharge. Contrary to what is portrayed by the media the removable types are neither very compact nor efficient, and they generally adversely affect the accuracy of a firearm. The possession, use, and transportation of silencers have been tightly controlled under federal law since 1934. Any device which reduces the sound of discharge by more than 2 dB is considered by the BATF to be a “silencer.”

Silhouette Shooting

A handgun or rifle shooting sport in which the competitors attempt to knock over metallic game-shaped targets at various ranges.

Single-Action

A type of firearm that may be discharged solely by manually cocking the weapon and then pulling the trigger. This term is commonly (but incorrectly) used to indicate the operation of a weapon using this mode.

Skeet

A shotgun shooting sport in which the competitors attempt to break frangible aerial targets directed toward them or crossing in front of them from different angles and elevations. It is an Olympic shooting sport.

Slaughter

To kill for meat.

Slug

More correctly a “rifled slug.” An individual cylindrical projectile, usually of bore diameter, designed to be discharged from a shotgun. The term is often incorrectly used to mean a Bullet.

Small Arms

Firearms designed to be carried and used by an individual or individuals.

Smokeless Powder

The propellant powder used in modern ammunition. It is not an explosive, but rather a flammable solid that burns extremely rapidly releasing a large volume of gas. Commonly called “gunpowder.” It is classified as a “Flammable Solid” by the Department of Transportation. Note that small arms ammunition, unless it has explosive filled projectiles, does not explode in a fire but rather burns vigorously. See Black Powder.

Soft Point

A metal jacketed bullet design in which the nose of the core of the bullet is exposed to ensure the expansion of the bullet upon impact. Often abbreviated “JSP” (Jacketed Soft Point) or “SP.” They tend to expand more slowly than a Hollow Point bullet and are used where deeper penetration and expansion are needed. They are not more “deadly” than non-expanding bullets but are simply another attempt to make a small diameter bullet as effective as a non expanding bullet of a larger diameter.

Sporting Clays

A shotgun shooting sport that combines elements of skeet and trap, and that is designed to simulate field conditions.

Sporting Firearm

Any firearm that can be used in a sport—in other words any firearm. The term is incorrectly used by the media and Hoplophobes to designate any non semiautomatic small arm other than a pistol made entirely of metal and fitted with a wood stock, which holds five cartridges or less in its Magazine.

Spray and Pray

A term often used to refer to the very poor and dangerous practice of rapidly firing many shots at a target as possible in the hope that one or more may hit the target. This practice is a danger not only to bystanders but also to the shooter as relying on luck to stop an assault can get one killed. This practice became common in law enforcement circles with the advent of large magazine capacity 9mm semiautomatic pistols. It is often referred to as “Glocking” in deference to the 17 round capacity of some Glock pistols.

Stopping Power

A popular but imprecise term used to refer to the ability of a small arms cartridge to cause a human assailant or a very large dangerous game animal to be immediately incapacitated when shot with it. It has nothing to do with Lethality. A more precise term would be Wound Trauma Incapacitation (WTI).

Submachine Gun

A popular but somewhat incorrect term for Machine Pistol.

Telescopic Sight (”Scope” Sight)

A small arms sight that employs optics to provide a magnified view of the target. A telescopic sight does not make a small arm more accurate, but rather helps the shooter to distinguish a distant target from its background.

Tracer Ammunition

A type of ammunition that utilizes a projectile or projectiles that contain a compound in its base that burns during its flight to provide a visual reference of the projectile’s trajectory. While it may produce an incendiary effect on a target it is not expressly designed to do so.

Trajectory

The path that a projectile takes through the air. Contrary to popular misconception it is not a straight line but rather a somewhat flattened curve that crosses the line of the sight twice.

Trap

A shotgun shooting sport in which the competitors attempt to break frangible aerial targets going away from them at different angles and elevations. It is an Olympic shooting sport. The term can also refer to the device used to throw the frangible targets.

Twist

The pitch of a firearm’s rifling expressed in a ratio of turns per distance. A 1:7 (1 turn in 7 inches) twist means that the rifling makes 1 complete turn in 7 inches. The optimum twist rate is determined by the projectile’s length and diameter.

Unilateral Personal Disarmament (UPD)

A political course of action that seeks to deprive the citizens of a country or state of their right to keep and bear arms. This course of action is always put forth by the state under the guise of “crime control.” However, it is actually done to facilitate the control of its citizens by the state and has been unequivocally proven to have no effect on preventing crime despite what the hoplophobes claim. In fact, it tends to increase crime because the criminals then know that their victims are unarmed. Euphemistically called “gun control.”

Wadcutter

A bullet designed with a full diameter flat point. It is primarily used in target competition because it cuts a clean round hole in paper targets that aids in scoring the target. Often abbreviated “WC.”

Waiting Period

A legally mandated delay between the purchase of a firearm and its delivery to the customer. Waiting periods are believed by some people to prevent “crimes of passion” since the purchaser must wait the specified time before obtaining the firearm. Those that have instituted such periods have simply neglected to realize that: a) most people who purchase a firearm already own others; b) if someone wishes to harm another a delay in getting one particular weapon will have no effect–they will simply perform their evil deed with something else. Another reason put forth for a waiting period is that it allows a background check to be done where mandated thus keeping firearms out of a criminal’s hands. The problem with this is that a criminal will not go through normal channels to obtain a firearm. (See definition of Criminal.)

Weaver Stance

A specialized form of two-handed pistol shooting that provides enhanced recoil control, mobility, and accuracy. The term is frequently but incorrectly used to refer to any style of two-handed pistol shooting.

Weapon

Any tool that can be used to apply or project lethal force. (Actually, anything from a rolled up newspaper to a nuclear bomb can be considered a weapon.) The term “lethal weapon” is popular but redundant.

Zero

The farthest distance from a firearm at which the bullet’s path and the point of aim coincide. This term is also used to mean the process of insuring that the sights of a firearm are properly aligned so that where they indicate the bullet will strike is in fact where it strikes.