Firearm and Range Terminology

Being a female beginner shooter can be very intimidating. My first time to a shooting range I was accompanied by an experienced shooter (who is now my husband), but was still nervous about the unknown. I was nervous about not knowing the lingo, or the rules, and honestly, what other people would think of me as a beginner shooter.

The first place to start is the Four Rules of Firearm Safety. These rules are important for anyone operating a firearm, but also informs the newest shooter of the basic expectations.

This post is meant to help educate the new shooter on basic firearm and range terminology in hopes of helping them become more comfortable shooting. This post may be updated from time to time with terms I may of overlooked.

Glossary

Accidental Discharge: The act of firing a round you didn’t mean to. This only happens when in violation of the Four Safety Rules.
Ammo/ Ammunition/ Rounds: These are the projectiles that guns shoot.
Backstop: A raised berm or hill that is constructed to stop bullets beyond the target.
Brass: The spent casing that is left behind after shooting a round of ammunition.
Bullet: The projectile of the ammunition which leaves the muzzle of the gun and travels downrange.
Cartridge: A single, complete round of ammunition which includes the case, primer, powder, and bullet.
Center Fire: A cartridge with it’s primer located in the center of the base of the case.
Center Mass: Used to described the area covering the vital organs on man shaped target. Often used when training for defensive shooting.
Chamber: The rear part of the barrel that is formed to accept the cartridge to be fired. A revolver employs a multi-chamber rotating cylinder separated from the stationary barrel.
Clearance Check: Unloading a firearm by dropping the mag, and racking the slide to visually check the firearm chamber for a round of ammunition.
Clip: Most often used incorrectly to describe magazine. Almost never used in modern firearms.
Down Range: The part of the range past the firing line, the direction the range intended for shooting. Also known as ‘safe direction’ on the range.
Dry Fire: To operate a gun without using ammunition to increase proficiency and familiarity. This should only be done once the firearm has been verified and cleared.
Dud: A defective round that does not fire when it is suppose to.
Eyes and Ears: Industry slang for eye protection (safety glasses) and ear protection (plugs, muffs, etc).
Firing Line: A designated line from where you shoot safely down range.
Firing Side: The hand on the side of the shooter that grips and fires the weapon. Typically the dominate hand.
Follow Through: Continuing to hold the trigger to the rear after the shot has been fired, until the sights are back on target, at which time the trigger is released.
Frame: The common part of the barrel to which the action, barrel and grip are connected.
Gun: General term applied to a firearm.
Holster: A pouch like device that holds a hand gun and covers the trigger.
Long Gun: General term applied to shot gun and rifles.
Magazine/ Mag: A spring loaded box-type device that holds ammunition and is inserted into a firearm.
Malfunction: The temporary stoppage in the functioning of the weapon.
Negligent Discharge: The act of firing a round you didn’t mean to. This only happens when in violation of the Four Safety Rules.
Range is Clear: This means the range is physically clear of any safety hazards.
Range Master: The staff member responsible for the range.
Red Gun: A piece of plastic in the shape of a gun used as a training aid.
Revolver/ Wheel Gun/ 6 Shooter: A handgun which contains ammunition in a revolving cylinder.
Safe Weapon: When a firearm is clear of ammunition and the slide is locked back.
Semi-Automatic/ Semi-Auto/ Semi: A weapon that fires one round with each press of the trigger, and then completes the loading process itself.
Sight Alignment: When the gun sights are lined up properly to form a straight path to the target.
Sight Picture: What the shooter sees when looking through the sights at the target.
Simulator: A training area used to mimic a real situation, such as home, office, or parking lot.
Sling: The carry strap on a shot gun or rifle.
Support Side: The hand or side of the shooter opposite the firing hand or firing side.
Target: The item to be shot at. Generally a sheet of paper or steel plate.
Trigger: The release device that initiates the cartridge (i.e. ammunition round) discharge. When the shooter’s finger pulls this device rearward, it activates the hammer or striker and the gun fires.
Trigger Guard: Usually a band of metal, horn, or plastic that goes around the trigger to assist in preventing accidental discharges. The shooter’s finger should never be inside the trigger guard, until sights are on target and the shooter has made the decision to fire.
Trigger Pull: The amount of force the trigger finger must use on the trigger before the gun will fire.