Understanding Defensive Shooting Terminology
By Jeff Young
If you’re new to defensive shooting, the jargon and acronyms tossed around in forums, social media, or range conversations can feel like a foreign language. From “AIWB” to “JHP,” the terms can be overwhelming. To help you navigate, we’ve compiled a list of commonly used terms in the defensive shooting world, drawing inspiration from resources like the Rangemaster Newsletter, a trusted source of firearms knowledge since the late 1990s. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up, this guide will shed light on the lingo.
Accuracy vs. Precision
• Accuracy: The ability of a firearm or shooter to hit the intended point of aim (e.g., a zeroed gun hitting the bullseye).
• Precision: For the firearm, it’s about consistent, predictable shot grouping (tight groups). For the shooter, it’s balancing accuracy and speed, especially on smaller or distant targets.
Action Types (Semi-Auto Pistols)
• SA (Single Action): The trigger performs one action—releasing the hammer (e.g., 1911 pistols).
• SAO (Single Action Only): Exclusively single-action, with no double-action capability.
• DA (Double Action): The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer or striker (also called TDA, Traditional Double Action).
• DAO (Double Action Only): Every shot is double-action, with no single-action option.
• Striker Fired: Uses a spring-loaded striker instead of a hammer and firing pin (e.g., Glock).
AD/ND/UD
• AD (Accidental Discharge): A shot fired due to mechanical failure, not user error.
• ND (Negligent Discharge): A shot fired due to carelessness or improper handling.
• UD (Unintentional Discharge): A catch-all term when it’s unclear if the discharge was accidental or negligent.
AIWB (Appendix Inside Waistband)
A holster worn inside the pants, forward of the hip (near the appendix), offering concealability and quick access.
Automaticity
Mastering a skill (like drawing or firing) so it can be performed correctly without conscious thought, freeing your mind for tactical decisions.
Ball Ammunition
Practice or training ammo with a fully jacketed bullet, designed for cost-effective range use.
Ballistic Gelatin
A gelatin standard that mimics swine muscle tissue when struck by a bullet. Used to test penetration, it’s not a full-body simulation (skin, bones, and organs add complexity). The FBI recommends 12-18 inches of gelatin penetration for defensive ammo, as human skin alone equates to about 3.5 inches.
Bill Drill
A standard drill to test recoil control and sight tracking: draw and fire 6 shots into an 8” circle at 7 yards as fast as possible, aiming for all hits.
BUG (Back-Up Gun)
A compact secondary firearm carried in case the primary gun fails or is lost.
Bullet Types (Handguns)
• Ball/FMJ (Full Metal Jacket): Jacketed practice ammo for training.
• JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point): Defensive ammo designed to expand on impact.
• LHP (Lead Hollow Point): Similar to JHP but made of lead.
• LFN (Lead Flat Nose): Lead bullet with a flat tip, often for revolvers.
• Wadcutter: A flat-nosed, all-lead bullet that cuts clean holes in paper targets.
• Semi-Wadcutter: Like a wadcutter but with a conical nose for easier revolver reloading.
• Frangible: Compressed metal bullets that break apart on steel targets, reducing ricochet.
• SP/JSP (Soft Point/Jacketed Soft Point): Expands at rifle velocities but less effective in handguns.
Card Drill (Card Challenge)
A skill test: draw from concealment and fire 5 shots into a vertically oriented playing card at 5 yards, aiming to hit all shots in 5 seconds or less.
Cardinal Rules
The foundation of safe gun handling:
• Muzzle Discipline: Always know where your muzzle is pointed.
• Trigger Finger Discipline: Keep your finger off the trigger and “in register” (a consistent, safe position) when not firing.
Carry Ammo
Typically JHP cartridges designed to expand in a body for effective self-defense.
Cartridge (Round)
A complete unit of ammunition: case, primer, powder, and bullet.
Cleaning a Firearm
To ensure safety before maintenance or dry practice:
1. Remove the magazine.
2. Eject any chambered round.
3. Lock the slide back and visually inspect the chamber and magazine well.
4. Keep the gun empty and open during handling.
Clip vs. Magazine
• Clip: A metal strip holding cartridges for loading into a fixed magazine (e.g., C96 Mauser).
• Magazine: A device (fixed or detachable) that stores and feeds ammo into the firearm.
Cold vs. Hot Range
• Cold Range: All guns are unloaded except on the firing line under instructor supervision. Riskier due to assumptions that guns are safe.
• Hot Range: Guns are always loaded, with no handling off the firing line, reducing complacency.
Cold Performance
Executing a skill or drill without warm-up, reflecting real-world readiness.
Combatives
Techniques and gear designed for real-world fighting, distinct from sport shooting or competition.
Compensator (Comp)
A muzzle device with slots to redirect gases, reducing muzzle rise during recoil.
Course of Fire (CoF)
A series of drills or exercises, often used in matches or qualifications to test multiple skills.
Cross Dominance
When your dominant hand and eye are on opposite sides (e.g., right-handed, left-eye dominant).
DGU (Defensive Gun Use)
Using a firearm to defend yourself or others.
Drill of the Month (DOTM)
A monthly shooting exercise (10-30 rounds)
Dry Firing/Practice
Practicing skills like drawing or reloading with an unloaded, verified safe firearm to build muscle memory without ammo or range time.
Dummy Round
An inert, non-firing cartridge replica used for practicing loading, unloading, or malfunction drills.
EDC (Every Day Carry)
The gear you carry daily (gun, holster, belt) for self-defense, not competition or range use.
FBI Course (PQC-19)
The FBI’s current pistol qualification course (adopted 2019), a 50-round test at varying distances with time limits.
Iron Sights
Traditional, non-optical sights with a rear notch and front post, as opposed to optics like red dot sights.
JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
A bullet with a lead core and copper jacket, featuring a hollow tip that expands on impact for defensive use.
Par Time
A benchmark time for completing a drill, indicating competency (e.g., 21 seconds for the Casino Drill).
PMO (Pistol Mounted Optic)
An optical sight on a handgun, often called a red dot sight (RDS), though reticles vary (dots, circles, chevrons).
The Test
A classic drill: fire 10 rounds in 10 seconds at 10 yards into a bullseye target, aiming for 90% or better in the black. Credited to Ken Hackathorn.
Zeroing
Adjusting a firearm’s sights so the bullet hits the point of aim, typically set to hit dead-on or 1 inch high at 25 yards for practical defensive shooting.
This glossary scratches the surface of defensive shooting terminology, but it’s a solid start for newcomers. Stay safe, stay informed, and keep training!
