Glossary

An accessory for handguns that contains a pressure-activated laser pointer which enables the shooter to quickly see where the firearm is aimed.

A technical term for the raised portions of the bore left between the grooves of the rifling inside the bore of a firearm barrel that has been machined.

This term is often used to describe the recoil created when a firearm is discharged. The kick is the backward momentum felt by the shooter.

A target shooting term meant to identify the hole made in a target shaped like a keyhole, showing the shooter that there may be a problem with the ammo as its flight was erratic.

A firearm malfunction which locks up the gun in such an adverse way that tools may be required in order to fix it.

Jacketed hollow point – a bullet with a copper jacket. Most personal defense bullets are this type.

Jacked flat point.

The Isosceles Stance is a two-handed approach to shooting a handgun in which the dominant hand holds the pistol while the support hand wraps around it.

Constructed primarily of metal, this refers to a non-optical sight.

International Practical Shooting Confederation – runs competition events.

A non-accessible safety placed within the firearm which is generally designed to prevent accidental discharges when the gun is dropped or mishandled.

The Integral Lock is a safety system that allows a gun owner to lock the hammer in place so the gun can not be fired. It has a key that can be used to lock and unlock the gun, sometimes referred to as a child safety device.

International Defensive Pistol Association – runs competition events.

A firing range where all firearms are presumed to be, or are in fact loaded and could be fired at any time.

A compact carrying device for a handgun, typically made of leather and worn on a belt, sometimes under the arm.