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Gun Terminology:
A Guide to Concealed Carry Language

Being a responsible gun owner means knowing the language. It’s vital that you know gun terminology and common phrases used to describe firearms and the laws that apply to them.

Carry Types

Concealed Carry
Open Carry
Methods of Carry

  • Outside-the-Waistband (OWB)
  • Inside-the-Waistband (IWB)
  • Appendix Carry (AIWB)
  • Strong-Side Carry (IWB)

Self-Defense Terms

Castle Doctrine
Duty to Retreat
Stand Your Ground

General Terms

Brandishing
Class III License
Duty To Inform
Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL)
Form 4473
Laws, Rules and Regulations
Military Surplus (MilSurp)
Preemption
Reciprocity
Red Flag Law
Right to Carry
Straw Purchase

Types of Licensing and Gun Permitting Policies

Shall Issue
May Issue
Constitutional Carry/Unrestricted/Permitless Carry
Non-Issuing

Firearms, Ammunition & Accessories

+P and +P+
AR-15
Ball
Barrel
Berdan-Primed/Boxer-Primed
BJHP
Bullet
Caliber
Cartridge
Case
Chamber
Charge
Clip
Cock
Corrosive/Non-Corrosive Ammunition
Crimp-Jump
Curio or Relic (C&R)
Cylinder
Double-Action/Single-Action
EB
Ejection Port
Ejector
Extractor
FMJ
FPE
FPS
Frame
Frangible
Fully Automatic
Grain
Grip
Grip Safety
Hammer
Hammer-Fired/Striker-Fired
Handgun
Hardened Lead
Hollow Point
Holsters/Types of Holsters

Pocket/Shoulder/Hybrid

JHP
Low Flash
Low Recoil/Managed Recoil
LR
LRN
Magazine
Magazine Catch
Manual Safety
Muzzle
Pistol
Revolver
Round
Semi-Automatic
Single Shot
SJHP
SJSP
Slide
Slide Catch
Snub-nosed
Special
Striker
Suppressor
SWC
SWHP
TC
Title I/Title II Firearms
TMJ
Trigger
Trigger Discipline
Trigger Guard
WC
WMR

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

As a USCCA Member or email subscriber, you can count on us to keep you informed with the latest on these topics and much more.
Become a Member

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

As a USCCA Member or email subscriber, you can count on us to keep you informed with the latest on these topics and much more.
Become a Member

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