Glossary of Common Acronyms / Terms

AD – Accidental Discharge

The term for a firearm discharge due to a mechanical failure solely within the firearm. This typically only occurs if a non-drop safe firearm is dropped and/or when the internals of a firearm fail.

AK – Avtomat Kalashnikova

What most people call an ‘AK-47’ when they see what is most likely an AK-103 or AKM.

AR-15/AR-10 – Armalite Rifle

Sometimes misattributed as ‘Assault Rifle’, the AR-15 and AR-10 pattern rifles are common rifle patterns used for a variety of applications including self-defense, recreation shooting, and hunting.

ATF / BATFE – Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives

The federal government’s executive branch that oversees compliance of gun laws.

Bullet – The projectile fired from a gun

The projective fired from a gun. Sometimes misattributed for a whole round of ammunition.

Caliber – The size of the ammunition a given gun will use

Generally referred to using the metric (mm) or imperial (fraction of an inch) designation, the caliber refers to the diameter of the bullet that will be fired.

Case of Ammo

1000 rounds of ammo. Can be loosely packed into a container, or individually packaged.

CCW – Concealed Carry Weapon

Generally a handgun that someone that is hidden on a person.

Clip

A holder of ammunition that allows the user to feed ammunition into the gun.

EDC – Everyday Carry

A common assortment of items that a person will carry on any given day, ranging from their phone, wallet, and keys, to medical supplies, a handgun, and multi-tool.

FFL – Federal Firearms License

A license allowing the owner to transfer firearms from another FFL to an individual. This can be held by a business entity or an individual.

Fudd

Derived from the “Elmer Fudd” from the Looney Toons, Fudds are people, typically from a hunting background, that assert that their knowledge of older firearms covers modern self defense requirements.

IFAK – Individual First Aid Kit

A collection of medical equipment typically centered around addressing traumatic blood loss. Contents typically include a TCCC recommended TQ, compressed gauze, a compression bandage, and chest seals.

LEO – Law Enforcement Officer, LE – Law Enforcement

Abbreviation for Law Enforcement. Typically used to refer to city police or county sheriffs.

LGS – Local Gun Store

An arbitrary gun store in your given state, or the one closest to your location.

Magazine

The source of ammunition that feeds the gun. Sometimes misattributed as a clip.

MIL – Military

Abbreviation for Military. Typically used to describe items that are restricted to military use and not for sale to civilians

ND – Negligent Discharge

The term for a firearm discharge due to human error. This can occur due complacency and/or lack of knowledge.

NFA – National Firearms Act

A federal gun control law that dictates special class firearms such as Short Barrel Rifles, Short Barrel Shotguns, Destructive Devices, and related items such as silencers.

NICS – National Instant Criminal Background Check System

The federal system to perform background checks for all firearms purchases made through an FFL.

PTC/LTC – Permit to Carry / License to Carry

In the states that require a PTC, this is a card issued to an applicant after successfully completing a requisite course and application that permits the ability to carry a firearm on their person while outside their living space.

Round of ammo

The term for a completed, ready to fire piece of ammunition, this is the most correct term to avoid accidentally buying a set of projectiles for making your own ammunition. Often misattributed as a bullet.

TCCC – Tactical Combat Casualty Care, CoTCCC – Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care

A committee of medics that assess medical equipment in a tactical setting.

TQ – tourniquet

A single use medical device to restrict blood flow on a leg or arm.

Box of ammo

An individual package of ammo. Typically ranges in count of 5-50 rounds depending on the caliber.