Protection & Firearms Glossary

Caliber

The internal diameter of a gun's barrel, and by extension, the diameter of the bullet it fires. Caliber affects recoil, stopping power, and ammunition cost. Common calibers for self-defense include 9mm, .380 ACP, and .38 Special.

Larger caliber doesn't always mean "better" — it means more recoil, which can hurt accuracy.

Recoil

The backward momentum (kick) you feel when a gun fires. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction — the bullet goes forward, the gun pushes back. Recoil varies based on caliber, gun weight, and grip.

Heavier guns typically have less felt recoil. This is why tiny "pocket pistols" can actually be harder to shoot than larger ones.

Slide

The top portion of a semi-automatic pistol that moves ammunition. The slide loads (chambers) rounds and unloads (ejects) spent casings. When you "rack the slide," you're pulling it back and releasing it to move a round from the magazine into the chamber.

Slide Lock / Slide Release

A small lever on the side of a semi-automatic pistol. The slide lock holds the slide open after the last round is fired (so you know you're empty). The slide release lets you drop the slide forward to chamber a new round after inserting a fresh magazine.

Golden Safety Rule #1: Every gun is always loaded. Learning how to open the slide to verify if a firearm is loaded or unloaded is step one in handling any gun. Never assume — always check.

Magazine vs. Clip

A magazine is the detachable container that holds ammunition and feeds it into the firearm. A clip is a device that holds rounds together for faster loading into a magazine. Most modern handguns use magazines, not clips.

When someone uses the word "clip" to refer to the magazine, it shows they do not know the correct terminology.

Semi-Automatic vs. Revolver

The two main types of handguns. A semi-automatic fires one round per trigger pull and automatically loads the next round from a magazine. A revolver has a rotating cylinder that holds rounds; each trigger pull rotates to the next chamber.

Men often assume women can only handle "simple" things like a revolver, and that semi-automatic guns are too complex for women. This is a ridiculous assumption. Women are completely capable of handling a semi-automatic handgun — and often prefer them.

Trigger Pull Weight

The amount of force (measured in pounds) required to pull the trigger and fire the gun. Lighter trigger pulls require less effort but can increase the risk of unintentional discharge. Heavier pulls are "safer" but can affect accuracy.

Sight Picture / Sight Alignment

Sight alignment is lining up the front and rear sights with each other. Sight picture is placing those aligned sights on your target. Proper sight picture is essential for accurate shooting.

Most handguns have a front post and a rear notch. The top of the front sight should be level with the top of the rear sight, with equal space on either side.

Chamber

The part of the barrel where a round sits ready to be fired. When someone says there's "one in the chamber," they mean a round is loaded and the gun is ready to fire with a trigger pull.

Remember: the slide moves ammunition. Without moving the slide, the round stays in the magazine. Moving (racking) the slide moves the round into the chamber. The gun is now "hot" — loaded — and will fire when the trigger is pressed.

Dry Fire

Practicing trigger pull and other fundamentals with an unloaded gun (no ammunition). Dry fire is one of the most effective ways to improve shooting skills without range time or ammo costs.

Golden Rule #1: Every gun is always loaded. Build the habit of checking the status of every firearm you pick up — no matter what. Many fatal incidents have occurred because someone thought the gun was unloaded. Never assume. Always check, and when dry-firing, triple check.

Muzzle

The front end of the barrel — where the bullet exits. "Muzzle discipline" means always being aware of where your muzzle is pointing. One of the fundamental safety rules: never point the muzzle at anything you're not willing to destroy.

Negligent Discharge

An unintended firing of a gun due to human error — failing to follow safety rules. Note: this is called "negligent," not "accidental," because guns don't fire themselves. Someone failed to keep their finger off the trigger, verify the gun was unloaded, or follow other safety protocols.

This term matters. Calling it "accidental" implies no one is responsible. Calling it "negligent" correctly places responsibility on the person handling the firearm.

Round

A complete unit of ammunition — the bullet (projectile), casing (metal shell), powder (propellant), and primer (ignition). When someone says "a box of rounds," they mean complete cartridges ready to fire, not just bullets.

"Bullet" technically refers only to the projectile that leaves the barrel. "Round" or "cartridge" is the whole package.

Grain

A unit of weight measurement for bullets (and powder charges). One grain equals 1/7000 of a pound. Heavier grain bullets (e.g., 147gr vs. 115gr in 9mm) typically have less felt recoil but travel slower.

FMJ (Full Metal Jacket)

Practice ammunition — the lead bullet is encased in a harder metal shell. FMJ rounds are typically used for practice and target shooting because they are cheaper. FMJ rounds have no stopping power — they can pass through your intended target and hit what is behind that target and beyond.

For this reason, FMJ ammunition should only be used for practice and not for self-defense.

Hollow Point

Self-defense ammunition designed with a hollowed-out tip that causes the bullet to expand upon impact — it opens up like a blooming flower, which creates stopping power and more damage (more likely to stop the threat). When thinking about self-defense, the goal is to "stop the threat."

You can use hollow points to practice — and you should always test at the range to make sure your gun works well with any specific ammo. But hollow points are significantly more expensive than FMJ rounds, which is why FMJ is preferred for practice.

Concealed Carry (CCW/CHL)

Carrying a firearm hidden from view — whether on your person, in a bag, or in your vehicle. "Concealed" means the firearm is not visible to others. Most states require a permit (called CCW — Concealed Carry Weapon, or CHL — Concealed Handgun License). Requirements vary significantly by state.

Always familiarize yourself with the laws in your state before carrying a handgun.

Open Carry

Carrying a visible firearm in public — typically in a holster on your hip. Some states allow open carry without a permit, some require a permit, and some prohibit it entirely.

Even where legal, open carry is never a good idea. The public should not know that you are carrying a gun. If someone is looking to do harm and they see you have a gun, you are likely going to be the first victim.

Constitutional Carry

State laws that allow residents to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, based on Second Amendment rights. As of 2024, over half of U.S. states have some form of constitutional carry. However, rules vary — and carrying across state lines still requires understanding each state's laws.

Brandishing

Displaying a weapon in a threatening or careless manner. Brandishing is illegal in most jurisdictions and can result in criminal charges even if you never fire. Drawing a firearm when there's no legitimate threat isn't "warning" someone — it's a crime.

The gun stays holstered until you've made the decision to use it. There's no "showing it to scare them off."

Castle Doctrine

A legal principle that you have the right to use force, including deadly force, to protect yourself in your home ("your castle") without a duty to retreat first. Most states have some version of castle doctrine, but specifics vary significantly.

Stand Your Ground vs. Duty to Retreat

Stand Your Ground laws allow you to use force in self-defense in any place you have a legal right to be, without first attempting to retreat. Duty to Retreat laws require you to attempt to safely escape before using deadly force (if retreat is possible). Know which applies in your state.

This is one of the most important legal concepts to understand. What's justified in Texas may be a crime in New York.

Situational Awareness

The practice of observing and understanding what's happening around you — who's nearby, what feels normal vs. off, where exits are, what could become a threat. It's not paranoia; it's paying attention with purpose.

The Fierana Method™ teaches you how to live situationally aware without being paranoid or stressed.

Transitional Spaces

Locations where you're moving between environments and are often most vulnerable — parking lots, doorways, stairwells, elevators, the path from car to building. Attackers often choose transitional spaces because targets are distracted, have their hands full, or are isolated.

Transitional spaces are where you are most vulnerable because these are opportunities criminals take advantage of. Move through them with purpose.

Pre-Incident Indicators

Observable behaviors that often precede an attack — someone closing distance while making eye contact, looking around to check for witnesses, asking questions to assess your vulnerability, or movements that don't match the environment. Recognizing these gives you time to act before things escalate.

De-escalation

Verbal and behavioral techniques used to reduce the intensity of a conflict before it becomes physical. This includes calm tone, non-threatening body language, creating space, and giving the other person an "out" that doesn't require them to save face through violence.

The best fight is the one that never happens. De-escalation isn't weakness — it's a skill that can prevent situations from reaching the point where force is necessary.

Hard Target vs. Soft Target

A soft target appears unaware, distracted, or easy to victimize. A hard target looks alert, confident, and like more trouble than they're worth. Predators choose victims who seem least likely to resist or cause problems. Your goal is to appear to be a hard target.

This isn't about being aggressive or intimidating. It's about posture, awareness, and projecting "I see you and I'm not an easy mark."

OC Spray / Pepper Spray

A defensive spray containing oleoresin capsicum (OC), the chemical compound that makes peppers hot. When sprayed in an attacker's face, it causes intense burning, temporary blindness, and difficulty breathing. Effective, legal in most places, and doesn't require the same training commitment as a firearm.

Check your state and local laws — some places restrict concentration levels or container sizes. Also: test fire yours so you know how it works before you need it.

Holster Types

Different ways to carry a holstered firearm. IWB (Inside Waistband) tucks inside your pants for concealment. OWB (Outside Waistband) sits outside, often covered by a shirt. Appendix is IWB positioned at the front of your body. Off-body means carrying in a purse, bag, or other container.

We teach that off-body carry (purse carry) is a viable option that requires extra precautions and education to do safely. Purse or off-body carry is the only option for many women, and this is a valid choice.

Trigger Guard

The protective loop surrounding the trigger that helps prevent unintentional contact. A proper holster should completely cover the trigger guard so nothing can press the trigger while the gun is holstered.

Never carry a gun in a purse, pocket, or bag without a holster that covers the trigger guard. Keys, pens, and other objects can cause a negligent discharge.

Snap Caps / Dummy Rounds

Inert training rounds that look and feel like real ammunition but cannot fire. Used for dry fire practice (to protect the firing pin), malfunction drills, and safely practicing loading/unloading. Usually made of plastic or aluminum in bright colors.

Training tip: Mix dummy rounds with live rounds in your magazine to understand if you are flinching or bracing for the shot (which results in your shots not going where you want them to go).