Federal Firearms License (FFL)

by | Oct 12, 2023 | Terminology

An FFL, or Federal Firearms License, is a license issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in the United States. It is required for individuals, businesses and entities engaged in certain firearms-related activities, including the...

Gun Clip

by | Oct 12, 2023 | Terminology

Often used interchangeably with magazine, however, clips (gun clip) and magazines are not the same. Generally, a clip is a device that facilitates the loading of a magazine. Often, these are “stripper clips” which are a strip of metal or plastic that hold cartridges,...

Gun Magazine

by | Oct 12, 2023 | Terminology

A gun magazine is a detachable or fixed device that holds and feeds ammunition into the firearm’s chamber for firing. It is an essential component in most semi-automatic and automatic firearms, including pistols, rifles and shotguns. A detachable magazine...

Single-Action/Double-Action (SA/DA)

by | Oct 12, 2023 | Terminology

Some pistols employ a Single-Action/Double-Action (SA/DA) mechanism, providing the operator the option of carrying “cocked and locked” as a typical SAO pistol, or as a traditional Double Action firearm. SA/DA semiauto pistols are typically equipped with a de-cocker...

Double-action Firearm

by | Oct 12, 2023 | Terminology

Double-action refers to a firearm’s firing mechanism where a single trigger pull performs two functions, including both cocking the hammer or striker and then releasing it to actuate the firing pin, ignite the primer and fire the chambered cartridge. In a...