Firearms Training Terms & Definitions

Firearms training comes with its own language. This glossary provides simple definitions for terms, abbreviations, and concepts used throughout Casual Firearms training, drills, and content.

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AIWB — Appendix Inside-the-Waistband

A method of carrying a handgun inside the waistband toward the front of the body, generally near the appendix area.

Confirmation

The visual information a shooter requires before firing a shot. The amount of confirmation needed changes with the difficulty of the shot; a large, close target may require very little, while a smaller or more distant target may require more.

Confirmation Level 1

The shooter typically sees a flash or streak of color from the optic rather than a clearly defined dot. The aiming reference is perceived, but not visually resolved as a distinct dot before the shot is fired.

Confirmation Level 2

The shooter clearly sees and identifies the dot, but the dot is still moving or bouncing within an acceptable area of the target. The shooter fires based on that movement remaining within the acceptable target area rather than waiting for the dot to become stationary.

Confirmation Level 3

The shooter sees a clearly defined, stationary dot at the intended point of aim before firing. This provides the greatest level of visual confirmation and is generally appropriate when the shot requires a high degree of precision.

Confirmation Level 4

Sometimes identified as an additional level of confirmation beyond a stationary aiming reference. The shooter establishes a precise sight picture and executes a slow, deliberate trigger press while maintaining that alignment. This level is used when absolute accuracy is the priority and time is secondary.

Corrective Shooting

A shooting process in which the shooter recognizes that the sights are not providing an acceptable shot and makes a deliberate correction before firing. Corrective shooting generally requires more time than predictive or reactive shooting.

Course of Fire (COF)

The specific instructions for completing a shooting drill or stage, including requirements such as distance, target sequence, round count, start position, and scoring.

Draw

The process of removing a handgun from its holster and presenting it toward the intended target.

Eye-Target Line

The visual line between the shooter’s eyes and the intended point of aim. Bringing the firearm and sights into the eye-target line allows the shooter to acquire the visual information necessary for the shot without unnecessarily moving the head or eyes to find the sights.

Hit Factor (HF)

A scoring method that balances accuracy and speed. Hit Factor is calculated by dividing the points scored by the shooter’s elapsed time. Higher is better.

Hit Factor = Points ÷ Time

Low Ready

A starting position in which the firearm is held in a ready position with the muzzle directed below the intended target area.

Miss

A fired shot that does not strike the designated scoring area or target as required by the course of fire.

OWB — Outside-the-Waistband

A method of carrying a handgun in a holster positioned outside the waistband.

Par Time

A predetermined amount of time allowed to complete a drill, stage, or shooting task.

Predictive Shooting

Firing based on an expected or predictable return of the firearm rather than waiting to visually confirm each individual shot. Most applicable when target difficulty and shooting conditions allow the shooter to reliably predict where the sights will return.

Procedural

A scoring penalty or failure resulting from performing a course of fire incorrectly rather than from the location of a fired shot.

Reactive Shooting

Firing in response to visual confirmation that the sights have returned to an acceptable location. Unlike predictive shooting, the next shot is triggered by information the shooter actually sees rather than solely by an expected return.

Return Management

The shooter’s ability to manage the firearm so that it returns predictably to an acceptable shooting position after recoil. Effective return management can reduce the amount of correction and confirmation required between shots.

SHO — Strong Hand Only

Firing the handgun using only the shooter’s dominant or strong hand.

Shot Calling

The ability to determine where a shot likely impacted based on the visual information available as the shot broke, rather than immediately looking at the target for the result.

Split

The elapsed time between two consecutive shots.

Start Position

The required position of the shooter and/or firearm before the start signal.

String of Fire

A defined sequence of shots fired as part of a drill or course of fire.

WHO — Weak Hand Only

Firing the handgun using only the shooter’s non-dominant or weak hand.