30+ Slang Words for Guns (And How to Use Them)

Written by Gabriel Cruz - Foodie, Animal Lover, Slang & Language Enthusiast

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Whether you love or hate them, guns have become tools known for their power, destructive abilities, and fascinating mechanisms. If you are amazed by guns or maybe just doing research about them, did you know that there were many slang words for guns?

Yes, here is a list of slang words for guns or gun-related stuff. Please read thoroughly so you can learn how to use them properly. Enjoy learning!

Slang Words for Guns (In Alphabetical Order)

Automatic

Meaning:

  • (Noun) This refers to a type of firearm or gun that automatically shoots bullets or ammunition while the trigger is pressed.
  • Example: Automatics became revolutionary in war as they allowed faster delivery of bullets and destruction.

Blaster

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A strong and unknown gun. Mainly used for futuristic films or sci-fi that usually use laser or energy blasts.
  • Example: The blaster from Star Wars could literally melt your head off.

Blicky

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A slang word for guns famously used in many rap songs or rapper lingo.
  • Example:  They say I was carrying a blicky but the cops just want to put me away.

Boom Stick/Boomstick

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Made famous by the Evil Dead series, a boom stick refers to a shotgun.
  • Example: Ash flexed his boomstick to the crowd. He just used it to shoot a zombie in the movie.  

Burner

Meaning:

  • (Noun) This slang word specifically is used for handguns or smaller firearms. 
  • Example: Jackie carries a burner inside her purse. She feels safe with it. 

Cannon

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Coming from the term for a large artillery that fires large giant metal ball ammos. A cannon can refer to any type of gun or weapon used in self-defense or assault. 
  • Example: Before Arnold could pull out his cannon, Robert came just in time to convince him to surrender.

Chopper

Meaning:

  • (Noun) An assault rifle, mainly an AK-47. This came from a New Orleans rap.
  • Example: Danny is a gun nerd. He has all kinds of chopper displayed in his house.

Cuete

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A pistol, handgun, firearm, or revolver. Commonly used in Latino communities.
  • Example: Jose gets to brandish a cuete now that he's already with the police.

Fire Stick

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Coming from 19th Century England, this old slang generally refers to a gun, cannon, or rifle. Possibly utilized in cavalry and hunting.
  • Example: George kept his grandpa’s fire stick. It is a legit antique that is over 150 years-old.

Fireball

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Basically similar to a firearm, it refers to any handheld gun or handgun.
  • Example: Billy has this sweet fireball he carries all around. 

Forty-Five/ 45

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A revolver or pistol. It came from the size of the bullets used by these guns.
  • Example: Mike is a fan of 45s despite them being outdated and hard to use. I guess he just likes to use the classics.

Gat

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Any gun. This slang word came from the word “gatling gun,” which is a rapid-firing, ground-mounted, proto-machine gun.
  • Example: The museum has some old unloaded gats for your viewing pleasure.

Ghost Load

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A method of loading an additional round of shells for a repeating shotgun that allows you to go beyond the capacity of the gun.
  • Example: Competitive shooters can efficiently ghost load their guns to allow for faster time. 

Hammer

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Referencing the hammer component of the gun which triggers the bullet into firing, a hammer is any typical firearm but is mostly used for handguns or revolvers.
  • Example: Johnny has this sick gold-plated hammer his dad lent him. 

Hardware

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A single firearm or a collection of guns that a person has.
  • Example: Adrian has this massive hardware. He dreams of collecting ancient guns and other rare weapons.

Heat/Heater

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A common urban reference to guns or weapons of any kind.
  • Example: You packing heat? You better not because you might get arrested. 

Jammy/Jammie

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A slang word for guns used in the US. 
  • Example: In the film, he pulled out a jammy to shoot his hat off.

Leng

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Although a general term for any type of weapon, it can be used for guns or rifles. 
  • Example: Those ruffians at the pub are carrying some lengs with them.

Load

Meaning:

  • (Noun) When someone is carrying his load, it means that he is carrying his weapon or his loaded gun.
  • Example: He is loaded so stay off. He might pull and start shooting.

Mac/ Mac 10

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Made famous during the World Wars. Mac is short for machine guns or heavy rifles that can automatically shoot bullets. However, it can be used for guns too.
  • Example: Granddad tells me stories of how he would man the macs to hold off the enemy. 

Nina Ross

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A somewhat innocent term (a euphemism) for a 9mm handgun. 
  • Example: Carlos has a nina ross inside his car in case someone tries to mug him.

Nine

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Another reference to the 9mm bullets that 9mm handguns used. Mainly used for handguns and it is a favorite amongst rappers.
  • Example: Smoke from the GTA games uses a 9 when you try to chase him throughout the city.

Piece

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A firearm that is usually hidden within a person’s clothing. Maybe a legal or an illegal gun.
  • Example: Secret Service agents discreetly carry pieces to protect the president.

Pocket Rocket

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A funny or silly slang term for guns that references their strong and rocket-like power in a pocket-sized package. 
  • Example: The sheriff always locks his pocket rocket to prevent accidental firing.

Point Blank

Meaning:

  • (Noun) This slang word points out the range of target. Point blank means that a target is almost within hand's reach and is not difficult to hit. 
  • Example: At the shooting gallery, I have trouble hitting targets that are even at point blank range.

Rod

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A US slang term or word for pistols. 
  • Example: The sheriff was obviously carrying a rod around and made a point of making sure everyone saw it.

Roscoe

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A pistol, revolver, or semi-automatic handgun. It dates back from the 20th century and is mostly obsolete.
  • Example: The old general always keeps his rusty roscoe near his bed as it was a habit they had during the war. 

Shooter

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A UK slang for guns. It can mean rifles, pistols, machine guns, and many more. It references that guns shoot bullets.
  • Example: The gangsters in the UK often use contraband shooters to intimidate common folks.

Strapped

Meaning:

  • (Noun) This means that a person has a gun with him or her.
  • Example: Gaston is strapped whenever he goes to the woods to hunt. 

Toolie

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A somewhat euphemistic slang for guns since they are tools used by people for various purposes.
  • Example: A police officer carries a toolie to maintain order in the community.

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