Definitions by Dontmindme

Brass check 

To confirm that a semi-automatic pistol has a bullet in its chamber, and is ready to be fired.

The user pulls the slide back slightly, looks through the ejection port, and sees the brass of the cartridge.

If the brass can be seen, the gun is ready to be fired.
If the brass is not seen, a bullet needs to be chambered in order to fire.

In the movie Collateral, Tom Cruise performs a brass check before assassinating his second target.

Brass check by Dontmindme August 16, 2010