Personal defense weapons (PDWs) are a class of compact selective fire, magazine-fed, submachine gun like firearms – essentially a hybrid between a submachine gun and compact assault rifle. Most PDWs fire a small-caliber, high-velocity bottleneck cartridge, resembling a small or shortened intermediate rifle cartridge. This gives the PDW better range, accuracy and armor-penetrating capability than submachine guns, which fire pistol-caliber cartridges.