Firearms Lingo

[bradshaw]

FIREARMS LINGO deserves clarity and accuracy. Compared with chemistry, the life of plants & animals, etc., the realm of guns and shooting is simple. Leastwise, ought to be. I propose we list----with definition----jargon we use, jargon we like, along with pet peeves, keeping it clean & simple. No political references whatsoever, unless you want to be blocked. The world of nomenclature often includes one or more names for the same part: just as Americans call the sheetmetal over a car motor the hood, in England it’s the bonnet, or a front sight the foresight. S&W, Colt, and Ruger do it.

Initials and abbreviations should not be used unless widely understood. Some folks like to speak in initials because they think it creates an impression of knowledge; instead it betrays arrogance or ignorance. If I were to refer to someone who firewalls fast or medium powder in a magnum case as “LIL,” how may here would get my meaning----“lower intellectual level?” It’s better to just say it.

Thus, in no particular order, certainly not alphabetic, a few examples....

Glossary of Firearms Jargon, good & bad
Lock, stock & barrel----the whole thing. From muzzleloader days.
Flash in the pan----announcement without follow-up. Noise without action. From flintlock days.
Bolt----part that locks revolver cylinder, from Colt.
Stop----part that locks revolver cylinder, from S&W.
Cylinder latch----part that locks revolver cylinder, from Ruger.
Pawl----part that rotates cylinder, from Colt.
Hand----part that rotates cylinder, from S&W.
Crane----armature for swing-out cylinder, Colt.
Yoke----armature for swing-out cylinder, S&W.
Ammo----ammunition.
Bullet----projectile. Slang: a cartridge.
Bullets----projectiles. Slang: cartridges or shot shells.
Fodder----ammo. A gun writer term used in the 1960’s and 70’s. (Term I’ve never heard spoken by a manufacturer or sharpshooter, except as a knock on those who use it.)
PSI----Pounds per Square Inch.
FPS----Feet Per Second.

If you talk in acronyms or initials, please explain them here. However, unless in widespread use, don’t expect me or anyone else to understand.
Have at it,
David Bradshaw

[sixshot]

David, maybe make a pass at, barrel/cylinder gap, forcing cone & leade. Thanks,

Dick

[taffin]

I OFTEN SEE "SSA" WHEN REFERRING TO SINGLE ACTIONS. JUST WHAT IS "SSA" THEN THERE IS JOE BIDEN'S GUNS WHICH HOLD 100 CLIPS. AND REVOLVERS WITH SIX CYLINDERS.

[Stump Buster]

Feb 27, 2020 17:09:11 GMT -5 taffin said:

I OFTEN SEE "SSA" WHEN REFERRING TO SINGLE ACTIONS.

I've seen that quite a bit too and always assumed they were fans of the model and considered them "SUPER-DOOPER Single Actions"

[ira41magfan]

I tell folks who use acronyms in discussions.

I'm not ACRONYM MAN! (Think super hero voice here).

[contender]

Good post.

Let's expand the list. (I'll think of some I'm sure after I quit laughing at John's post.)

[potatojudge]

In my field we have lists of approved abbreviations. When I was in academics I'd give my students a glossary of abbreviations as we use them heavily. It was a regular occurrence that I'd have to call out a resident for some unknown abbreviation, only to find that it's neither intuitive nor in regular use AKA they made it up on the spot. This begs the question "What in the world made them think anyone would understand what they meant?"

For new abbreviations or less common ones, it's proper to define the meaning before using the abbreviation.

Example:
Some gunsmiths modify the ejector rod housing (ERH). Common ERH modifications include...

In this way, if it's convenient to use an abbreviation that's novel you are able without confusing the reader. Nearly every scientific paper does this as a way to manage cumbersome terms while avoiding confusing the reader.

Idioms like "flash in the pan" don't require explanation. We have the world's information at our fingertips and there's no excuse for not looking things up.