What firearms "terminology" makes you grit your teeth?

Weapon, of which I have many but only some are firearms.

I'm not easily irritated; most of such language makes me smile. I do get irritated when I suspect politicians or the media of intentionally using inflammatory language (often getting it wrong) to win votes.

I don't get terribly upset over anything. Lots of terms are used interchangeably and over time new terms are invented. Slang always works it's way into any endeavor. But anytime I see optics described along the lines of a 3X9 scope instead of 3-9X I try to tactfully educate people of the correct terminology. This isn't slang, it isn't even debatable as to which is correct like revolver vs pistol or clip vs magazine. It is just plain incorrect, can be confusing, and has at no time ever been used that way.

When describing optics the 1st digit, or digits, are the magnification with an X after it. The last number, always after the X if given, is the front objective size. A 3X9 scope is a 3 power scope with a 9mm front objective and there is no such scope A 3-9X scope is a variable scope with 3X on the bottom end and 9X on the upper end with no objective size given. A 3X9X40 scope, if there were any such thing, would be a scope with a 40mm objective with only 2 magnification settings. 3X and 9X with no options in between.

All fixed power optics, binoculars and scopes should be written as 4X, 6X, 8X etc. if no objective size is listed. If the objective size is listed it would be 4X20, 6X30, of 8X40 which are common. A variable optic uses a dash between the magnifications and should read as shorthand for the word "to". 1-4X, 2-7X, or 3-9X if no objective size is given. Or 1-4X20, 2-7X32 or 3-9X40 if objective size is given.

There is a huge difference between a 8X32 optic and a 8-32X optic. And they do make both. Getting the terminology wrong could be very confusing.

Anything that is incorrect or "trendy", and most language appropriated from action TV and movies in use by civilians. Especially offensive: "urban ghetto-speak", like "uzi" when its not, "fitty-clip", "fo-fifth", "strap", "G-lock", etc.

Bartojc said:

By far clip instead of mag or magazine.......

-jeff

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A mag is what a car tire goes around.

"Simi" for semi-automatic and "brasser" for a brass frame percussion revolver annoy me.

I don't take it too seriously, but I do notice things and chuckle a lot.

Calling everything 'tactical' makes me laugh.
Calling magazines 'clips' gets noticed.

But like I said, it's not too big an issue. Just something that entertains me.

Accuracy when what is meant is precision.

.455_Hunter said:

Manual of arms works for me.

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That IS a stupid one, isn’t it? Why not just say “how to use it”?

“Mossy” for “Mossberg”.

“Izzy” for “Izhevsk” or “Izhmash”. “Izzy” is also used for another firearm brand but i cant remember what it is.

These represent utter laziness. I loathe them.

"On My Person"

Sure, I know what it means, but it sounds like I own somebody that carries my gun for me.

"I always keep my carry gun on my person, and his name is Bill but I call him Billy. See, he's right over there paying for my range fee."

chicharrones said:

"On My Person"

Sure, I know what it means, but it sounds like own somebody that carries my gun for me. "I always keep my carry gun on my person, and his name is Bill. See, he's right over there paying for my range fee."

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Yeah, that's how the gun control crowd carry. Of course most of them don't regard the person carrying the gun as being a person...

Grip angle

MSR

rpenmanparker said:

That IS a stupid one, isn’t it? Why not just say “how to use it”?

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That one comes from military use, where there actually were a manual of arms that delineates how to load , carry , present, fire, and maintain a given firearm. Pretty much now the physical presentation and drill is covered in Basic, and the other part is in the various TM's for each firearm. There were manuals of arms for edged weapons also.

Sovblocgunfan said:

“Mossy” for “Mossberg”.

“Izzy” for “Izhevsk” or “Izhmash”. “Izzy” is also used for another firearm brand but i cant remember what it is.

These represent utter laziness. I loathe them.

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Not another brand, another nationality: Israeli.Drives me nuts also.

Maybe some of you guys didn't get enough hugs from mommy when you were little? Allowing one's self to be constantly annoyed and irritated by the current urban or redneck slang words and phrases is unhealthy.

Well, except for people who post on internet forums as though they are teenagers texting other teens ... lol ... prolly ... I get more more irritated by those who can't figure out spell check or consistently use poor grammar (paragraphs are useful, too).

I will confess that "shotty" seems like a term that's only used by stupid gangbangers ...

Personally, I find "platform" a useful term to differentiate guns without having to detail the mode of operation (striker-fired vs. hammer-fired, polymer-framed, single action vs. double action vs. TDA/DA-SA, whatever).

I also think "running" a gun can be a useful distinction as opposed to simply shooting a gun. Anyone can shoot a gun, some can run their guns (I look at it as denoting some skill, practice and training).

Operator, meh, I'd agree, its time has just passed.

Terms such as "roscoe" or "heeled" used in period motion pictures don't bother me -- Bogart or Mitchum in '30s and '40s film noir, lots of old Westerns ...

A lot of these words and phrases stem from ignorance born from a lack of experience in the firearms culture and constant exposure to inaccurate media coverage of gun issues as well as the dumb depictions of firearms and firearms usage in movies and television.

Now, purposeful ignorance as displayed in the liberal media when things about guns, gun issues and gun rights are constantly inaccurately depicted in reporting does really get me steamed.

entropy said:

That one comes from military use, where there actually were a manual of arms that delineates how to load , carry , present, fire, and maintain a given firearm. Pretty much now the physical presentation and drill is covered in Basic, and the other part is in the various TM's for each firearm. There were manuals of arms for edged weapons also.

Not another brand, another nationality: Israeli.

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Right I get it is supposed to be a book. Makes sense. I mean “manual” means manual. But it is commonly used as the contents of the book, not the book itself. So saying two guns “have different manuals of arms” is supposed to mean you operate them differently. But what you are actually saying is they have two different instruction books. Why not just say that you operate them differently?

GEM said:

Grip angle

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Irritating as the default lame excuse for not being able to shoot a handgun.
Other than that none of the terms mentioned bother me, many I've never even heard.
Some are good up front indicators of limited knowledge.

Old Dog said:

Maybe some of you guys didn't get enough hugs from mommy when you were little? Allowing one's self to be constantly annoyed and irritated by the current urban or redneck slang words and phrases is unhealthy. Well, except for people who post on internet forums as though they are teenagers texting other teens ... lol ... prolly ... I get more more irritated by those who can't figure out spell check or consistently use poor grammar (paragraphs are useful, too).

I will confess that "shotty" seems like a term that's only used by stupid gangbangers ...

Personally, I find "platform" a useful term to differentiate guns without having to detail the mode of operation (striker-fired vs. hammer-fired, polymer-framed, single action vs. double action vs. TDA/DA-SA, whatever). I also think "running" a gun can be a useful distinction as opposed to simply shooting a gun. Anyone can shoot a gun, some can run their guns (I look at it as denoting some skill, practice and training). Operator, meh, I'd agree, its time has just passed. Terms such as "roscoe" or "heeled" used in period motion pictures don't bother me -- Bogart or Mitchum in '30s and '40s film noir, lots of old Westerns ...

A lot of these words and phrases stem from ignorance born from a lack of experience in the firearms culture and constant exposure to inaccurate media coverage of gun issues as well as the dumb depictions of firearms and firearms usage in movies and television. Now, purposeful ignorance as displayed in the liberal media when things about guns, gun issues and gun rights are constantly inaccurately depicted in reporting does really get me steamed.

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I think it is really, really healthy. After all, I am too old to die young.

"Modern Sporting Rifle" is probably the firearms term that irritates me the most.

"Remmy" for Remington or "Winny" for Winchester. I've heard both used at gun shows.

Referring to a gun as "Remmy," "Mossy," "Winnie," and other shortened baby names of the manufacturer. As in "I was shooting my remmy at the range..." Yes, that was very descriptive.

Describing guns or cartridges as "strong", usually in reference to hunting or self defense. As in "is this (fill in blank) strong for deer?" Maybe not worst descriptor, but often preceded by complaints about anything non-magnum.

Operator... Just no.

John Joseph said:

"Platform" (instead of design---JMB was a designer, not a carpenter)
"Run" (instead of shoot)
"Operator" (that's what collect calls are for)
"Shotty" (<removed>)

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All of the above

WTBguns10kOK said:

Media talking head in an earnest voice "and we're hearing from authorities that the shooter used a HIGH POWERED RIFLE"

Oh, it was a .30-06 or another common caliber.

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More likely they are talking about a .223 as in high powered assault rifle.

My pet peeve.

.45 LONG Colt.

"Boolits"; please don't get infantile.

Not strictly gun terminology, but the phrase "school me" bugs me.

"Glock Perfection"; please, certainly not anywhere near perfection.

I will fourth or fifth “High Power” rifle given that it is nearly universally used to describe one of the least of the centerfire cartridges manufactured and sold in quantity today when discussing 223 rounds. For sure, it may (or may not be, to be honest, I don’t even know) he used in “High Power Matches” but the media has no idea what a High Power Match is and they sure aren’t using it in that meaning.

A lot of these others I don’t mind. Man, I can even find a post of mine on this very forum as a neophyte to the community wherein I referred to a 30 year old Remington 870 in a legacy sale nearby as a “shotty”, a term I haven’t used since then but rarely hear actual gun folks say it anyway.

"Bore diameter."