Objection to the use of "gun" by Army

[RioShooter]

gun

Pronunciation: (gun), [key]
—n., v., gunned, gun•ning.

—n.
1. a weapon consisting of a metal tube, with mechanical attachments, from which projectiles are shot by the force of an explosive; a piece of ordnance.
2. any portable firearm, as a rifle, shotgun, or revolver.
3. a long-barreled cannon having a relatively flat trajectory.
4. any device for shooting something under pressure: a paint gun; a staple gun.

Having never been in the military, I am curious why it is objectionable to use of the word "gun" when referring to the above described weapons.


Related thread:http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=202850

 

[Stickjockey]

It may have something to do with the term "gun" referrring to an artillery piece and small long arms being referred to as "rifles."

 

[bg]

I never really did find out, but when in Basic and I made
the mistake of saying gun when referring to my rifle,
I got to find out what the ground looked like close up
at least 50 times via push ups on more than one occasion.

Or until I just gave out..I was never too proud to say
I could do 50 just like that. Besides I think my Drill
Sgts kinda liked calling me

 

[Cromlech]

I'm not 100% sure, but aren't 'guns' supposed to be smoothbore weapons?

 

[Limeyfellow]

Guns in the military specifically refer to artillary or cannons that do not have rifling in the military. Its a left over from a couple of centuries ago when we saw the development of rifles. It is possible to call a musket a gun but since the musket is not used by the military nowadays its fallen out of practice.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

It's military trivia stuff.

If I recall correctly it has to be capable of indirect fire to be a gun. Therefore, the smallest gun was the M-60 (however, I think it's now gone from the inventory) and I'm not sure about the replacements for it and if they have the tripod and T/E options.

I also think it has a lot to do with "gun" sounding less military and too colloqual therefore, the DI's would beat you down for using a word they didn't care want you to use. The M16 is a rifle, not a gun and they would get really bent if you called it otherwise.

 

[OrvilleYertleson]

Usually "The Gun" is used to refer to the 7.62 machine gun. I think the full metal jacket scene we all know and love is the inspiration for the continued dislike of the term 'gun' by drill sergeants across America. I have never scene a soldier corrected for calling his rifle a 'gun' outside of basic. If you look at the receiver for a SAW or a 240 it has 'gun' stamped right there on it.

I would say that today 'gun' is used primarily to refer to open bolt fired weapons as well as artillery.

 

[Zen21Tao]

When I was in basic/AIT I usually carried the 60. One day on a road march I was dropped for calling it a "gun." Then I was formally smoked when I asked the DS why I was called a "60-gunner" and not a "60-Weaponer."

 

[BigFatKen]

When is a weapon a gun?

Machine guns, shotguns, and "the big guns"; artillery pieces or Naval guns. These are called guns. I was never told why but I noticed on all of these you pull the trigger.

I was told that you do not squeeze the trigger on an M-60 as it is hard on the sear. It appears that this is the common thread.

This is just my observation.

Is this correct? Any other guns?

 

['Card]

The military in general is kind of obsessed with the idea of being as specific as possible when you're talking. Misunderstandings get people killed in combat situations, so they like for everything to be very clear, very simple, and very hard to screw up.

The clock is one example. The reason you say "1900HRS" instead of "7 o'clock" is that someone could get confused as to whether you meant 7AM or 7PM. You use the phonetic alphabet for the same purpose. If you just say "ABC", someone could mishear you and think you said "ADC" - especially over a radio with static and interference. If you say "Alpha Bravo Charlie" instead, there's less chance of a screw-up.

And that's the whole reason behind the 'gun' thing. It originated in the days before machine guns or tanks were common, so pretty much the only things on the battlefield that went boom were personal weapons and artillery pieces. The artillery were guns, the shoulder arms were rifles, and the sidearms were pistols. It's obviously not as relevant today, when you have machine guns and tank guns and shotguns and all, but a rifle is still a rifle and it's definitely not a gun.

 

[chopinbloc]

'card,
you pretty much nailed it. to expand on what you said, machineguns were original used as a type of field artillery and therefore earned the "gun" moniker.

Guns in the military specifically refer to artillary or cannons that do not have rifling in the military.

artillery cannons DO, in fact, have rifling - at least every one that i've ever seen did. tank guns often do not, however.

 

[Frandy]

Aw, c'mon guys, let's get down to the nitty-gritty truth about this terminology.

When I was in basic, it was made clear to us that "One was my rifle and one was my gun. One was for shootin' and one..."

I know you can finish this all by yerselves...

 

[BigG]

Heck the German Infantry in WWI was still known as "Musketeers." You can look it up in Erich Maria Remarque.

 

[ball3006]

Uh, I believe there are a whole lot....

more objects that can be considered "weapons" other than what are described here..........Of all the guns I have, there is only one that can be considered a weapon. And, that is the gun I use to shoot you as you break into my house. All of the others are, well, guns......not a weapon in the bunch.........chris3

 

[OrvilleYertleson]

Don't forget that there are certain 'Armyisms' that just are.

For instance: "Quit your conversating men" and "Orientate yourselves to this map"

They are born of ignorance and spread by overzealous NCO's. It doesn't have to be technically correct to be 'the way it is'.

 

[chopinbloc]

the right way,

the wrong way


and
the army way.

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

3. a long-barreled cannon having a relatively flat trajectory.

Having never been in the military, I am curious why it is objectionable to use of the word "gun" when referring to the above described weapons.

I've never been in the military either, but I believe it is proper to use the word "gun", by itself, in reference to definition number three. I also believe the Navy still uses guns--doesn't the 3" and 5" naval artillery meet the gun classification?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Gun is artillery in military shorthand.
You radio you or the enemy have guns, it should mean one thing.
No time for lengthy clarifications.
Lack of precision means lack of focus.