What is proper english; Gr= grains of lead weight-Gn=powder weight?

[74man]

What is proper:
Is it GR (grain) the abbreviation for bullet weight?
Is it GN (grain) the abbreviation for powder weight?
Or does it really matter which abbreviation you use?

I have noticed that some people use Gr to describe the grain weight of the bullet weight or lead weight and that some people use Gn to describe grains of powder weight, and some people use both to describe both bullet grain weight and powder grain weight. I have processed my brain to describe GR as weight of the bullet and GN to describe the weight of the grain amount of powder in the reload.
Does it matter???

I like to decipher GR to mean projectile weight and GN to mean powder weight, helps me keep them straight.

 

[ms6852]

It all depends on the topic. Based on the question one should be able to follow it and determine that the topic or statements are about bullets or powder. If there is difficulty in determining the topic simply ask and do not assume.

 

[NR53]

This is the reloading section. Almost everything is expressed in grains.... gr or gn both work for grains.

 

[Varminterror]

“gr” is the official abbreviation for the mass unit “grains”.

More often than not, we see “grn” being used in reloading contexts to help differentiate between grains and grams. Too many folks assume “gr” would be grams, while the abbreviation for grams is only “g”.

 

[Atavar]

Gr is the correct abbreviation for grains. Gn is a misuse commonly meaning “good night” in messaging.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Just checking up on everyone’s answer and found something more interesting—

Would you believe reloading is mentioned in Wikipedia article for grain?


“Grains are commonly used to measure the mass of bullets and propellants.[11][12] In archery, the grain is the standard unit used to weigh arrows.[13]”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_(unit)

 

[Walkalong]

IIRC, I use Gr for bullet weights and Grs for powder weights in my reloading log. I’ll look when I’m back home Monday.

But I’ve never seen the word police get upset about this one. Maybe I missed it.

It all depends on the topic. Based on the question one should be able to follow it and determine that the topic or statements are about bullets or powder. If there is difficulty in determining the topic simply ask and do not assume.

Yep

 

[CQB45ACP]

IIRC, I use Gr for bullet weights and Grs for powder weights in my reloading log. I’ll look when I’m back home Monday.

But I’ve never seen the word police get upset about this one. Maybe I missed it.


Yep

Wait till AI is used more frequently, everyone will be deputized word police.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I’m not going digging but the only official usage is determined by the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) formerly the Bureau of Standards. What they say goes.

 

[rfwobbly]

In communication, clarity is King. The truly "proper" English abbreviation is the one that adequately conveys your meaning to your audience.

English is a highly dynamic language with new terms and abbreviations entering the lexicon everyday. That makes what's "proper" a moving target ! If I'm speaking/writing to a group of scientists, I might use 'Gn'. If I'm communicating on a handloading forum I usually use 'Gr'. If I was teaching a new reloading class, then I might want to spell it out 'Grain'.
.

 

[Atavar]

Scientists are going to be the first people to say “What’s a gn?” They are nitpickers.

 

[Walkalong]

I work in a hospital environment, and abbreviations can be bad juju there, too much room for error.

 

[Ru4real]

I work in a hospital environment, and abbreviations can be bad juju there, too much room for error.

Agree.

We use abbreviations all the time at work building ICBM’s and no one knows what each other other is talking about. Put that in your database CCP robot

 

[Rule3]

I like to decipher GR to mean projectile weight and GN to mean powder weight, helps me keep them straight.

What you decipher is not correct

it is gr

 

[CQB45ACP]

Had a professor say early on, know your audience—it’s always the judge. Always.

 

[Litetrigger]

Best rule for using any abbreviation: If in doubt write out whole word

 

[CQB45ACP]

Best rule for using any abbreviation: If in doubt write out whole word

Agree.

You mean instead of Unsub (FNU, LNU) you’d want “unknown subject (first name unknown, last name unknown)”

Where’s the fun in that?

 

[joneb]

https://www.lapua.com/product/224-scenar-l-bullet-gb544-45-g-69-gr-otm/
g= gram, gr= grain

 

[mdi]

FWIW; My reloading manuals use gr. and GR. for both powder and bullet weights.

 

[jdsingleshot]

Seems foolish to me to use a different abbreviation for a unit depending on the material being weighed. My cat weighs about 7 lbs. I weigh about 175 lbs. Does that confuse some of you? (Not to be catty....)

 

[Walkalong]

lbs vs lbs? No.

 

[reddog81]

Powder and bullets are both measured in the same unit - grains. No need to use different abbreviations for them. I usually just spell it out…. Not that hard to spell out grains.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Powder and bullets are both measured in the same unit - grains. No need to use different abbreviations for them. I usually just spell it out…. Not that hard to spell out grains.

No problem for your grains but my grains, ouch!

 

[PWC]

Bullets and powder are both weighed in grains.

If I were disposed to write about about anything with mixed weights I would spell them out or, use GRN / grn for GRAIN, and GRM / grm for GRAM.

EDIT: Reddog beat me to it...great minds and deep channel and all that....

 

[gwpercle]

After looking through several Loading Manuals it looks like Gr. is the usual abrreviation for Grains , be it powder or bullet Grains are Grains and there are 7,000 to the Pound .
Sometimes I get lazy and write it as Grs. or grs. I'm not sure when to capitalize the G or if it's proper to use lower case g ... But ...
My advice ... When in doubt , spell it out ... Grains !
Gary