Tactical Dictionary

[seths]

There are a lot of terms out there in the tactical weapons world. You can figure them out on your own, but I thought this would be helpful.

I'll start with one thing I learned a few months ago when looking for optics. If I am wrong, please correct me, but this is my understanding of MOA

MOA: Minute of Angle. This is a unit of measure referring to the size of a reticle on a sight, such as a red dot. Each unit equates to a 1" wide surface area on an object 100 yards away.

Picture a cone coming out of your sight. The smallest point of the cone is the reticle in your optics and the base of the cone is the exact surface area on your target, being covered by the reticle. 1 MOA means the reticle covers a one inch wide surface area on a surface 100 yards away. The actual unit of measure is the angle at the point of the cone, which equals 1/60th of a degree. So 2 MOA would be 2" at 100 yards or 1/30th of a degree.

ex. A 5 MOA sight pointing at a target 300 yards away will be 1/12th of a degree and would cover a surface area of 15". you would have trouble seeing a pizza.

 

[the_new_guy]

Cool thread. I'll play with one that confused me when I was just starting.

Grains: The word "grains" refers to weight when it is used to describe firearm ammunition. (36GR is a lighter bullet than a 40GR).
Generally, the lighter the bullet (lower grain count) the faster the velocity, it's the laws of physics. A heavier bullet will penetrate more, a faster bullet will have less drop (not really noticable at short distances tho.)

 

[E6type]

MOA and grains are more units of measurement than "tactical".

 

[SU17]

yeah they are more firearm terms or talk

there really isn't a "TACTICAL" word in tactical weaponry

only thing I can think of are like

MK12
MK18
MK16/MK17
SPR MOD 1 = Special Purpose Rifle Model 1
SPR MOD 2 = Special Purpose Rifle Model 2
RIS = Rail Integrated System
RAS = Rail Adapter System
SBR = Short Barrel Rifle
CQB-R = Close Quarter Battle Rifle
EBR = Enhanced Battle Rifle
GL = grenade launcher


but those are like model series and such...

maybe

MIDDY = 14.5 barrel
Boom stick = shot gun
Door Knocker = Breaching weapon
Widow maker = 18 + barrel

Muzzle Brake / Comps = devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm or cannon to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire

Flash Suppressor / flash guard / flash eliminator /flash hider = is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that reduces the visible signature of the burning gases that exit the muzzle


FDE = Flat Dark Earth
OD = Olive Drab
BLK = Black
TN = Tan
KK = Khaki
FG = Foliage Green
SG = Sage
MC = Multiple Camouflage

 

[ragingyeti]

I think this is a big one, and I am a total noob so feel free to correct me if I am wrong and I will edit my post.

Cowitness - the ability to look through and use one's iron sights through a mounted optic. Absolute cowitness will have the iron sights lined up in the middle of the optic, whereas 1/3 cowitness will have the iron sights lined up in the bottom third of the optic's glass. This is useful in case your optic fails ( e.g. the battery dies on your red dot) then you can still use your iron sights to continue aiming. It is not intended for using the iron sights at the same time as your primary optic ( although go ahead and do that, I won't judge you).

 

[SU17]

 

[spleify]

MIDDY = 14.5 barrel

I agree with most of what you said but just to educate folks properly, a "middy" is not a 14.5" barrel and usually has nothing to do with the barrel length at all.

When you hear someone say they have a "middy" they are saying they have a mid length rifle. What this refers to is basically the gas tube. Most commonly when talking about an AR-15.

AR's generally come in 3 different gas tube lengths, carbine length(shortest), mid length("middy") and rifle length(longest).

The longer the gas tube, the less felt recoil.

Hope this helps

 

[SW Gun Guy]

I truly did not know what SWAT stood for until I heard it on a TV show. So, I sent out an e-mail to several friends to quiz them with my new knowledge. Of course my ex police officer friend came back with the correct answer = Special Weapons And Tactics. But you gotta love that my partying cousin in Hawaii sent = Send Women And Tequila. I think this is a terrific thread and hopefully somebody can condense it into a "saved" thread to help new and old members with abbreviations and acronyms.

 

[the_new_guy]

A few acronyms:
ACOG - Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (Trijicon)
AD - accidental discharge (although most would argue all AD's are really ND's, as a true AD is a gross mechanical failure)
AOW - any other weapon
AP - armor piercing
AR - AR15 style rifle
ATF - Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (see BATFE)
AW - Assault Weapon
AWB - Assault Weapon Ban
Ball - ball ammo - see FMJ
BATFE - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
BB - Bullet Button
BCG - Bolt Carrier Group
BOB - bug out bag
BOF - Bureau of Firearms (part of the DOJ)
BP - Border Patrol
BRD - Black Rifle Disease
BUG - back up gun
BUIS - back-up iron sights
C&R - curio & relic
CCW / CCP - Concealed Carry Weapons permit
DOJ - Department of Justice
DI - Direct Impingement
DROS - dealer's record of sale - sometimes used to refer to the 10 day waiting period (e.g., "I just DROS'ed it," etc..)
EBP - evil black pistol
EBR - evil black rifle
EDC - every day carry
FA - full auto
FCG - fire control group - see HTS
FFL – Federal Firearms License (a dealer)
FMJ - full metal jacket ammunition, usually the base of the bullet is left exposed
FSB - front sight block
GI - gas impingement
GPU - Gas Piston Upper
HP - hollow point ammo
HSC - handgun safety certificate
HTS / HST - hammer, sear, & trigger
LA - Long Action
LE - Law Enforcement
LEO - Law Enforcement Officer
LOP - length of pull
LPK - lower parts kit (for ARs)
LUCC - Locked Unloaded Concealed Carry
Mag – box magazine; ammunition feeding device (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "clip)
MOA - Minute of angle
ND - negligent discharge
NRA - National Rifle Association (please become a member)
OEM - original equipment manufacturer
OLL - off list lower
OLR - off list rifle
OLU - off list upper (like on a FAL)
PC - Penal Code
POST - Peace Officer Standards and Training
RAW - Registered Assault Weapon
RKBA - right to keep and bear arms
SA - semi auto - ALSO "situational awareness"
SA - Single Action
SA - Short Action
SA/DA - Single action / Double action
SBR - short barreled rifle
SBS – Short Barreled Shotgun
SD - Self Defense
SP - soft point ammo
SPR - special police rifle, special purpose rifle
TMJ - Total Metal Jacket ammunition, jacket typically fully encasing the bullet
UAW - Unregistered Assault Weapon

 

[spleify]

Wow, awesome list the_new_guy

Thanks for sharing that

 

[whoppo]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/150825-acronyms.html

 

[seths]

Length of pull- Can someone define that?

 

[spleify]

Length of pull- Can someone define that?

Length of pull is the distance from trigger to end of stock butt. Most generally, rifle and shotgun stocks are provided with 13 3/4" from the factory, as this is felt to be the average length of the average adult male's requirement for comfortable grasp of the firearm and for trigger manipulation.

 

[seths]

I knew it had to do with the length of the stock, thanks spleify.

And thanks whoppo, this list is great

OOB - Out of Battery (a round not fully chambered)
SBR - Short Barrel Rifle (needs a fed stamp!)
FTE - Failure to Extract -or- Failure to Eject
FTF - Failure to Feed -or- Failure to Fire
RDS - Red Dot Sight
ACOG - Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
PBR - Pabst Blue Ribbon ! (or Point Blank Range if you prefer)
CQB - Close Quarters Battle
CQC - Close Quarters Combat
FFL - Federal Firearms License (often refers to the holder of one)
OTD - Out the Door (total price paid, all inclusive)
LEO - Law Enforcement Officer
LFI - Lethal Force Institute (Go Massad!)
MOA - Minute of Angle
MV - Muzzle Velocity
POA - Point of Aim
POI - Point of Impact



Magpul Specific:
MOE - Magpul Original Equipment
CTR - Compact/Type Restricted
ACS - Adaptable Carbine/Storage
BAD - Battery Assist Device
ASAP - Ambi Sling Attachment Point
RVG - Rail Vertical Grip
MVG - MOE Vertical Grip (nested acronyms!)
AFG - Angled Fore Grip
UBR - Utility/Battle Rifle
MBUS - Magpul Back Up Sight

 

[SU17]

OAL = Over All Length
PINNED = permanent fixture, not easily removed

16" barrel length Legal length OAL

Anything under that a SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) stamp is required - Most states don't allow SBR stamps

14.5" barrel with a 1.5" flash suppressor/Brake/Comp "PINNED" with qualify for a 16" barrel length OAL.



BUIS = Back Up Iron Sights

KAC = Knights Armament Company