<\/p>\n
Every industry uses a shorthand. It\u2019s efficient, impresses friends and becomes part of the vernacular. Gun enthusiasts have their own jargon, an alphabet soup of acronyms so confusing that we maintain a list for reference when editing stories. Here are a few explanations that might be helpful to the uninitiated.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll start with the bullet nomenclature often employed by gun enthusiasts:<\/p>\n
FMJ<\/strong>\u2014Full metal jacket; best for practice ammo only.<\/p>\n JHP<\/strong>\u2014Jacketed hollow point; best for personal protection.<\/p>\n BTHP<\/strong>\u2014Boattail hollow point; low-drag and capable of going some distance.<\/p>\n OTM<\/strong>\u2014Open tip match; makes steel ring at long range.<\/p>\n Here are a few of the non-ballistic terms seen in the pages of this magazine, along with their translations:<\/p>\n IFAK<\/strong>\u2014Individual first-aid kit<\/p>\n TQ<\/strong>\u2014Tourniquet<\/p>\n QD<\/strong>\u2014Quick disconnect<\/p>\n IWB<\/strong>\u2014Inside the waistband<\/p>\n OWB<\/strong>\u2014Outside the waistband<\/p>\n AIWB<\/strong>\u2014Appendix inside the waistband<\/p>\n EDC<\/strong>\u2014Everyday carry<\/p>\n CQB<\/strong>\u2014Close-quarters battle<\/p>\n BLK<\/strong>\u2014Blackout (in reference to the cartridges bearing that name)<\/p>\n SOCOM<\/strong>\u2014Special Operations Command<\/p>\n PDW<\/strong>\u2014Personal defense weapon; a semi-automatic, large-format pistol or short-barrel rifle wearing a frame with more accessories or attachment points than typical for a compact handgun.\u00a0<\/p>\n MSR<\/strong>\u2014Modern sporting rifle; any semi-automatic carbine or rifle fed from a removable magazine. ARs, AKs, AUGs, FALs, Tavors and many others are members of this large family of firearms.<\/p>\n AR<\/strong>\u2014ArmaLite Rifle<\/p>\n MOA<\/strong>\u2014Minute of angle; angular measure, with 60 minutes in every degree, that measures 1.047 inches wide at 100 yards.<\/p>\n Mil<\/strong>\u2014Milliradian; angular measurement that is .001 radian, which converts to 10 centimeters (3.94 inches) wide at 100 meters.<\/p>\n