# Guns and bullets in military nomenclature **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752 "2008-10-20T16:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/41 "2008-10-21T14:19:33Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Do **M** arines know about typos? The rest of us do. Let it go. That post was not about typos, it was about Fighting Ignorance, hence the words “for the uninitiated”, which could be read “for the uninformed”, or “for those who were unaware”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/42 "2008-10-21T15:06:06Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > Never called cartridges bullets or never saw anyone catch hell for calling them bullets? > > Thanks, > Rob Either. It’s either ammo or rounds, depending on the situation. It’s “an ammo can” or an “ammo belt” (for gunners) or an “ammo pouch”. But it’s a “20-round magazine”. It’s not that cartridge or bullet would necessarily be incorrect; it’s just that you are indoctrinated with a certain jargon from day one, and anything else just doesn’t sound right. **Uncle Bill** : We had a lot of respect for the Jarheads, and always extended a handshake when you guys finally arrived at the LZ we built for you. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/43 "2008-10-21T15:07:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **Uncle Bill** : We had a lot of respect for the Jarheads, and always extended a handshake when you guys finally arrived at the LZ we built for you. ZING! That one had to hurt. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/44 "2008-10-21T15:22:28Z")
Deleted. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/45 "2008-10-21T15:28:59Z")
> [@mks57](#): > > The military likes precise language. Bullets are the things that are propelled out of firearms, and are one component of a cartridge. If you ask the supply sergeant for bullets, you will get bullets, not cartridges. In reality, you have to be much more specific. Cartridges come in many calibers and variations. There is one cartridge designed for older versions of the M16 and another designed for newer versions of the M16. Then there are many special purpose cartridges like blanks, tracers, etc. This is what I love about the military. There’s only one way. Everybody is on the same page. I routinely use the phonetic alphabet and people are always bitching about it. Up thier’s. Who ever heard of nora? That’s somebodys grandmas name.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/46 "2008-10-21T15:48:45Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The Marine Corps, moreso than the other branches of the service, is very anal about their shared jargon and their little quirks of etiquette that they believe differentiate them from the other services and from civilians. Whatever else one may say about the Marine Corps, they are second to none in inculcating their members with the belief that they are different from, and better than, everybody else. Marines never get over it. Don’t I know it! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/47 "2008-10-21T15:55:15Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > That post was not about typos, it was about Fighting Ignorance, hence the words “for the uninitiated”, which could be read “for the uninformed”, or “for those who were unaware”. Your comment about my shift key made me think otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/48 "2008-10-21T16:40:59Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > In the British Army the Gun was your M.G./L.M.G.((Now its the L.S.W.) for infantry or other nitty gritty ground troops. > > Though also I suppose as we called Artillerymen Gunners their weapons of choice were guns aswell. > > (OK we also called them planks,dropshorts,longrange snipers and a lot of other not so flattering names) The standard issue British Army rifle is now the SA80 A2. It’s called your _rifle_ or _weapon_, both are yelled at you at various times. The official designation for the weapon system is **IW** which stands for **Individual Weapon** , but I’ve only heard that used in speech a couple of times. The LSW (Light Support Weapon, or _Long, Silly Weapon_) isn’t in service with regular units any more (I’m fairly sure), and even most of the territorial units have switched over to the minimi which is often referred to as the LMG. You hear anyone talking about ‘guns’, and they’re likely referring to the GPMG (confusingly pronounced _gympie_), Artillery or usually mediocre biceps. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/49 "2008-10-21T16:56:16Z")
What I’ve always wondered is what “ball ammo” is exactly. It’s not ball shaped. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/50 "2008-10-21T17:17:23Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > What I’ve always wondered is what “ball ammo” is exactly. It’s not ball shaped. That term is a carry-over from the day when muzzleloading weapons did fire round lead balls. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/51 "2008-10-21T17:24:35Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > That term is a carry-over from the day when muzzleloading weapons did fire round lead balls. That’s just annoying then! Time to update the nomenclature. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/52 "2008-10-21T17:27:21Z")
Nowadays, machine guns come with a variety of ammo. Incendiary, tracer, armor piercing, and so on. “Ball” is plain old fasioned lead slug. Why change the name? It works, don’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/53 "2008-10-21T18:04:15Z")
So the upshot is that the language isn’t OMG pr3c1se! The little metal bits you stick in your boom stick to make it go boom go by a variety of names depending on the context, and within that context the terminology is flexible. The place where you need to be precise is when you go to the supply sergeant or quartermaster or whomever and ask for more little metal bits. You can’t just walk in and say “I would like 500 bullets, if you please, kind sir, so that I may reload my gun several more times” because that could mean anything. Similarly, carpenters may hammer nails into boards all day long, but they do not go to the hardware store and ask for “one thousand of your finest nails and fifty boards to pound them into for I am a carpenter building a house!” **UncleBill** , the AP style also dictates that titles of books should be in quotation marks and not underlined; commas and periods always go inside quotation marks; and the serial comma is contraindicated (“x,” “y” or “z” and not “x”, “y”, or “z”). I cannot imagine a style guide which does not require commas after Stylebook and airman in the following sentence. > [@UncleBill](#): > > For the uninitiated, the AP Stylebook the American journalist’s bible, said to capitalize “Marine”, but not “soldier”, “sailor”, or “airman” when speaking generically about a service member in one of those branches. I thought, since it was like the Bible and all, we ought to be precise. Just a little smiling cheek among friends. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/54 "2008-10-21T18:14:10Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > That’s just annoying then! Time to update the nomenclature. But [spitzer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitzer_(bullet)) sound even more silly. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/55 "2008-10-21T19:57:11Z")
Some of us just can’t forget the words that came out of the loud speakers on the firing ranges: _With eight rounds ball ammunition, lock and load. Ready on the right? Ready on the left? Ready on the firing line. Commence firing._ Tells you all you need to know. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/56 "2008-10-22T10:48:23Z")
> [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](#): > > The LSW (Light Support Weapon, or _Long, Silly Weapon_) isn’t in service with regular units any more (I’m fairly sure), and even most of the territorial units have switched over to the minimi which is often referred to as the LMG. > > You hear anyone talking about ‘guns’, and they’re likely referring to the GPMG (confusingly pronounced _gympie_), Artillery or usually mediocre biceps. Yes events have overtaken me now,I am so old I used to use the SLR at one time and actually remember the introduction of ths sa80/a1.(How do you field strip it?Drop it and it will fall to bits) But to reiterate the GUN was your MG which was the jimpy or your LMG.the Biceps thing is new to me. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/57 "2008-10-22T13:24:39Z")
> [@Tenebras](#): > > I thought, since it was like the Bible and all, we ought to be precise. > > Just a little smiling cheek among friends. Regula Guadere! ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/58 "2008-10-22T16:29:55Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > Regula G **ua** dere! I see what you did there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/59 "2008-10-22T19:57:12Z")
Question: What is a “spent round”? Is it: a) An empty brass cartridge casing?\* b) A bullet that has travelled to the end of its range and will impact nearly harmlessly? c) Both? \*Do they ever call them “shells”? Obviously that’s to be confused with explosive artillery projectiles. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752/60 "2008-10-22T21:19:56Z")
a) “Shell” can refer to an unused cartridge as well as a used one. Used ones are often called brass. Since this is the most expensive part of the cartridge, many shooters save these (assuming they are not rimfire, steel, aluminum, or Berdan-primed) in order to reload them. FWIW, Rob [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-and-bullets-in-military-nomenclature/468752.md?page=4)