22 September 2011

Saying what you mean...

Words have meaning.  Definition.

This is why I insist on correcting someone when they call a magazine a clip.  If you use the wrong word for something, you introduce uncertainty about what you are talking about.

"He inserted a fresh clip into the gun."  On an M16, this can only mean a fresh magazine.  On a K.98k it can only mean a clip.  What does it mean when it's an SMLE Mk III?  Or a G.43?  Or a Remington Model 8?  Or an M1A?  Those all have detachable magazines and can be loaded with a charger.

I understand where the error started, but that doesn't mean we should forget that it's an error.

Another error that's repeated ad nauseum is calling an AR an assault rifle.

The US Army defined this term a long time ago.  Paraphrasing from memory:  A selective fire rifle or carbine firing an intermediate power cartridge from a detachable box magazine.

Ever wonder why the M14 and FAL are commonly called "battle rifles"?  The FAL even looks the part with the pistol grip and all.  Well, 7.62x51mm isn't an intermediate power round.

We need all three things to make a gun an assault rifle.

Let's look a common, everyday, AR-15.  Selective fire?  No.  Intermediate power round?  Yes.  Detachable box magazine?  Yes.  Assault rifle?  No.

USGI issue M16A2.  Selective fire?  Yes (burst counts).  Intermediate power round?  Yes.  Detachable box magazine?  Yes.  Assault rifle?  Yes.

Yes, Virginia, the only difference is the rate of fire; but such distinctions matter!

Notice the definition doesn't mention things like magazine capacity, flash-hiders, barrel threads, pistol grips, bayonet lugs, folding stocks, barrel shrouds, or shoulder things that go up?  None of those things define an assault rifle.

A Ruger AC.556 is an assault rifle.  It's select-fire, intermediate and detachable mag.  Even with the wooden stock and a 5 round mag from it's cousin the Mini-14.

I mentioned the FAL.  Selective fire?  Yes (although most had it blocked off).  Intermediate power round?  No.  Detachable box magazine?  Yes.  Assault rifle?  No.

An FAL has a lot of the AWB features, but the legally defined assault weapon is not the same thing as an assault rifle.

Words mean things.  If you cannot say what you mean; you cannot mean what you say.

EDIT: I'm repeating Sebastian.  It's interesting that we both used the Remington Model 8 as an example.

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