Acronyms

J

Jeff2131

New member
Hey, thought maybe id make a suggestion for the benefit of everyone, especially the new reloaders popping up. Does anyone or can anyone post a list of all or close to all of the commonly used acronyms used in our everydag reloading discussions? I know a handfull but still see some from time to time that i have to wonder what it means. Thought maybe all the people new to reloading that have sprung up would benefit from knowing this info.
 
Pretty good list, but not all inclusive. Part of the problem is people making up acronyms all the time, especially those who use texting a lot, LOL....:rolleyes:

One term I see in the reloading forum that I didn't see on the list was COAL - Cartridge OverAll Length (loaded length, case & bullet together).

FCD -which apparently stands for the Lee Factory Crimp Die (something I don't use)...

There are others, I'm sure, most you can get from context, but if you can't (and I'm in that boat with you sometimes) just ask. Anybody that won't take the time to explain probably isn't worth listening to in the first place.;)
 
Those two are now added to the list.

If any other common reloading acronyms are missing, add them to this thread and we'll get the list updated.
 
One I just learned recently that I don't see on the list is CBTO (Cartridge Base To Ogive). I had been writing it out longhand in my load records. Duh!
 
It seems to occur to me that the lion's share of the folks who toss out the term "acronym" don't actually know what the term means.

SCUBA is an acronym, it's made-up word that can be pronounced where the first letter of each word in the series is used to construct the acronym itself.
Self
Contained
Underwater
Breathing
Apparatus

SNAFU is another example.

If you simply shorten the word or chop half of it off, that's an abbreviation.
gr, cal, dia, fps, mag, bbl, adj, DA/SA, DAO, FMJ, JHP, etc.
These are abbreviations.
 
Sevens - you're right that about the general, but often incorrect usage of the term "acronym". However, you are incorrect about the ones you used for examples of an abbreviation. Half of those (FPS, DAO, FMJ, etc.) are actually "initializations". The other half are true abbreviations. ("gr." for grains (or grams), dia. for diameter, "mag". for magnum, etc.) Most abbreviations will end with a period, but it's not absolutely required.

Brian, COAL was already added (post 4).

I'll add COL and CBTO, though that one is rarely used.

Before adding MAP, how is that used? It seems like a contradiction in terms, i.e., how can there be a "maximum" average of anything? The average is the average. There can't be an average greater (the maximum) than the single actual average.
 
Mal H said:
Before adding MAP, how is that used? It seems like a contradiction in terms, i.e., how can there be a "maximum" average of anything? The average is the average. There can't be an average greater (the maximum) than the single actual average.
Click to expand...

ANSI/SAAMI document Z299.4-1992 is the principle source for the SAAMI crusher and piezo ratings listed here; a scanned copy can be found on the SAAMI site. The ratings listed are the "maximum average pressure," as defined in the section on Statistics, below.

http://kwk.us/pressures.html


Small arms ammunition pressure testing is used to establish standards for maximum average peak pressures of chamberings, as well as determining the safety of particular loads for the purposes of new load developme

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_arms_ammunition_pressure_testing

Piezo (PSI) and strain gauge (PSI) are not directly relatable to copper crusher (CUP) due to the differences in the sensitivity of the copper crusher versus the other methods used to measure the pressure. However, new statistical data analysis suggests that for most cartridges ANSI/SAAMI Maximum Average Piezo (PSI) and Maximum Average copper crusher (CUP) taken in a "standard" barrel can be approximated by the following formula which has an R2 value (a statistical measurement of certainty) of .927.

(1.51586 * CUP) - 17902.0 = PSI

While the relationship is generally within 3Kpsi (it assumes that the CUP was determined using ANSI/ SAAMI standards) one should not rely on this conversion for absolute maximum loads.

Interestingly the correlation between the European CIP CUP measurements and Piezo measurements has an even better correlation with an R2 of .997. The formula for the CIP conversion is

(1.20911 * CIPCUP) - 2806.88

The same warning about using this conversion for maximum load work applies to this formula.

Comparison of Pressure Specifications Between Copper Crusher and Piezo
SAAMI Specifications for .308 Win.

Max Average Pressure Max Probable
Lot Mean Max Probable
Sample Mean
Copper Units of Pressure (CUP) 52,000 53,300 55,300
PSI (Piezo/Strain gauge) 62,000 63,600 66,000


http://www.frfrogspad.com/intballi.htm
 
You might consider updating BATF to BATFE, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Still commonly called ATF or BATF by a lot of folks.

I've heard it said that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sounds like my kind of convenience store. :D

Edit: Deleted part of post. I missed seeing FFL on the web terms list.
 
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Additions and changes made.

MAP not added. I feel that one is too specific and will be explained in the context of any discussion using it. (Not to mention it's still wrong no matter what ANSI or SAAMI says. ;) )

TFL was already in the Web section
 
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