Terminology.......

We should all be reminded of the kids story of the "Emperors New Cloths" now and then.

A special vocabulary doesn't mean we are "experts" but often those that use such buzz words want others to think they are experts.
 
Why not?

Why ask why?

Why oh why, is there no sun up in the sky?
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I think you missed my point. Read your first reply to me and my reply ;)

It's all semantics. While there is a difference between a clip and a magazine, it is not unusual to see the two interchanged. It's a result of ignorance, perhaps, but it is really only an indication of the way language is dynamic and constantly changing. Take "pistol" and "revolver" for example. Some swear there is a difference. But if you look at the history, "pistol" comes from the Italian town of Pistola"
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Yes, well said. Clip is so common place, that sometimes I use it just for easier communication. Although most people who know (think they know) what a clip is know what a magazine is anyways.

We should all be reminded of the kids story of the "Emperors New Cloths" now and then.

A special vocabulary doesn't mean we are "experts" but often those that use such buzz words want others to think they are experts.
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That is exactly right. Another fun one is for S&W, K-22 vs pre model 17 or model 357 magnum vs pre 27, etc. The latter being a collector nickname, and the former being the actual S&W model name from the time.
 
One trem that I also see getting overused is "shotgunning"
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We used to take a beer can, pop the top, stick it over our mouth - then someone would stick an ice pick in the bottom of the can.
The beer would come out ~ 2,000 mph.

We called that "shotgunning".
I've also heard it referred to as "shooting a beer"...
 
We used to take a beer can, pop the top, stick it over our mouth - then someone would stick an ice pick in the bottom of the can.
The beer would come out ~ 2,000 mph.

We called that "shotgunning".
I've also heard it referred to as "shooting a beer"...
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One time before a Tom Petty concert a girl showed me how to "shotgun a beer" in a different way IIRC. We used a key to put a hole in the bottom of the can on the side, and had our mouth there, and then opened it. It was the same effect, but your version makes more sense.
 
Terminology

It's just sort of an evolutionary thing, and also how people loss track of the original definition of things. eg. these are just two I can think of right now that apply to weapons:
1. Saying .45 long colt, when it's actually just .45 colt.
2. Applying the word "pistol" to a revolver, when it's technically a handgun where the chamber is integral to the barrel.
 
See ya`ll still got it wrong !!

It`s not "tactical" it`s "tactiKool"

:p

At least we have a good enuff understanding of the systems !!

It peeves me when my revolver is called a pistol , but I`m not gonna hold my breath until I can get a "Concealed Revolver Permit"
 
reggiec: "2. Applying the word "pistol" to a revolver, when it's technically a handgun where the chamber is integral to the barrel. "

I disagree. How long were pistols made in Pistola, Italy. before semiautomatic pistols were made? Wild Bill Hickock was an famous pistolero but I doubt he even knew what a semi automatice pistol was. You have fallen into a pedantic trap.

You totally ignore history with that statement.:cool:
 
Not ignoring history `bout the pistoleros & vaqueros .

Just plain ole hardheaded !!don`t believe me ?? ask my wife !!

& slowly slippin into curmudgenizim !!
 
It's usually "pistol" for me whether it is a semi-auto or revolver. As I can remember going to the "pistol range" before semi-autos were the trend.

Too, there's some trophy's around here somewhere from revolver match's that say on the bottom, along with other info. ...."pistol match".
Not saying they don't have any but I don't think I ever got one that said, "revolver match".
 
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Shortwave said:

Not saying they don't have any but I don't think I ever got one that said, "revolver match".
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You never belonged to the old United States Revolver Association? I belonged for a few years, about 1954~1960, or so.

Bob Wright

P.S. I thought the USRA was a defunct organization, but found it is still a viable organization!
 
You never belonged to the old United States Revolver Association? 0,
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No sir, I have not. It's been many years but have heard of the well respected org.

Too, now that I'm retired and have the time, the U.S.R.A. may be something of interests. Thanks for the reminder.

There are, as well, many organization's, IDPA being one and more locally to me, O.R.P.A(Ohio Rifle and Pistol Assoc.) that do not distinguish(or categorize and put into 'platforms' :D) in their titles as to the use of semiauto's and revolvers. They have competition with both type handguns therefore 'pistol' is in their title.
 
I'm guilty of using the term "platform" ...

and I think I get your point ....but to use "platform" in the sense that different mfg's have so many different ways of doing things....that I have always looked at most 1911's as a unique platform ...vs the typical Sig concept of DA/SA decocker as a very different "platform"...compared to a Beretta platform ...or a Glock ...or whatever....seems ok to me ...??

Maybe I'm just a 62 yr old redneck yuppie ...and can't help it ...:D
 
One of my irritants is when people use "surgical strike" (as in air strike) and suggest that somehow it isn't bloody. Having seen surgery first hand, I can testify that it is indeed bloody. So is childbirth, which is not surgery. We are also sometimes guilty of using euphemisms. Deer are not killed; they are harvested. Etc., etc., etc.
 
Blue Train wrote:

We are also sometimes guilty of using euphemisms. Deer are not killed; they are harvested. Etc., etc., etc.
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Agreed! Nobody dies anymore. They pass away, pass on, or simply pass. At church, they went home to be with the Lord, though there is some question of that at times.


Reminds the of the little boy who told his mother about a rat killing, "........and we whomped him and whomped with big stick...," then, seeing the pastor present, added,"... and then the Lord called the poor thing home."

Bob Wright
 
I needed that.

It also reminds me of another fellow busily grooming his horse when his pastor walks by.

"Cleanliness is next to godliness, reverend," he said.

"The horse might make it," was the reply.
 
There is some logic in using the expression, although the word "platform" itself doesn't really seem to fit. The word "system" may be a slightly better word but even that isn't quite right.

You may recall back in the 1960s, there was an attempt to create a small arms weapon system, a modular weapons system to be exact, with the Stoner 63. The idea was to be able to create multiple configurations of a 5.56mm caliber small arms to include light machine gun, rifle, carbine and more variations of the machine gun. In theory, it sounded like a good idea and numbers were produced and used but I suppose it was too late on the scene. I also understand it wasn't exactly perfect, which could also be said of other weapons which nevertheless continued in use.

In the case of the Stoner 63, it looks like the only common parts were the receiver and the gas system, there being different barrel lengths. There were different feeding systems but they were all basically the same gun. I'm sure there are other examples but I can't think of any at the moment. It might be a case of the advantages that were the selling points weren't really much of an advantage after all, especially if it wasn't reliable. It was like the gadgets you see people selling at the state fair. It slices; it dices.
 
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