James Rawles - Founders

M1 Garand:The U.S. Army’s primary battle rifle of World War II and the Korean conflict. It is semiautomatic, chambered in .30-06, and uses a top-loading, eight-round en bloc clip that ejects after the last round is fired. This rifle is commonly called the Garand (after the surname of its inventor). Not to be confused with the U.S. M1 Carbine, another semiauto of the same era, which shoots a far less powerful pistol-class cartridge.

M1911:The Model 1911 Colt semiauto pistol (and clones thereof), usually chambered in .45 ACP.

M2 Carbine:The selective-fire (fully automatic) version of the U.S. Army semiauto carbine issued during World War II and the Korean conflict.

M4:The U.S. Army–issue 5.56mm NATO selective-fire carbine (a shorter version of the M16, with a 14.5-inch barrel and collapsing stock). Earlier-issue M16 carbine variants had designations such as XM177E2 and CAR-15. Civilian semiauto-only variants often have these same designations, or are called “M4geries.”

M4gery:A civilian semiauto-only version of an M4 carbine, with a 16-inch barrel instead of a 14.5-inch barrel.

M9:The U.S. Army–issue version of the Beretta M92 semiauto 9mm pistol.

M14:The U.S. Army–issue 7.62mm NATO selective-fire battle rifle. These rifles are still issued in small numbers, primarily to designated marksmen. The civilian semiauto-only equivalent of the M14 is called the M1A.

M16:The U.S. Army–issue 5.56mm NATO selective-fire battle rifle. The current standard variant is the M16A2, which has improved sight and three-shot burst control. See also: M4.

M60:The semi-obsolete U.S. Army–issue 7.62mm NATO belt-fed light machinegun that utilized some design elements of the German MG-42.

MAC:Depending on context, Military Airlift Command or Military Armament Corporation.

MAF:Missile alert facility.

Maglite:A popular American brand of sturdy flashlights with an aluminum casing.

MG3:A German belt-fed light machinegun, chambered in 7.62mm NATO.

MG4:A German belt-fed light machinegun, chambered in 5.56mm NATO.

Mini-14:A 5.56mm NATO semiauto carbine made by Ruger.

MIRV:Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle.

MLRS:Multiple-launch rocket system.

Molotov cocktail:A hand-thrown firebomb made from a glass container filled with gasoline or thickened gasoline (napalm).

MOLLE:Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment.

MP:Military Police.

MRAP:Mine-resistant ambush protected (military vehicles).

MRE:Meal, ready to eat.

MSDS:Material safety data sheet.

MSS:Modular sleep system.

MTBE:Methyl tert-butyl ether. An oxygenating additive for gasoline.

MultiCam:See OCP.

MURS:Multi-Use Radio Service. A VHF two-way radio service that does not require a license. See also: FRSand GMRS.

MVPA:Military Vehicle Preservation Association.

MXG:Maintenance group (USAF).

Napalm:Thickened gasoline, used in some flame weapons.

NATO:North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

NBC:Nuclear, biological, and chemical.

NCO:Noncommissioned officer.

NFA:The National Firearms Act of 1934. The law that first imposed a transfer tax on machineguns, suppressors (commonly called “silencers”), and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.

NiCad:Nickel cadmium (ni-cad) (rechargeable battery).

NiMH:Nickel metal hydride (rechargeable battery) improvement of NiCad.

NWO:New World Order.

O-CONUS:Outside the Continental United States.

OCP: Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern, commonly called by its civilian trade name, MultiCam.

OP:Observation post. See also: LP/OP.

OPORD:Operations order.

OPSEC:Operational security.

PCS:Permanent change of station.

PERSCOM:U.S. Army Personnel Command.

PFC:Private, first class.

Pre-1899:Guns made before 1899—not classified as “firearms” under federal law.

Pre-1965:U.S. silver coins with 1964 or earlier mint dates, usually with little or no numismatic value. They are sold for the bullion content. These coins have 90 percent silver content. Well-worn pre-1965 coins are sometimes derisively called “junk” silver by rare coin dealers.

ProvGov:Provisional Government.

PSYOPS:Psychological operations.

PT:Physical training.

PTT:Push to talk.

PV:Photovoltaic (solar power conversion array). Used to convert solar power to DC electricity, typically for battery charging.

PVC:Polyvinyl Chloride (white plastic water pipe).

QRF:Quick-reaction force.

QRP:Ham radio shorthand for “low-power” (less than 5-watt) transmitters.

RCD:Race car dynamics.

RCG:Restoration of the Constitution Government.

RCIED:Radio-controlled improvised explosive device.

Reg:Slang for “regulation.”

RORO:Roll-on, Roll-off—a type of ship designed for transporting vehicles.

ROTC:Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

RPG:Rocket-propelled grenade.

RTA:Radio traffic analyst. See also: TA.

RTB:Return to base.

SBI:Special background investigation.

SCI:Sensitive compartmented information.

SIG:Schweizer Industrie Gesellschaft. The Swiss gun maker.

SIGINT:Signals intelligence.

SOCOM:Special Operations Command.

SOP:Standard operating procedure(s).

SRT:Security response team. Spoken “Sir-Tee.”

SSB:Single sideband (an operating mode for CB and amateur radio gear).

Steyr AUG:The Austrian army’s 5.56mm bullpup infantry carbine. Also issued by the Australian army as its replacement for the L1A1.

S&W:Smith and Wesson.

SWAT:Special Weapons and Tactics. (SWAT originally stood for Special Weapons Assault Team until that was deemed politically incorrect.)

TA:Traffic analyst. See also: RTA.

TA-50:Table of Allowances 50. The listing of the U.S. Army’s field gear authorized for issue to individual soldiers. TA-50 typically includes a rucksack, sleeping bag, helmet, magazine pouches, MOLLE vest, canteen, etc.

TAB:Tactical advance to battle.

TAD:Temporary assigned duty.

TARPS:Tactical aerial reconnaissance pod system.

TDY:Temporary duty.

Thermite:A mixture of aluminum powder and iron rust powder that when ignited causes a vigorous exothermic reaction. Used primarily for welding. Also used by military units as an incendiary for destroying equipment.