M16, M4
M16s and M4s are select-fire AR-15 rifles that have been produced specifically for military applications. M16s and M4s have several modifications and improvements that are not part of the original AR-15 design, but all of these modifications can be easily replicated by a number of commercial manufacturers, allowing a civilian to purchase an identical copy of a military M16 or M4. However, the select-fire capability is not available to civilians, and commercial AR-15s have design features that make it intentionally difficult to convert them into select-fire weapons.
machine gun
Technically speaking, a machine gun is a firearm capable of automatic fire (more than one shot per trigger pull). The legal definition of a machine gun is much more detailed than that, however, as machine guns are highly regulated items under US law. While machine guns are available for civilian ownership in the US, they require extensive paperwork and permissions, and are ludicrously expensive. The exorbitant price tag comes from a piece of legislation called FOPA, which stipulates that civilians may only purchase machine guns manufactured before May of 1986, so all available machine guns have long since been purchased and are now sold for dollars on the penny. The cheapest machine guns are around $5,000, and more expensive examples can cost as much as a new luxury sedan.
magazine
A magazine (often incorrectly called a clip) is an enclosed housing attached to the breech of a firearm that holds extra ammunition until it is needed. Magazines may be permanently attached or detachable, and are usually rectangular in shape (box magazines), though tubular, helical, and drum magazine designs are also seen. Box magazines are generally one of two designs, either "single-stack" with the cartridges stacked directly on top of one another, or "double-stack", meaning that the magazine is wide enough to allow the cartridges to stack in a double-column, checker-board configuration. Some unusual box magazine designs, commonly called casket magazines, are triple or even quadruple-stacked. Helical and drum magazines typically use some sort of gear system in combination with spring pressure to push each cartridge into the breech.
see also: clip
see also: clip
magnification
Magnification is a specification of telescopic sights. Magnification is expressed by the number of magnifications from the human eye followed by "x", for example, a "5x" scope is magnified at five times the human sight. In simpler terms, an object 500 meters away that is viewed through the lens of a 5x sight will appear as though it were only 100 meters away.
A 1x magnification, common in dot sights, will not magnify the image seen through it.
A 1x magnification, common in dot sights, will not magnify the image seen through it.
magnum
A magnum cartridge or shotgun shell is a larger, more powerful variant of an existing "parent" cartridge. In some cases, the popularity of the magnum cartridge far outstrips the popularity of the parent cartridge, such as the world-renowned .44 Magnum and its little-known parent, the .44 Special.
Unlike +P cartridges, magnum cartridges are usually physically larger than their parent cartridges. This prevents magnum rounds from being used in weapons that are only strong enough for the weaker parent cartridge. A firearm designed for magnum ammunition is more than capable of tolerating +P ammunition of the parent case, meaning that a .357 Magnum revolver can safely fire .38 Special +P ammunition.
Some common magnum cartridges and their parent cartridges are:
.357 Magnum - .38 Special
.44 Magnum - .44 Special
.300 Winchester Magnum - .375 H&H Magnum
.338 Lapua Magnum - .416 Rigby
3" and 3.5" Magnum 12 gauge - Perhaps not true "magnum" cartridges, as 12 gauge shells are available in many lengths and these two sizes are simply the longest and most powerful in common use.
Unlike +P cartridges, magnum cartridges are usually physically larger than their parent cartridges. This prevents magnum rounds from being used in weapons that are only strong enough for the weaker parent cartridge. A firearm designed for magnum ammunition is more than capable of tolerating +P ammunition of the parent case, meaning that a .357 Magnum revolver can safely fire .38 Special +P ammunition.
Some common magnum cartridges and their parent cartridges are:
.357 Magnum - .38 Special
.44 Magnum - .44 Special
.300 Winchester Magnum - .375 H&H Magnum
.338 Lapua Magnum - .416 Rigby
3" and 3.5" Magnum 12 gauge - Perhaps not true "magnum" cartridges, as 12 gauge shells are available in many lengths and these two sizes are simply the longest and most powerful in common use.
match (match-grade)
To say a component is "match-grade" means that the component has been produced with great care and very tight manufacturing tolerances, ostensibly for use in a shooting match (match-grade, get it?). It is important to note that match-grade components are not necessarily more durable or powerful than standard components, only more precisely manufactured. Match-grade iron sights, for example, are typically complex and delicate compared to standard iron sights, and match-grade ammunition is not exceptionally powerful. In fact, some match-grade ammunition is loaded to extremely low velocities to avoid breaking the sound barrier (which subjects the bullet to "trans-sonic" turbulence) and in rare cases the match-grade firearms designed to use that ammunition cannot safely fire regular ammunition, as their actions are tuned to the low-power match-grade ammunition.
The abbreviation "match" is also used interchangeably with match-grade, as in "match trigger."
The abbreviation "match" is also used interchangeably with match-grade, as in "match trigger."
mil (milrad, milliradian)
This term requires a great deal of explanation. Please refer to the topic page on mil dots and mils.
mil dot
This term requires a great deal of explanation. Please refer to the topic page on mil dots and mils.
MOA (minute of angle, minute of arc)
MOA is an abbreviation for minute-of-arc, known in the shooting world as minute-of-angle and used as a system of measurement for adjusting civilian telescopic sight reticles. An in-depth explanation of why MOA (arcminutes) are preferred for civilian scopes when mils (milliradians) are preferred for military scopes is beyond the scope of this definition, so let it be simply said that MOA is for civilians, and there are only three things the average shooter really needs to know:
1.
The point-of-aim of a telescopic or dot sight is adjustable, and most civilian sight reticles are adjusted in increments of MOA. Individual adjustments or "clicks" are usually in increments of 1/2 MOA, 1/4 MOA, or 1/8 MOA.
2.
MOA is a variable measurement based on distance, meaning that 1 MOA corresponds roughly to 1" at 100 yards, 2" at 200 yards, 3" at 300 yards, and so forth. It's not exactly a 1-1 ratio, but it's close enough. So, if you are shooting at 100 yards and want to adjust your aim by 5", you must adjust your sight by 5 MOA (1" = 1 MOA, at 100 yards). If you are shooting at 1000 yards and want to adjust your aim by the same amount (5"), you need only adjust your scope by 1/2 MOA (10" = 1 MOA, at 1000 yards)
3.
Trying to figure out the proper adjustments to get a first-shot hit will make your lobes bleed, so keep a DOPE (data on previous engagements) sheet if you want to do serious long range shooting. A DOPE sheet keeps track of what ranges need what adjustments, under what weather conditions, so you can just dial in those same settings to take a similar shot later.
1.
The point-of-aim of a telescopic or dot sight is adjustable, and most civilian sight reticles are adjusted in increments of MOA. Individual adjustments or "clicks" are usually in increments of 1/2 MOA, 1/4 MOA, or 1/8 MOA.
2.
MOA is a variable measurement based on distance, meaning that 1 MOA corresponds roughly to 1" at 100 yards, 2" at 200 yards, 3" at 300 yards, and so forth. It's not exactly a 1-1 ratio, but it's close enough. So, if you are shooting at 100 yards and want to adjust your aim by 5", you must adjust your sight by 5 MOA (1" = 1 MOA, at 100 yards). If you are shooting at 1000 yards and want to adjust your aim by the same amount (5"), you need only adjust your scope by 1/2 MOA (10" = 1 MOA, at 1000 yards)
3.
Trying to figure out the proper adjustments to get a first-shot hit will make your lobes bleed, so keep a DOPE (data on previous engagements) sheet if you want to do serious long range shooting. A DOPE sheet keeps track of what ranges need what adjustments, under what weather conditions, so you can just dial in those same settings to take a similar shot later.
Molot
The Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant (Molot) is known in the US as the producer of the Vepr series of rifles and shotguns. Vepr firearms are based on the RPK receiver, which is stamped from 1.5mm steel plate instead of the normal AK receiver's 1mm steel plate. Molot also imported their KO 91/30M, a modernized version of the Mosin-Nagant rifle, but these rifles have not been seen for some time.
multi-coated, fully multi-coated
In telescopic and dot sights, the glass lenses are coated with a variety of chemical films to improve performance. These coatings can improve light transfer, reduce fogging, improve low-light visibility, enhance the color of the reticle, or improve a variety of other properties. To that end, some manufacturers apply more than 20 different coatings onto a single lens. A quality sight will be "fully multi-coated", meaning that each coating has been applied to both sides of the lens, providing maximum durability and performance. Less expensive sights will only be "multi-coated," meaning that only one side of the lens will have received the coating treatment.
See also: nitrogen-filled
See also: nitrogen-filled
muzzle brake
See Muzzle Devices.
muzzle device
See Muzzle Devices.
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