S7-E160: The ABCs of Ballistics

North American Outdoors

Who would have ever thought that you could do all that we can now do, right on the comforts of your phone. As our life gets easier, we have all become spoiled when it comes to research and communications. A technological type of shorthand is developing right before our eyes. In the past, written documents, papers, or articles would have the acronym in parentheses after the formal phrase was spelled out such as National Rifle Association (NRA). Now when we read technical or information articles there are stand-alone acronyms because the author assumes (something you should never do) that the audience knows what you are talking about. I have also seen acronyms listed and the meaning in parathesis behind the letters.

Texting and messaging are now the primary ways we communicate. Texting has now given birth to a whole new language of acronyms. This ease of written communication is now spilling over into our verbal communications. I have had young students in my NRA firearms training course in their 20s who even incorporate acronyms such as LOL (laugh out loud) and BTW (by the way) in their normal verbal communications.

Technical ballistic information regarding bullets is no different. Acronyms are now part of the firearms and ammunition world. Many times this shorthand is not defined with once again, the writer assuming everyone reading knows the meanings of the string of letters on paper. As shooters and firearm enthusiasts, it is our responsibility to learn all we can about these acronyms so we can better educate ourselves and those around us, especially new firearm owners and shooters.

We'll discuss MOAs, BCs, SDs, POI, POA, NPA and NAA, Can you identify and define all of these acronyms?

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