Gun related local colloquilisms and common sayings

[Trey45]

Shotgun shack.(or Shotgun House)

Accuracy by volume, usually refers to machine guns, but has been adopted by the digital photography crowd, basically, you shoot 100 pictures and keep the best 2 or 3.

Shoot the moon!

[L1A1Rocker]

I believe that "The whole nine yards" referred to the Vickers machine gun used on many British and French WWI aircraft, possibly the early 250-round cloth belts, but more likely the later disintegrating-link metal belts.

Gear

I heard that it was from WWII. That US aircraft held 27 feet of linked ammo for their guns. The saying went something to the affect, when trying to shoot down a zero, "I had to give him the whole nine yards."

[sidecarmike]

Interesting. I was always of the impression that "the whole nine yards" referred to civil war era sailing ships.

[Janoosh]

I don't believe "rifle thru something" is correct. I believe "rifle" is a corruption of "riffle", as riffles used in gold panning.
Does "Hoist on his own petard" fit in???

[Harter66]

Possibly but there are lots of perversions we've carefully avoided.

I got 45 good reasons why my daughter will come home in the same condition she left. Several gentlemen introduced themselves w/ it a pleasure to meet Mr Hart ,I know all about the 45 and the shovel......... Its only funny because I actually had 357 good reasons not 1 45 in the whole stable.

[jonp]

"The Whole 9 Yards" is a bit debated. Some say that it was in use before for textiles or something. However, it certainly applies to the 9 yards of belted ammo in an airplane's machine gun.

On tall sailing ships in The English Navy the last sail to be hoisted to have every sail aloft had 9yrds of cloth in it.

The whole 9 yards meant everything was out.

[MT Gianni]

I had a Doctor explain to me that my vomiting blood was much better for him than using "the shotgun approach to medicine". That being where they try everything to find a solution.

[Vopie]

"The whole nine yards" refers to the length of the cloth ammo belts used in the British Vickers machine gun during WWI. The term was used by the gunners to describe the amount of ammo expended to stop a mass attack. The history channel's series on WWI even made note of this.

[waksupi]

On tall sailing ships in The English Navy the last sail to be hoisted to have every sail aloft had 9yrds of cloth in it.

The whole 9 yards meant everything was out.

Can you supply a reference for that?

[richhodg66]

In the Army, it was real common for NCOs to tell a sub standard Soldier whose performance needed to shape up that they needed to "tighten up their shot group", which of course came from BRM ranges where a troop hadn't effected a good zero on his weapon before qualification. I still use it a lot regarding any person or operation that needs to get it together.

[Jr.]

Straight shooter
Shooting the s***
Went off like a scatter gun
Can/could shoot the hair off a gnats a**
Or shoot a fly off a horses a**
Or shoot a flea off a dogs
Can't hit the broad side of a barn
Tack driver/nail driver

I'm sure there a lot more I use but I can't think of them right now

[osteodoc08]

Updated since the other day. Lots of good ones on the list. I'll update periodically.

[histed]

What about "You're slower than wet gunpowder"? So many ways to take that, but I think the reference is to someone who's a bit slow on the draw.

[Hogtamer]

going Full bore
FMJ
caught the whole load

[Rat man407]

as easy as shooting fish in a barrel

[Jr.]

Couple more

Stick to your guns
Inline with the sights

[osteodoc08]

Updated

However, it shows a 4th page and it wont let me access it. Just goes to the bottom of the third page. Weird.

[Harter66]

I actually got and email that read ''test'' for the thread but upon viewing neither the ''4'' nor last button work

[Le Loup Solitaire]

A shot in the dark
Give it your best shot
Shot down
Shoot em up
Give it a shot
A shot in the mouth
A crazy shot
LLS

[Gator 45/70]

I shot this with a 'pumpkin ball'
Dropped like a sock.
Pa' Kow's