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Thread: Just Curious?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

    alamogunr's Avatar
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    Just Curious?

    Not sure where to post something like this but it doesn't really fit in the strictly technical sections. I occasionally notice that posts include referring to boolits(bullets) as "heads". Is this a regional thing or just because of the way they were brought up(father's/mentor's terminology)?
    John
    W.TN

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Boolits slang everything else I would say unfamiliarity with the terminology.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I think it's just the way people talk so I don't get to caught up in it , but come to think of it the case has a neck and shoulder so why not a head .

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Never heard the term till I moved to Colorado and a fellow from Chicago joined the gun club. When he used the term I just looked at him with a "what are you talking about" look, then it dawned on me what he meant.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by toallmy View Post
    I think it's just the way people talk so I don't get to caught up in it , but come to think of it the case has a neck and shoulder so why not a head .
    But the case already has a head with a head stamp and primer pocket in it! I agree that when considering the anatomy of a cartridge one would think the head should be above the neck and shoulder as opposed to what is essentially the butt… haha

  6. #6
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    IMHO it's an ignorant term used by those who either don't know better, or those who aren't smart enough to use correct terminology.
    NRA Benefactor.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

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    I had never seen that term used before seeing it use here.
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  8. #8
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    don't know where it came from but sure isn't terminology I've seen in any reloading book, not even in the glossary section

  9. #9
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    I agree with Burnt Fingers
    I HATE auto-correct

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    My Experience and My Opinion, are just that, Mine.

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  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    such terminologies should be banned or at very least discouraged and corrected as soon as it shows up, there is proper terminology for reloading items and processes and it was standardized before I was born, there is no reason to change something that aint broke. I know that regionally there are differing terminologies from around the world. but there are glossaries in the back of most good reloading books and they have all the proper and correct names for things with definitions

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    Calling a bullet or a projectile a ‘head’ shows a lack of familiarity with firearm terminology. Personally, I cringe when someone refers to a magazine as a ‘clip’.
    I often heard it at the range as in:
    “hey, can you get my clip, it fell on the floor beyond the firing line.”
    I’d study the floor in detail for a while, play dumb and tell them I couldn’t see any clip. I’d search again with the same results until frustrated, they pointed it out to me.
    “Oh, you mean that magazine? I thought you said your lost a clip.”
    They usually understood the difference after that.
    If you listen to interviews of anti-Assault Rifle proponents you’ll frequently hear mags referred to as ‘clips’. You’d think someone hell-bent on banning assault rifles (or as the say ‘ARs’), would at least want to sound halfway intelligent.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I posted the same thing a while back.
    Here people use different terms.
    used to help at a friends gunshop.
    Lots of confusion at times.
    Most here say heads or bullets.
    But some say bullets, when the want loaded rounds.
    Doesn't really matter to me, as long as I know what they wanted.
    It's kind of like soda and pop.
    We don't use pop here, so sometimes we don't know what tourist want.
    We call it shaved ice, states call it snow cones.
    Who's correct????
    Who cares, as long as both know what they want.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    If that is the "head", then what is the hole when the primer is removed?

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Must be called the ash hole or vent

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    I agree with Burnt Fingers!

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I think I will start calling a mag a clip just to drive the know it all grammar police crazy at the gun shops . You know the guy that thinks a box of bullets means a box of loaded ammunition .

  17. #17
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    Loaded ammunition was called "shells" where I grew up. Example; .22 shells, rifle shells, shotgun shells. A bullet was the part that was sent towards the target when the trigger was pulled.
    As far as the magazine/ clip thing, I do remember buying extra Remington 511 and 788 magazines and the factory labeled package said "Clip magazine" on the label.
    It may be a regional thing. I've never heard anyone call bullets " heads" in person; but I've read it here more than once.

    Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    And then there are those who call bullets "pills", which leads me to a picture of a .38 suppository applicator!
    R.D.M.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master

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    I've also heard old timers refer to cartridges as "cat"ridges. In my opinion that is closer to descriptive than "heads" or "pills". I don't have a physical reaction(shiver) when I hear those terms. Not trying to influence anyone(be a grammar policeman) about the words they use to describe certain items, but also don't expect me to always understand what they are talking about.
    John
    W.TN

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Burnt Fingers View Post
    IMHO it's an ignorant term used by those who either don't know better, or those who aren't smart enough to use correct terminology.
    Yes

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check