MUZZLE BRAKE

A muzzle attachment or feature that uses the propellant combustion gas with the desired effect of redirecting the recoil.

MUZZLE CAP

A cover put on the muzzle end of a barrel to keep out foreign matter.

MUZZLE ENERGY

A projectile’s energy at the time it leaves the muzzle of a gun.

MUZZLE FLASH

The illumination which is the result of the expanding gases from the burning propellant particles emerging from the barrel behind the projectile and uniting with oxygen in the air.

MUZZLE GUARD

A device put on the end of a barrel with a hole concentric with the bore to admit a cleaning rod and keep the rod from wearing the rifling in this critical area. Not used on guns cleaned from the breech end.

MIDDLE SIGHT

A second, smaller bead sight near the middle of the barrel or barrels of some shotguns.

MID-RANGE

1. A term that defines a specific point in the trajectory of a projectile that is half the distance between the firearm and the target. 2. A reduced velocity, centerfire cartridge, used principally in target shooting.

MID-RANGE TRAJECTORY

The distance, measured in inches, that a projectile travels above the line of sight at a specific point in the trajectory that is half the distance between the firearm and a target.

MIL

The angle subtended by one unit at 1000 units.

MINIE BALL

A conical nosed lead bullet, slightly under bore diameter, incorporating a hollow base, designed to expand into the rifled bore upon firing for gas sealing purposes without the use of a patch.