The Glossary of Industry terms has been compiled by SAAMI’s Technical Committee to facilitate technical interchanges between members of that committee. It is not intended to provide legal definitions of the terms included, and, in light of further experience, the definitions of these terms may change. It is not intended to be comprehensive since it does not cover the full range of the diversity of the sporting arms and ammunition industry’s products. It is, in other words, a working draft that, it is hoped, may be useful in addressing certain technical matters frequently considered by the Technical Committee and is subject to further change and refinement.
It was the committee’s decision that ONLY industry terms would be included which are unique to the firearms and ammunition industry directly. Optical terms have been omitted for the most part. Common metallurgical terms were not included because they are not unique to the industry. Where there is a common term with a usage unique to our industry, it has, however, been included.
N
NATIONAL MATCH AMMUNITION
Ammunition produced for the American National Matches (at Camp Perry, Ohio) by appropriate government or commercial manufacturing facilities. Cartridges are usually, but not always, head-stamped “NM” for identification purposes.
NATIONAL MATCH BULLET
A bullet manufactured specifically for ammunition issued to competitors at the National Matches.
NATO CARTRIDGE
A common designation for military cartridges produced under the specifications of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
NECK ANNEALING
A heating process used in cartridge case manufacture intended to relieve internal stresses in the neck area caused by cold working.
NECK CLEARANCE
The dimensional difference between the diameter of the neck of a loaded cartridge case and the chamber.
NECK OF CARTRIDGE
The reduced diameter cylindrical portion of a cartridge case, extending from the bottom of the shoulder to the case mouth.
Also Known As: Neck, Case Neck
NECK RADIUS
The curved surface between the neck and the shoulder of a cartridge case.
NECK SIZING
The operation performed by reloaders to reduce or restore the original neck diameter of a fired cartridge.
NECK TENSION
The circumferential stress that the case neck exerts on the seated bullet, as a result of the interference fit provided by the case neck inside diameter and the bullet outside diameter.
NECK THICKNESS
Average thickness of the wall of a cartridge case surrounding the bullet.
NECKING-DOWN
The use of case forming dies to reduce both the outside and inside diameter of a cartridge case neck.
NIPPLE
A hollow, cone-shaped part of a percussion firearm upon which a percussion cap or musket cap is placed. The hole in the nipple directs the flame or flash of the cap to the powder charge. Also called a Cone.
NIPPLE PICK
A pointed instrument used to clean the orifice of nipples on percussion firearms.
NIPPLE WRENCH
Tool made for the removal and installation of nipples on percussion firearms.
NITRO WAD
An unlubricated, overpowder wad made of cardboard or felt. It is used with smokeless powder. Also called Nitro Card Wad.
Also Known As: Nitro Card Wad
NITROGLYCERINE
The common term for the nitric acid ester of glycerine, i.e., glyceryl nitrate. It is incorporated with nitrocellulose smokeless powder formulations to make double base propellant powders. See Double Base Powder.
Related Terms: DOUBLE BASE POWDER
NOMINAL CHARGE
A typical charge weight of a specific powder for a specific combination of components.
NON-CORROSIVE
A term applied to primers that contain no chemical compounds that could produce corrosion or rust in gun barrels, but does not necessarily protect from corrosion or rust.
NON-CORROSIVE PRIMER
A primer which does not contain chemical compounds that could produce corrosion or rust in gun barrels. It does not by itself prevent corrosion or rust.
NON-HYGROSCOPIC POWDER
Smokeless powder which resists water absorption.
NON-MERCURIC PRIMER
A primer which does not contain compounds of mercury.
NON-SELECTIVE SINGLE
A single trigger on double-barrel guns which fires the barrels in a fixed sequence.
NOSE
The point or tip of a bullet.
NOTCH SIGHT
An Open rear sight having either a “V,” “U” or square shaped cut on its upper edge.