AR-15 Glossary
Definitions for common AR-15 parts, specs, and terminology. From buffer weights to twist rates, everything you need to speak the language.
A
An adjustable gas block is a critical component in your AR-15’s gas system that allows you to fine-tune how much gas...What Are Ambidextrous Controls on an AR-15? Ambidextrous controls, commonly called “ambi” controls in the AR-15...Armor piercing ammunition for the AR-15 refers to specialized cartridges designed to penetrate hard targets, typically...
B
Ball ammo, also known as FMJ ammunition (Full Metal Jacket), is the standard military-style cartridge featuring a lead...The ballistic coefficient (BC) is a numerical value that measures how well a bullet overcomes air resistance during...What Are Barrel Harmonics? Barrel harmonics refers to the vibration patterns that occur when a rifle barrel vibrates...Understanding Barrel Whip in AR-15 Builds Barrel whip refers to the oscillating movement your rifle barrel experiences...Battery Assist Device: Essential AR-15 Component Explained A battery assist device , more commonly known as the forward...What Is Blow Forward Action? A blow forward action firearm operates on an unconventional principle where the barrel...What Is Bolt Bounce? Bolt bounce is an AR-15 malfunction where the bolt carrier group (BCG) rebounds off the buffer and...What Is a Bolt Override? A bolt override occurs when the bolt carrier group (BCG) travels over the top of a cartridge...The buffer weight is a critical component of your AR-15’s buffer system that directly impacts cycling reliability,...What is Bump Fire? Bump fire is a shooting technique that uses the recoil energy of a semi-automatic rifle to rapidly...
C
Cam pin rotation refers to the rotational movement of the cam pin inside the bolt carrier group (BCG) during the...Carbon Fouling Carbon fouling is the accumulation of carbon deposits inside your AR-15 , primarily in the barrel,...What is Carrier Tilt? Carrier tilt refers to the downward angle that occurs when an AR-15 bolt carrier group (BCG)...Case head separation occurs when the rear portion of a brass cartridge case detaches from the body during firing,...A chamber cast is a precise replica of your AR-15’s chamber created using Cerrosafe , a low-melting-point alloy that...The chrome lining barrel process involves electroplating a thin layer of hard chrome (typically 0.0002 to 0.0005...Cold Hammer Forging (CHF) is a barrel manufacturing process where a barrel blank is hammered around a precision mandrel...A controlled pair is a shooting technique where the shooter fires two rounds in rapid succession while maintaining...A crush washer is a deformable metal washer that sits between your muzzle device and barrel shoulder, providing proper...The cycle rate of an AR-15 refers to how fast the bolt carrier group (BCG) completes its operational cycle: unlocking,...
D
F
Failure to eject (FTE) occurs when a spent casing fails to clear the ejection port after firing, often resulting in a...A failure to extract malfunction AR-15 occurs when the extractor fails to remove the spent casing from the chamber...A failure to feed (FTF) is a malfunction where a cartridge fails to properly feed into the chamber from the magazine...Feed ramp polishing is the process of smoothing and refining the angled surfaces that guide cartridges from the...The flash signature of your AR-15 refers to the visible flame and light produced when hot propellant gases exit the...
G
H
L
M
Magazine Well Flare A magazine well flare (often called a flared magwell or magwell funnel) is an aftermarket accessory...The mortar technique is an emergency malfunction clearing method used when standard tap , rack, bang procedures fail to...Muzzle blast refers to the explosive release of high-pressure gas that exits the barrel immediately after a bullet...What Is Muzzle Velocity? Muzzle velocity measures how fast a bullet travels when it exits your rifle’s barrel,...
P
S
Short stroking occurs when an AR-15’s bolt carrier group (BCG) fails to travel its complete rearward distance during...Staking Staking is a mechanical deformation process used to permanently secure critical AR-15 components, specifically...Suppressor backpressure refers to the increased gas pressure that flows back through your AR-15’s gas system when using...