Munitions Key Terms

Get to know the exciting world of munitions

By M. Krasniak, Freelance Writer/Editor

Munitions is an umbrella term that refers to weapons and the supplies associated with weapons, such as bullets. While it is a common belief that munitions refers specifically to guns, they are only a small part of the munitions picture. With the advance of weapons technology, many other types of munitions have come onto the scene, such as grenades, biological and chemical warfare. Knowing some key terms related to munitions will give you a better understanding of what types of things qualify as munitions in today’s world.

Ammunition

Ammunition, or ammo, is a munitions term that refers to the material fired from firearms, such as bullets and shells.
Try: This information on ArticlesBase.com explains what ammunition is and the different types available.

Rifle

A rifle is a gun that has a barrel of at least 16 inches in length and is shoulder fired. The term "rifle" refers to the "rifling" or striations that are inside the barrel of the gun, or the part that the ammunition passes through.
Try: Gunners Den has an informative page on rifles that includes information on the different types of rifles and the parts of the rifle.

Machine gun

A machine gun is an automatic gun that can fire hundreds of bullets a minute in rapid succession. You can mount this gun on a tripod-like stand or it can be portable. It is a very common weapon in the military.
Try: There is a lot of information on machine guns on HowStuffWorks, including a video showing machine guns in action.

Hand grenades

As the name suggests, hand grenades are time-delayed munitions thrown by hand. This explosive device has a safety "pin" that keeps the weapon from detonating until the pin is pulled and the grenade is thrown.
Try: This helpful guide from the Federation of American Scientists lists the common characteristics of hand grenades in addition to providing detailed descriptions and diagrams of the different types available.

Chemical weapons

Chemical weapons are munitions that consist of toxic chemicals that cause varying degrees of injury, from vision discomfort to attacks on the central nervous system that can lead to death. Chemical weapons can be in solid, liquid or gas form.
Try: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom gives a comprehensive description of chemical weapons and chemical warfare.

Biological weapons

Any naturally occurring organism such as a virus, bacteria, toxin or fungi used to harm people is called a biological weapon. The poisons get to people in many ways, such as in powder form (used in the 2001 anthrax attacks) or through ingesting tainted foods.
Try: eMedicineHealth has a detailed explanation of biological weapons as munitions as well as an interesting time line of the use of biological weapons.