What does 'ought' mean if anything?

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What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by shazz » 25 Jan 2017, 9:25 am

Is there any actual meaning behind Americans calling the 30-06 Springfield "30 ought 6" ?

Seems stupid to me regardless, why you wouldn't just stick with numbers, but does it mean something or is it just a random nickname they came up with.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by bladeracer » 25 Jan 2017, 9:26 am

shazz wrote:Is there any actual meaning behind Americans calling the 30-06 Springfield "30 ought 6" ?

Seems stupid to me regardless, why you wouldn't just stick with numbers, but does it mean something or is it just a random nickname they came up with.



It's just redneck for zero.
My old man was from Lancashire and he used nowt.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by halberg » 25 Jan 2017, 9:35 am

Same reason for still using imperial, fahrenheit, 'american english'.... all their other nonsense.

They're just knobs who have to be different :lol:
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Gwion » 25 Jan 2017, 10:11 am

ought1
ɔːt/Submit
verb
1.
used to indicate duty or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions.
"they ought to respect the law"
2.
used to indicate something that is probable.
"five minutes ought to be enough time"
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Gwion » 25 Jan 2017, 10:12 am

I think it's a contraction of "naught", ie: zero. "it all comes to naught".

Mind you, there could be something in Halberg's theory! :D :lol:
Last edited by Gwion on 25 Jan 2017, 11:41 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Supaduke » 25 Jan 2017, 10:50 am

Cartridge names in general are full of weirdness , inconsistencies and "WTF?"

I agree that it's just a yank thing that became common usage.

Such as we say three-oh-three, not three-zero-three. It just rolls off the tongue easier.

Some more weirdness

7.5 x 54 french: .308
7.5 x 55 Swiss : .308
30-06 Springfield : .308
7.62 x 51 NATO : .308
30-30 Winchester: .308
300 win mag. : .308
7.62 x 54 Russian : .311
.303 British. : .311

Just one of those weird things about firearms.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 25 Jan 2017, 12:09 pm

I understand the aught specifically refers to the 0x years, the first 10years in a century, probably derived from the 'n'aught... though aught doesnt seem to be used any longer, other than with reference to the 30cal of 1906....

Although most, at least in Aus, seem to use the ow-six, other than those who seek to wind up their mates (who might not know) by referring to their rifle as an 'aught-six' ^whistles and looks around^ ;) :)
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by GLS_1956 » 25 Jan 2017, 12:15 pm

Gwion wrote:I think it's a contraction of "naught", ie: zero. "it all comes to naught".

Mind you, there could be something in Halberg's theory! :D :lol:



Ought is derived from nought, American spelling, which means nothing or zero. Just over the years the "N" got dropped.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Gwion » 25 Jan 2017, 12:32 pm

US English version/contraction of naught.

In real English we say 'naught': "in the early naughties the world underwent a huge swing toward militarisation of the civil population under the guise of anti terrorism".

"Oh" is a common substitute for 'zero'.

"Aught" is an old word that has a kind of contradictory meaning:
aught1
ɔːt/
pronounarchaic
anything at all.
"know you aught of this fellow, young sir?"
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 25 Jan 2017, 1:02 pm

Meanings change....

I remember back in the day when 'gender' meant male OR female...

Now it means.... literally anything......and multiple of anything at any particular time :unknown:
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Gwion » 25 Jan 2017, 1:24 pm

Ought and naught have meanings in common (true) English. Aught is archaic English or US Redneck English [ie:'Mer'k'n] (like 'varmint' comes from "vermin") only really has any meaning in the US in modern context. It is a contraction and bastardisation of actual English.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by sandgroperbill » 26 Jan 2017, 11:30 am

Lol. It's just Merikins. We're talking about a people that spell Mum as Mom, after all :sarcasm:

Now, if anyone is over there, you may be able to find some really nic ought sixes for the low low price of six hunnit fiddy dollars...

And I'm sorry, I couldn't resist :)
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by GLS_1956 » 26 Jan 2017, 12:45 pm

When dad landed in Australia in late 1944, on his way home by way of the Philippines and Japan. He told me he thought you all talked funny and wore odd hats. But he did say you were really friendly and pleasant to an 18 yr old soldier from Kansas.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Gaz52 » 28 Jan 2017, 2:07 pm

We still talk funny, almost as funny as our Kiwi bros across the ditch !
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by happyhunter » 28 Jan 2017, 5:08 pm

I'd only ever 00 buck shot referred to as 'double zero' buck shot until one day I heard it called 'double ought' in an American movie. I've also heard it called 'man stoppers' on an American TV cop show.
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Jeff303 » 09 Apr 2017, 10:16 am

It means you ought to buy one
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by Bushie » 09 Apr 2017, 11:10 am

Could be worse, could be 30 nil 6
12G > Anything else
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Re: What does 'ought' mean if anything?

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 09 Apr 2017, 1:37 pm

happyhunter wrote:I'd only ever 00 buck shot referred to as 'double zero' buck shot until one day I heard it called 'double ought' in an American movie. I've also heard it called 'man stoppers' on an American TV cop show.


Certainly are man or most anything else stoppers.....I tested some over the last weekend, 9 x 0.33cal shot certainly makes an impression... :thumbsup:
The shot size/load has multiple names, Just to simplify things :sarcasm: ; 00(double-aught),00 Buckshot and SG(small game) 00/SG.....
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