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What is Caliber? Bullet Sizes Explained

Understanding bullet calibers, bullet sizes and the difference between them. Bullet caliber refers to the size, or diameter of the bullet.

click to enlarge (download PDF)

You’ve heard it on your favorite cop show, “looks like the killer used a twenty-two,” or, “he was killed with a nine millimeter.” But, if you’re curious like I was, you’re asking yourself, “what the heck is a twenty-two and what does it mean anyway?”

Well, common sense would suggest that the numbers have something to do with size and that is exactly correct. When you hear various numbers being mentioned related to bullets, the number being referred to is what’s called the bullet’s “caliber”. Caliber is a unit of measurement related to a bullet’s size. Specifically, what’s being described is the bullet’s diameter.

To be even more specific, the caliber of a bullet is the measurement of the diameter of the slug (or projectile) part of the bullet cartridge. This is important because in some situations, the bullet casing will be wider than the slug itself. But the caliber is specifically describing the width of the slug portion. Caliber does not refer to the length or power of the bullet (in most cases), but simply the diameter of the bullet.

The Bottom Line: The Width of a Bullet Determine’s Its Caliber

Bullet Cartridge Comparison

click to see some examples of common cartridges

I know, you’re thinking, “but what’s a twenty-two compared to a nine millimeter?” Well, as with all measurements, there’s the American way and the Metric way of measuring. The metric is simple, a nine millimeter (9mm) is 9mm in diameter. The American measurement is a little different. A twenty-two (or 0.22) is twenty-two one hundredths (22/100’s) of an inch in diameter – or a little less than a quarter of an inch. Similarly, a 0.44 is 44/100’s of an inch, a .50 caliber is a half inch, and so on.

Update

As I’ve been corrected and corrected again, the “inches” measurements are considered part of the “Imperial System” of measurement instituted by Great Britain and retained by some of her former colonies – the most prominent of which is the U.S.A. So, we have metric measurement in millimeters and the Imperial measurement in inches.

Clarifications

As a few have commented below, I want to point out two things in how this page refers to bullet caliber:

First, this page is about bullet caliber, not gun caliber. I make that distinction because a gun designed to fire a 9mm bullet may have a barrel with an internal diameter slightly larger than 9mm (for example 9.002mm). That doesn’t change the fact a gun referred to as a 9mm handgun does fire bullets that are designated as 9mm rounds.

Secondly, I’m not necessarily encouraging anyone to grab a caliper and actually measure the diameter of a bullet to determine it’s caliber. The point of this web page is to explain how bullet calibers have been derived and the names they continue to bare as well as how to most easily compare them to each other. To that end, I feel compelled to point out that It is, in fact, actually extremely common for bullets to be referred to by a cailber number that is NOT the actual diameter of the bullet. For example, the bullet found in a cartidge referred to as a .38 Special is NOT actually 0.38 inches in diameter. You can learn more about that specific round here.

So, just to clarify for everyone: bullet caliber refers to the diameter of the slug portion of the entire bullet cartridge. HOWEVER, the number of the caliber may be slightly smaller or larger than the actual measured diameter of that slug. Each round has its own unique history and perhaps we’ll explore and explain those some day on this site. But, after being criticized for not clarifying those potential and common imperfections in caliber designation I wanted to take the opportunity to explain it here. I hope that this explanation sufficiently covers that.

Thanks, again, to everyone who contributes to this page and site.


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The Bullet Cartridge
Mar 2, 2011S. Lawrence
Comments: 237
  1. Hairstyles
    3 years ago

    Hello.This article was extremely motivating, especially because I was searching for thoughts on this topic last Wednesday.

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  2. Isaac Heppert
    3 years ago

    This makes me think of the other comment I was seeing earlier.

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  3. Positive singles
    4 years ago

    Thank you.

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  4. Ed Smith
    4 years ago

    In my state, you can only shoot deer with a 40 caliber or larger, I was looking for sizes larger than a 40 caliber. I don’t understand metrics, but seems like a 357 caliber is a bit smaller than a 40 caliber? and 9mm even smaller? 243 caliber larger? I only see the comparisons of some caliber’s in the pictures above. Wish there were more pictures. Thank You for your contribution on this subject.

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    • Muhammad Zubair
      3 years ago

      its 0.357 caliber not 357

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      • Frost
        3 years ago

        Don’t be a smartass, and also it .357 caliber, so he is right

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        • jerry
          3 years ago

          357 is 35 caliber

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        • DamnRight
          3 years ago

          Don’t b a asshole

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      • Jerry
        3 years ago

        357 is 35 caliber

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  5. Darrell Maynard
    4 years ago

    It seems to me that everything about the 223 and the 5.56 caliber slugs has been reported wrong. The metric round 5.56 mm converts to .2189 inches that is .0041 inches smaller than the .233 caliber. How can the larger diameter of the 223 be fired in the 5.56caliber?

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    • Rick
      3 years ago

      This kind of screws me up as well.
      As the ‘Rifling’ is a .002 (2 Thou) groove, for a total of .004 (4 Thou) on the diameter.
      You would think the 5.56 would be a bit bigger in order to use the rifling channels.
      As the 5.56 is smaller in diameter, it does not use the rifling, correct?
      Confusing much?

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  6. James
    4 years ago

    Wait, what about some weird stuff like .56-56, or 7.62×54 or whatever?

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    • S. Lawrence
      4 years ago

      Hi James. The 5.56 round is the metric reference for the .223 caliber rifle cartridge. The measurement is 5.56mm or .223 inches wide. The 7.62×54 round you mention is also a rifle cartridge that is 7.62mm wide and 54mm long. It’s a Russian round developed in the late nineteenth century. That caliber inspired the 7.62×39 AK round as well as the 7.62×51 NATO round.

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  7. Bob
    5 years ago

    Does anyone check this site anymore?

    Considering marketing our concealed carry holsters on this site for Discrete Defense Solutions.

    Would it be worth our time?

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    • dan milner
      4 years ago

      some of us just found you.. thanks

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    • Mike
      4 years ago

      Hey bob, you have a website, or a catalog?

      ReplyCancel
  8. Micah Lena
    5 years ago

    Hey there, I’m a massive follower of your site. I really enjoyed your post! I am a full on fisher & hunter so your posts are really appealing to me. Fish & hunt on! Thx.

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  9. DRHK
    6 years ago

    Strictly speaking, American measurements are not part of the Imperial measurement system which was developed after the American system. They are both legislated versions of common measurement in the then(pre-American Civil War) English speaking world.
    After the U.S. Congress made us the first country to adopt the metric system and found it impossible to put into use in such a widely spread out country, it was decided to adopt metric definitions of the common measurements. This created an immediate commercial advantage, in that if you bought from an American business, you knew exactly what you were getting. Buy from Great Britain and it was anyone’s guess. This sent alarms ringing and the UK was forced to adopt standard measures, but there was no way that they would do the sensible thing and adopt the same measures as those upstart Americans. So, many of the measurements in the two systems are different- for instance, an Imperial gallon is equal to five US quarts and a British inch is 2.53 cm instead of the American 2.54. Thus, a British mile is twenty-one inches shorter than an American mile. Since the difference is less than one part in 250, it probably makes little difference where caliber is concerned and barrel bore is effected by temperature, number of rounds fired and engineering constraints. But, if you have been told that Americans use the Imperial system, this is not so.

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    • Unamerican
      4 years ago

      Bloody yanks! Are you a a whole lacking the simple logic required to use and interpret the decimal system? Or is it the rank arrogance of your nation yearning to be different to the rest of the world?

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      • Uncle Sam
        4 years ago

        Why is everything “bloody” with you Brits ? Bloody this and bloody that. Bollocks ! lol

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      • BritBull
        4 years ago

        Bugger off
        You always want to complain

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    • Robor
      3 years ago

      It’s true, America does not use the Imperial system or the Metric system. I suspect that it because they are either too lazy to follow the rest of the world into the Metric system or they cannot understand it. (I suspect the latter). The American corrupted the Imperial system into what they use, even today. To say that the British inch is 2.53 cm is absolute crap,, an inch in America is the same as an inch in Britain or anywhere else, for that matter. That statement certainly says a lot about the American education system. Research is the answer!!

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  10. Peter78
    6 years ago

    What about design a new caliber mid-power rifle cartridge 6,45x40mm about same power as 7,62x39mm,but lighter bullet about 5,8-6,1 grams.
    Do you think is it a good compromise between .223 and 7,62×39?

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  11. Dirk D Hollenberg
    6 years ago

    He guys I am Dutch born but live in Australia for a long time I found this very informative and I have a laugh A’s well great to read all the replies on this forum I love the way you Americans are been in your country twice loved every minute of it as a old Dutch severs man in the infantry I just love this site keep it coming in god bless you guys

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  12. M.D
    6 years ago

    Hey bro
    thanx for the info
    one question that a .22 caliber bullet means that the diameter of bullet is 32/100 part of a inch but on measuring the bottom its not at all same.

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  13. Liz
    6 years ago

    In a book I am reading one of the facts presented is that the 0.44 was invented to kill both horse and man, for the war with Mexico. This was the purpose of original Colt Walker, a 15.5″ gun was created to match the larger bullet, and be accurate to 100 yards. The 0.44 size is unnecessary for people, it gets more penetration than needed, so this makes a lot of sense since horses have a thicker skull. Is it true?

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  14. Ramon
    6 years ago

    awesome…thanks, thanks for sharing your knowledge…

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    • BEANS!?
      6 years ago

      BEANS!?

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  15. C.W. Conrad
    6 years ago

    Can you please describe the physical differences between the 223 and the 5.56 cartridges?

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    • S. Lawrence
      6 years ago

      If you’re looking for visual differences there aren’t any, Except for the fact that the base of the cartridge will have the details stamped into it. The two cartridges look identical and the difference in weight is too minute to feel just by holding it. So, I’m sorry, but there isn’t really any physical difference you could note.

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    • J.A. Lind
      6 years ago

      There is no dimensional difference in the ammunition, however there is a difference in the rifle chambers. The 5.56 NATO chamber has a slightly longer throat. In addition, NATO 5.56 ammunition can be hotter loads and with heavier bullets than .223 ammunition. This difference is the reason for the different chamber dimensions between the two. Bottom line is general recommendation not using 5.56 ammunition in a rifle chambered for .223 with one of the more noted malfunctions possible is a primer popping out of the shell casing jamming the rifle. It may also result in chamber and barrel pressures that exceed .223 specifications. OTOH, .223 ammunition can be used in a rifle chambered for 5.56 NATO without any problem. Given the differences I would prefer a 5.56 chambered rifle which can use any of the 5.56 or ,223 ammunition, letting me choose primarily the bullet weight for desired range and trajectory characteristics.

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    • Dan
      6 years ago

      .223 is inches and 5.56 is mm.
      http://www.paforge.com/files/resources/ammo_conversion_tables.pdf

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    • Professor Chaos
      6 years ago

      Actually there is no difference in the .223 / 5.56 slugs themselves. The difference lies in the casing. The casing of the 5.56 is thicker. WhIle the outide diameter is identical to the .223, the inside diameter of the 5.56 is smaller. The smaller space in the inside of the 5.56 equates to higher pressure thus it produces much more force & higher velocity. Like J.A. Lind was saying, you shouldn’t use 5.56 ammo in a rifle stamped for “.223”

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      • Mark
        5 years ago

        The primer is different also.

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    • John
      5 years ago

      5.56 have higher pressures. The shell casing on a 5.56 is annealed or discolered from heat located at the shoulder near the bullet. You can shoot a .223 through a 5.56 barrel but not the other way around.

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    • YAHUDA
      5 years ago

      the 5.56 is slightly longer. A .223 round can usually be used in a 5.56 cal but not the other way around.

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  16. Md.Mustafizur Rahman
    6 years ago

    Good

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  17. Ron Barak
    6 years ago

    What about cannons’ calibre?

    If a cannon is defined as “155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled artillery system”,

    what does the “52 calibre” signify?
    What units does the “52 calibre” employ?

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    • Dave
      6 years ago

      The ’52’ in your example (155mm/52 caliber) refers to the barrel length used in the system. The length of the barrel is 52 calibers, or 8,060 mm in length.

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  18. Pàul
    6 years ago

    Very informative, great job of explaining. I truly believe all hand gun carriers should understand this if for nothing more than safety.

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  19. Sharktown
    6 years ago

    Stephen,

    Whoa – what are you thinking on 100-180 grains of powder in a 7mm08 cartridge?? In no way will a standard commercial or military .308 case hold that much powder. Typically a standard .308 will hold from 40 to maybe 49 +- grains of powder depending on the powder and the size of bullet that is used.
    The brass casing for a .308 will just not hold that much powder, and a 30-06 will not hold 87 grains of powder! With a 165 grain bullet powder can go from a low of 49 grains to a top load of 60 grains, again +- depending on the powder used.
    I’m a re-loader and have been re-loading for years and speak from experience.

    A Guy Guy – you should have caught that when the response was posted. That type of misinformation is dangerous.
    Not jumping on anybody just thinking safety here.

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    • Dane
      6 years ago

      Grains are not a measurement of powder but the mass of the projectile itself. I think you’ve invalidated your entire statement with your first [incorrect] sentence.

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    • Charles
      6 years ago

      Frankly, your response is so vague and presumptive that you confused us more.

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  20. Howard
    7 years ago

    Great and simple explanation on the topic. Gun education is important and I thank you for doing your part.

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  21. Lester
    7 years ago

    Oh my, what an amazing post. Thank you!

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  22. Terry Allen
    7 years ago

    I have a Spanish knock off of an s&w 32 revolver what ammo will fit?

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    • A Gun Guy
      7 years ago

      Being a “knock-off” it’s hard to say with any certainty but the S&W 32 revolver fires a .32 caliber cartridge.

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    • Jim
      6 years ago

      I have two old Spanish “ruby” pistols and I love them both,but they are both semi auto ACP.They were made in Spain in the 1920’s up to the mid-30’s.The revolvers I have been told were favorites of the poor bastards in the trenches in WW2 because their size and reliability.,they were easy to load and very reliable.Some of the Semi auto’s ACP’s were known to be junk.There was such a demand for them that they were “outsourced to some not so great manufactures.The ammo I get at Academy Sports,and while not cheap it is available. Do you still have it?I would Love to see a picture of it

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  23. Grant
    7 years ago

    I have a question, and it may not be related to this topic at all. In naval guns, for example, the 5 inch gun, why are the diameters of the shells the same but the caliber different? There is the 5″/22 gun, the 5″/55 gun, and so on. Could you clarify that for me please?

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    • RyanW
      7 years ago

      In artillery, caliber has a slightly different meaning, or rather, the same meaning used in a very different way.

      A typical naval gun might be listed as a 5-inch 55-caliber gun (sometimes written 5″/55). It’s caliber (internal diameter) is 5″, and the barrel is 55 “calibers” long, or 275 inches. It’s merely a way to distinguish between different 5″ guns.

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      • A Gun Guy
        7 years ago

        Thanks RyanW!

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  24. Donna Accettola
    7 years ago

    Very,very interesting site. I learned a lot today. Thank you gun guy and all those that contributed. I’m interested in learning about handguns before taking a concealed carry class.

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  25. Mary
    7 years ago

    Thank you for explaining this. I was reading about the shooting of Pope John Paul II on this 34th anniversary and an article author kept emphasizing the bullet was a 9 mm and I had no idea if that was supposed to be no big deal or extra dangerous to human flesh. Your article did a great job of explaining what caliber is. I especially liked the graphics comparing four sizes. That was very helpful. This is not easily findable information for a layman, so please accept my thanks for explaining what caliber is.

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  26. Allen hile
    7 years ago

    I have a 1960s British 38 pistol.what bullets will fit it

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    • Shannon
      7 years ago

      Very helpful and informative with questions I didn’t know I had. Thank you for not choking me on unnecessary BS. Thanks again!

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    • Peter
      6 years ago

      The system is British in origin, the.38 rounds available at your local store will work just fine

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  27. Stephan
    7 years ago

    Then why is a .270 Win not called a .277 Win??????????

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  28. Thomas G Schuckman
    7 years ago

    I was honored to serve in South Vietnam: 68-70, as a helicopter ‘door gunner’, using an M-60 [7.62] but because the Gov’t [Army] would buy the CHEAPEST gun power, our weapons jammed all the time, even though we stripped and cleaned them every night when we got home from our various missions, in a ‘hog trough’ filled with solvent, ready for the next day, 7 days a week, month after month, including all week ends, but I was age 19, full of piss and vinegar… lol., and now age 66. The VC’s [enemy] AK-47 assault rifles were far superior to our goofy AR-15’s and they would work even full of dirt and mud ! Ours would jam all the time! Hey, The VA and the Gov’t still try their best to screw the Veterans, even now days, and look for ways to cut our benefits…. duh. Sorry to get somewhat sour… lol. Our M-60’s and M-14’s took the same ammo as a .306 Winchester, and was a good killing round… but the AR-15 was only made to wound the enemy. Shame. To many Army guys, the AR-15 is but a glorified .22 LR, and very good for varmints and rabbits. email: tschuckman@aol.com —Tommy Schuckman. My humble Blog: TOM’S JOURNAL. Beware: the American Dollar will soon collapse. Invest is Silver !

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    • Thomas G Schuckman
      7 years ago

      I meant that our Army M-60’s and M-14’s used a 308 cartridge … sorry, guys.

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      • A Gun Guy
        7 years ago

        I want to thank you, Thomas, for taking your time to comment on this article. I want to personally thank you for your service to our country and the sacrifice that comes with that service. We appreciate you adding to our site. God bless!

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      • Lou
        7 years ago

        Thommy,
        As a vet (but stationed in AK)66-68 I want to thank you for your service.

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      • Mary
        7 years ago

        Thomas and Lou: Thank you for your service!

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    • Bruce
      6 years ago

      Hi there …I was with the 9th Infantry Div..1968
      I got to use my baby what I called her, was my beautiful .50 caliber on my Charlie Model….my door gunner.. his did jam ( M-60 )…being a Crew Chief did have some perks…..
      ..3rd.of the 5th. D-Troop….

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    • Bonhomme
      5 years ago

      Huh??

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    • Patrick
      4 years ago

      It wasn’t that the powder was cheaper it was because the government had a shit load of spherical “Ball” powder used in the M1 30 06 round instead of the rod type Stoner used in his original which burned much cleaner. Now it is a cost effective reason but not because the powder itself was cheaper, they just had it on hand and didn’t want to purchase more powder!~ The M16 was issued without a cleaning kit! WTF With Stoner’s powder maybe it would have been ok! But even then you need to clean a weapon after you fire it!
      Regardless I know a lot of lives were lost due to that F’d up decision that the military will never confess to! But then the military made a lot of F’d up decisions back then! Still do!

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  29. eric nelson
    8 years ago

    Looking at a catalog, cartridges; under caliber it lists 30 30. Than grain..150 well that’s not the 30 of powder i’ve seen mentioned previously , so whats the second 30 again? The more i read the more confusing it becomes. Bout time you think somthing makes sence along comes another explanation which,
    well you get it

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    • Brian
      7 years ago

      The second 30 is powder. The 150 grain you refer to is the weight of the projectile(bullet).

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    • Luke
      7 years ago

      I had a similar question about that. Like 30-06, 30-30 etc…my dad was army ranger back in the day, and he says the second number is paying homage to the respective year it was created. 1906 and 1930. Don’t know if that’s true, I would like to say I believe my dad LOL but all this stuff is so confusing! Isn’t there 1 website with all the info and history of each POPULAR round and then we can see where the name actually came from!

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      • Stephan
        7 years ago

        Luke, your dad’s answer is *almost* correct. I will start by saying this: I have no idea if there is a standard to what the -xx numbers need to be, and there doesn’t seem to be anything set, and the information I’m sharing is true to the best of my memory.

        The -06 in the .30-06 caliber came about because it was created in 1906, same as the very short lived .30-03 caliber. However, with the 30-30 caliber, it refers to the standard 30 grains of powder from when the cartridge first came around. This isn’t really consistent though, as the 25-06 was really invented to be a good bullet that had lower recoil than the 30-06 (it was invented after the -06, and usually has 87 grains of powder). For a real curve ball, there’s also the .250 savage that used to be called the .250-3000 Savage because the bullet would reach 3000ft/s, or the 22-250 which is just a necked down .250 Savage.

        Basically, when a bullet is created, it seems the manufacturer can just add numbers to it for the helluvit.

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        • Stephan
          7 years ago

          Also, to add to your confusion: 7mm-08 was invented in 1980, typically has 100-180 grains of powder, and usually gets 2,650 – 2,800 ft/s. I think it’s because it’s parent cartridge is the .308, so my guess is that the -08 gives tribute to that, though the .243 is also a necked-down .308 round.

          Sorry if you now know less than you started.

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    • D.Scott.Weixel
      7 years ago

      I agree very much so. I realized the more I learn and the more informed I become the more I realize how little I know. In my experience the more knowledgeable I become the more I realize I do not know and that is part of the experience of learning and becoming more knowledgeable. I’m definitely not the greatest in the field of English so I hope I expressed what I was trying to say in a manner that you and others understand what I’m trying to relay.

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    • Patrick
      4 years ago

      Eric 30 30 is 30 caliber and 30 grains of BLACK powder, 32 20 = 32 cal 20 grains of Black Powder – it was the old way of identifying ammo back then but to eliminate confusion they kept the designation.
      30 06 on the other hand is caliber 30 model of 06 (1906)

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  30. don
    8 years ago

    can you tell what caliber: and weight this Hornady TAP bullet is? thank you:

    https://imgur.com/a/ZElqg

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      Well, Don, it’s a little difficult to tell from these photos. At first glance I would say it’s a .308 rifle cartridge. The bullet probably weighs beteween 160 and 170 grains. But without specific details on what we’re looking at it’s hard to be sure.

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  31. Kevin
    8 years ago

    I’m trying to find out where rifle sized ammo ends, cannon rounds begin, and artillery rounds begin. For example it always been my understanding that 20mm is considered where cannon shells are considered to begin, but does it end at 37mm? 40mm? What size is artillery considered to begin?

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    • Marc
      6 years ago

      Well, the largest rifle round is 24 mm.

      Cannons are a type of artillery. Artillery is a kind of umbrella term….It includes Specialized guns like anti-aircraft batteries, mortars, field guns like the Howitzers , rockets, tank guns like the 75 mm on the old Shermans.

      So,
      The M2 Browning, while being a machine gun, is classified as anti-air so it can fall into the artillery category when employed as part of an anti-air battery, it fires a 12.7 mm round, while the U.S.S. Iowa sports nine 16″/50 caliber Mark 7 guns that spit out massive 406 mm shells.

      So there really is no “where rifles end and cannons/artillery begin” in terms of mm’s/calibers, unless you wish to get to a specific type of “cannon” or “artillery”.

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    • Patrick
      4 years ago

      Over 37mm is Artillery, Under 37mm is considered Small Arms even 20mm
      13B40~

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  32. ksha
    8 years ago

    can i use any other ammo in .35 remington the game master 141 model pump action

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    • mike walbridgee
      7 years ago

      Clearly written and understandable try telling some logerhead a 38 a 357 and a 9mm are the same bullet

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      • Patrick
        4 years ago

        .38 and .357 magnum are .357 diameter
        9MM is .355 diameter
        They are not exactly the same bullet but can be fired through the same Barrel.
        I have a Ruger Blackhawk .357 Revolver with a separate cylinder for 9mm and it shoots acceptably at 25 yds with all three rounds!
        Now how about 30 cal which can be .308 .309 .310 or even .311 (and ,312 and .313 is 32 cal.) WTF?
        Says a lot about barrel machining standards!~

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  33. mike
    8 years ago

    So, what diameter slug (projectile)will successfully reload into a single shot 410 shotgun with a full choke?

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      Depending on manufacturer, a .410 shotgun slug is .372 inches in diameter. If your question is in a search of an alternate round to fire from a .410 shotgun, there is no good or right answer. You should never load a cartridge into a gun it wasn’t designed to fire.

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  34. Ken
    8 years ago

    Excellent article.
    I have often wondered about this.
    Thanks.

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  35. Janet
    8 years ago

    Hello, I am doing a speech for my speech 101 class about weapons to use for a zombie apocalypse and i was trying to find information on how far can a bullet travel and how fast. Also, I wanted to know how far can a gunshot sound travel?

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    • salty
      8 years ago

      the sound of a firearm discharge will vary depending or the weapon and topography. although most un-suppressed discharges will be heard from a long way. difference being; a .22 can be identified from about a km away over flat ground, whereas a .45 will be noticed at maybe 2 or 3km. (echos may amplify this). automatic fire will be easier to identify.

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    • Sandra
      7 years ago

      Awesome…A+ speech for sure!

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    • Jim
      7 years ago

      Is this what schools should be teaching?

      “How to efficiently kill a large amount of zombies/people”

      Sandy Hook wasn’t enough?!

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      • S. Lawrence
        7 years ago

        Jim, no one suggested teaching any of this information in schools. Where do you get that assumption? As for killing zombies, that’s a purely rhetorical discussion, not meant to be taken literally. “Sandy Hook wasn’t enough?” Enough for what? What point are you trying to make? Guns kill people? Guns are evil? If you have something to say, say it.

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        • D.Scott.Weixel
          7 years ago

          What you just said maybe even more ridiculous then what Jim said, you are taking things way too serious and literal and on top of that guns are not evil, Neither is any other weapon in the world because weapons do not have a conscious mind of its own to even process good or evil. Now people can be idiots or evil or good for that matter but it’s obvious that no inadament object can be evil and if you think otherwise you are far dumber than I thought previously. #WOW

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          • D.Scott.Weixel
            7 years ago

            It is possible I jumped to conclusions about you commenting on the fact that guns are evil or not seeing that there is a ? after that statement, but no where did I see Jim state that guns are evil so I’m kind of wondering why you even made that question towards him. I guess I’m just wondering why you have to go out of your way you belittle someone whether you agree or disagree. I guess you could say I’m doing the same But I’m only doing it because I feel like you’re trying to be a bully. And frankly I cannot stand bullying but however if I misconceived what you said then I take what I said back and apologize. But either way it did seem somewhat uncalled for.

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            • S. Lawrence
              7 years ago

              I didn’t say guns are evil, I asked Jim if that was a question he was trying to pose. His statement and questions combine things that don’t make a lot of sense without some kind of clarification or general context.

              He put together a student’s search for information on ballistics, physics and zombies and somehow connected that to the tragedy in Sandy Hook. I don’t understand how those are connected in any way which is why asked a few questions trying to understand his perspective. I simply asked him to clarify.

              If those questions come off to you as “bullying”, I’m sorry you took it that way. I didn’t think my questions belittled him.

              Let me ask you, what do think Jim meant by “Sandy Hook wasn’t enough?” in that context?

              As for how seriously or not I take things, let me say this. When people make emotionally charged rants on firearms such as that one about Sandy Hook, I take it very seriously. As a firearms advocate, I believe simple emotional statements without facts or reasoning behind them are dangerous. Those are tactics politicians use to take away rights afforded to us. So, I do take those seriously.

              As for my intelligence, you’re free to question it. Calling me “dumb” is a bit childish and a bit of a bully tactic itself. You made this personal, I didn’t.

              Oh, and I don’t believe guns can be adament or inadament as they have no ability to think. Guns are inanimate objects as they are also unable to move on their own.

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              • Don Kenyon
                6 years ago

                Thank you sir. That has to be the most reasonable and articulate response to a “hater”. I have head in some time.

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              • Patrick
                4 years ago

                Very well said S Lawrence!
                And I’m glad someone else noticed the Inadament mis-spelling & wording!

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        • D F Stewart
          4 years ago

          Zombies are the real problem, we need a plan when the dems start feeding.

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      • J.F.
        6 years ago

        I lived in Connecticut all my life and the 2 horrifying events that I will always remember is Sandy Hook and The Cheshire home,invasion. But Jim you are way off topic this Article and responses should have nothing to do with Sandy hook tragedy.

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    • Bonhomme
      5 years ago

      Janet, look on the internet under “Ballistics” to get bullet range and velocity. Sound travels at 1,125 feet per second through dry air. Different gas densities cause an effect on speed. If your social engagement is on a foggy night, witnesses may get the sound a second or two later.

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  36. Bugs
    8 years ago

    Like some of your contributors I am a non-shooter but have had the same questions. My simple math calculation indicates that a 9mm projectile measures .354 inches, very close to the .357. Are they ever interchangeable or does this rely on cartridge size/barrel bore?

    Bugs

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      Bugs, while the diameter of a 9mm and a .357 round are very similar, there are a few key differences. For one, the .357 magnum cartridge has a lip at the base of the casing that helps to hold it in a revolver. This would not fit in a typical semi-auto 9mm handgun. Secondly, the .357 magnum charge is larger than that of a 9mm and would be potentially dangerous to fire from a 9mm pistol if you could even fit it in. Also, the .357 cartridge is nearly a half inch longer than a 9mm.

      So, to answer your question, no .357 and 9mm cartridges can not be interchanged. It is always best to only fire ammunition that your firearm was designed to shoot. Interchanging rounds with the wrong gun can be very dangerous.

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    • quintin
      8 years ago

      A .38 special can be fired in a .357 magnum but never vice versa . To do so would be very dangerous as the .357 is more powerful. A .380 auto can be fired in a 9mm handgun the only difference is the .380 has about 1mm shorter casing and lighter load it probably will not have enough energy to cycle the next round. Shooting a 9mm cartridge in a .380 auto pistol would be very dangerous and should never be attempted for the same reason. The revolver style rifle Rossi Circuit Court judge fires both .410 shotgun shells and .45 colt ammo interchangably.but if you put a .45 Colt in your old shotgun make sure your life insurance is paid up A .30-30 Win.and a .30-06 Spgfld and a .308 Win. all have a nominal bullet diameter of .309 but none of these three cartridges are interchangeable. The .308 however is also same round as the 7.62 x 51 nato round. Some cartridges have rims others are rimless. High power rifle cartidges have a bottleneck design that is unique. The original designer of each of these calibers is often attached to its name such as .45 long colt or .30-06 Springfield. Getting back to the question. If you have to ask an online stranger whether something of this nature is safe you really have no business messing around because you have no credible knowledge on which you are basing a decision that has the potential to take your life.

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      • highmiles68
        7 years ago

        I can’t speak to the first part of your comment, personally I only ever use ammunition that is stamped on the barrel but I agree 100% with you about asking strangers, or anyone for that matter, if a firearm can use ANY ammunition other than the round that is designated for it. Anyone who has to ask should really consider taking a firearms safety course. So please people before trying to shoot ammo in a firearm it’s not designed for do a little research on what can happen when things go wrong.

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    • Dirty Dave
      8 years ago

      Bugs, as others have said a 9mm and 357 are never interchangeable and although the information was in some of the other answers a non shooter may not have picked it up. The biggest difference in the bullets is that they were made for two different types of guns and so their construction is different. As someone else pointed out the.357 has a lip because it is made for a revolver. The lip allows the bullet to be seated into cylinder as well as helps as assists in ejecting the spent casing. The 9mm also has a lip, but unlike the .357 the lip is no bigger than the casing. Also and most important the 9mm is made for a semi-automatic weapon so it’s not just the bullet difference but the gun difference that makes the swap impossible. To my knowledge there are only 2 occasions when bullets can be used in different guns. As said, a 38 can be used in a 357 but a 357 can not be used in a 38, both weapons are revolvers but a 38 is not designed to handle the energy of 357 bullet and would be very dangerous to try. And in rifles a .223 can be used in a weapon built to shoot 5.56 bullets but a 5.56 bullet can not and should not ever be used in a rifle designed for .223 bullets although it probably wouldn’t fit it would be dangerous to try. I have read somewhere in the article that a .380 can be used in a 9mm, but not the other way around. I have to admit I have never heard of this being done and would not advise it, the 380 is much smaller and lighter and the the 9mm pistol is just not made to handle this size round. I hope this makes things clearer.

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      • Raul
        7 years ago

        A .357 and a .38 special, can both be fired from my Henry Big Boy. That rifle has no issues firing either one of those rounds.

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  37. Josh
    8 years ago

    In trying to figure out the best all around hunting rifle for deer and elk since there is a big size difference between the two animals.

    I know the 30-06 is popular but I’ve heard people swear by the 7mm and the .308

    I’m thinking this is just a matter of preference but any input would be appreciated since I’m new to the hunting scene.

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    • Ronald
      8 years ago

      Ok my opinion would be in your case as in many a hunters . To have a versatile round . Surely I say the 30.06 adequate for both medium and large big game . Deer and Elk. Now the 7 mm “7mm Remington is a step up from the ’06 and recoil is more noticeable. I say 7mm a bit overkill for deer per say.
      Now on the other hand the .308 is a step down from ’06 . Although a very accurate round not as much recoil and although great for medium size big game the deer . It nots the best choice for Elk as far as knock down power . But your choice. So it boils down as always for the caliber to do it all in North America it’s definitely the 30.06

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  38. Christof Rauch
    8 years ago

    Hi, I have a .22 bolt action Targetmaster 510 single shot. Can I fire a .17 HM2 in this rifle (i.e. could I use it as an emergency “backup” round)?

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    • Bonhomme
      5 years ago

      Christof Rauch, NO!

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  39. Bruce
    8 years ago

    Why is there no talk about a .32 revolver? I have one that I carry. What is your view on this gun?

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  40. Jason
    8 years ago

    So I’m confused, what’s a .30-06? Or a like Winchester/Marline repeater takes a .30-30, what the difference? What’s the second number for? What does it define?

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      Hi Jason. This has been asked a couple of times. The .30-30 Winchester was one of the earliest small bore sporting rounds in the USA back in the late 1800′s. The second “30″ represents the 30 grains of powder in the round. The .30-30 was the predecessor of the .30-06.

      The .30-06 Springfield (it’s pronounced “aught” as in another word for “zero”) was introduced in 1906 (hence the 06). The round was adopted as US Army standard issue and remained such until the 1950′s when it was replaced by the 7.62x51mm NATO round (also called the .308 Winchester). Most .30-06 cartridges pack 50+ grains of powder giving it a larger charge than .30-30 Winchester.

      Hope that helps.

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  41. Charles Neuhaus
    8 years ago

    I recently purchased a 1910 9mm German military Luger. On the barrel is stamped 8.82. Does this refer to the actual caliber?

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      Charles, unfortunately, I can’t find anything in my research to explain the 8.82 on your pistol. The luger was introduced in 1908 as the “Pistole Parabellum 1908” for the 7.65×21mm Parabellum round. It was later replaced with the 9mm parabellum by Walther. Nothing in the information I have shows any measurements close to the 8.82 noted on your gun. It could be a manufacturing location or something else. I’m sorry I can’t tell you any more. In any case, that’s an old and pretty rare firearm. You’re lucky to have it.

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      • Charles Neuhaus
        8 years ago

        Dear “A gun guy”, Many thanks for your help. The 8.82 is on the bottom of the barrel, next to the frame and between the serial number and the frame. The Luger is in very good shape and has a unit marking on the grip, 2nd Guards Dragoon. After I get it checked out by a gunsmith I intend to fire it.

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        • A Gun Guy
          8 years ago

          Charles, I just Googled “8.82 caliber” and landed at a Wikipedia page. This might explaine the number but I don’t trust everything on Wikipedia:

          “The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.[18] The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 250 mm (1 in 9.84 in), 6 grooves, ø lands = 8.82 mm, ø grooves = 9.02 mm, land width = 2.49 mm and the primer type is small pistol.”
          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum

          Not sure if that’s it or not. Anyway, would love to see a photo of the gun. If you want to send one to us you can email admin@thefirearms.guide. Have fun with it!

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  42. Syed Mohammad Abbas
    8 years ago

    Excellent information

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  43. Lucas
    8 years ago

    I’ve definitely found myself asking those very questions when watching TV or a film. I always wondered what calibre related to. I think a lot of people instantly think of power when it is simply the diameter. Thanks for the illustrations; they really help. Do they come in set sizes? Or custom? The important thing is to be safe with them.

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  44. NikkiB
    8 years ago

    I like my Walther P .38 but both my glocks (19 & 26) are easier for me to conceal and I would prefer them over my Walther P .38 any time in the need of protection. But both use 9mm so its even better that I don’t have to buy different kinds of ammo except for the biretta and the Remington 870 full choke shotgun 🙂

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    • Dave
      5 years ago

      Why would you need to conceal?

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      • D F Stewart
        4 years ago

        Like in Poker ?

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  45. Cameron Hamill
    8 years ago

    Thank you so much for your post. It’s fantastic.

    I wonder if you could please add two more rifles?

    .270 Winchester
    .303 British

    I don’t know very much about Firearms but I believe these two Rifles are quite popular.

    Thanks so much.

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    • Niel
      8 years ago

      The bullet diameter of the .303 British is approximately .311″.

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  46. leo marrero
    8 years ago

    What firearms that propel projectiles with diameter of more than 1 inch?

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    • sushan tripathee
      8 years ago

      Anti-air or anti-tank weapons… nth that you can just carry around

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  47. Mike Kinard
    8 years ago

    Well .380 Is smaller and less powerful than a 9mm and is typically designed for a semi-auto gun/pistol. Now the.38 sig and the .38 special is alittle bit morep powerful than a 9mm and alot longer in size, and it’s made to be shot from a revolver. Hope this helps you.

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    • NRNS
      8 years ago

      .38 Special is NOT more powerful than 9mm. Get your facts straight.

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      • Thomas Kelley
        8 years ago

        Easy NRNS! Everyone knows that the 9 mm is superior in velocity, f/ps and energy (in ft/lbs.) but many people swear that .38 special has more stopping power.

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        • Ryan Marchant
          8 years ago

          You’re right Thomas, the .38 does have better stopping power, and it’s because the round is slower then the 9mm, even though they’re about the same size the slower speed is what gives the .38 more stopping power

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          • smithandwesson93
            8 years ago

            “Knockdown power” is largely a myth. The real “stopping” is not caused by the impact of the bullet, but how it affects the internal organs. Blood loss (i.e.; hitting a major artery) is what really disables the perp.

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            • Dr. Frank
              6 years ago

              In the technical terms of physics it has to do with the “kinetic energy” that the slug carries. This is further determined by the speed at which the slug travels as well as the size. The best example I know is the that the 7.62 is far superior in pure “kinetic energy” than the 5.56 nato round. It is a larger round, travels faster and uses more powder to accomplish this.

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      • Kirk
        8 years ago

        If you look at a 38 special and 9mm side by side you will see that the 38 special is considerably larger with a slightly larger slug. The jacket holds more powder. It is a more powerful round than a 9mm and has more stopping power. As far as the effect on internal organs, a hollow point will do much more damage than a solid bullet.

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      • Ronald
        8 years ago

        That’s right I agree bad info stating that .38 is more powerful then the 9mm . The 9mm is a hotter round more velocity that’s why it’s got bit more punch I pretty sure about this . It may be shorter but I believe as an educated guess that the 9mm is a larger projectile in grains . Now does out there please help me I wouldn’t mind being corrected if need be

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        • Tony
          4 years ago

          I realize you all are talking about 9mm bullets and 38 bullets and that slower is better for the 38 in stopping power. But what about the other side of the coin, faster speed, say like a 7.5k. Of course it being fried from at $8000 gun. Her is some specs from Wiki, might be of interest to some.

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          • Tony
            4 years ago

            The case is 27 mm long with a total length of 35 mm, and a head diameter of 10.8 mm. This caliber is not a necked-down version of any other caliber. The case is designed to withstand higher pressures than usually used in pistol calibers.
            This cartridge will not fit in any other manufacturer’s magazine, nor will it function in any other current production model pistol.
            Muzzle velocity: 610 m/s (2000 fps)
            Velocity at 100 m (110 yds): 465 m/s (1525 fps)
            Muzzle energy: 1200 J (880 ft/lbs)
            Energy at 100 m (110yds): 700 J (520 ft/lbs)
            Bullet:
            HP – HTE/F5M5 Lead Free

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  48. russ holmes
    8 years ago

    great website, lotta of knowledge. what is the difference between the old .38 and the 380. It looks the same as far as the math goes? Also, is the 9mm the same as the .38?

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      Russ, Mike’s comments are correct but there is a bit more to the .38 caliber. The “old .38” that you are referring to is most likely the .38 Special designed by Smith & Wesson in 1898. You can read more about that particular round here http://bit.ly/UtMdN9. One thing that is important to note is that the .38 Special is NOT 0.38 inches in diameter. It’s actually 0.357 accross. It was designed as an alternative to the .38 Short Colt which itself, was a replacement for the cap and ball firing Colt 1851 Navy Revolver. So, even though the diameter is smaller, the .38 remained in the name of this cartridge.

      In addition, it’s important to note that there are other 0.38 rounds:
      .38 Long Colt (true diameter 0.361″)
      .38 Short Colt (actually 0.359″)
      .38-40 Winchester (diameter is 0.401″)

      And then there’s the .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) which is commonly referred to as a Short 9. The bullet in this cartridge is the same as the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge – also referred to as 9mm Luger – which is the most commonly used 9mm ammunition. Both the .380 ACP and 9mm Luger use a bullet that is 9.01mm in diameter or .355 inches.

      So, the long answer to your question is that the .380 ACP round has more common with a 9mm Luger than a .38 fired from a revolver. In all cases though, .380 ACP is the shortest cartridge of the lot.

      Glad you asked?

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      • Kelly
        8 years ago

        Do not forget the .357 Mag, it is to the 9mm Lugar what the Lugar is to the 38 Special. If you want to shoot out to 50- 70 yds instead of 30-40 get this one.

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  49. Arnold Rimmer
    8 years ago

    How did the sizes come to be?

    3/16=.1875
    1/4=.2500
    5/16=.3125
    3/8=.375
    1/2=.5000
    In some cases the size is right on a fraction but most cases they are just off by ±.02.

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  50. Nathan
    8 years ago

    Hi there, someone wrote in the following and I just have a question regarding this…

    All three are similar in that the all fire .308 caliber rounds, meaning the slugs used in all three are .308 inches in diameter. The differences come in the case sizes and loads (amount of powder).
    The .30-30 Winchester was one of the earliest small bore sporting rounds in the USA back in the late 1800′s. The second “30″ represents the 30 grains of powder in the round. The .30-30 was the predecessor of the .30-06.
    The .30-06 Springfield (it’s not “odd”, but “aught” as in another word for “zero”) was introduced in 1906 (hence the 06). The round was adopted as US Army standard issue and remained such until the 1950′s when it was replaced by the 7.62x51mm NATO round (also called the .308 Winchester). Most .30-06 cartridges pack 50+ grains of powder giving it a larger charge than .30-30 Winchester.
    There are actually several different types of .300 caliber cartridges out there varying in size and load. These are less commonly used than the .30-30, .30-06 and .308 Winchester.

    With a 30-30 if the second 30 represents 30 grains of powder in the round, then doesn’t the 06 in a 30-06 round mean 06 grains of powder obviously it has more than 6 grains of powder , but following the above explanation wouldn’t that be correct?

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    • Darius
      8 years ago

      The .30-06 was introduced after the .30-30, in 1906. I know this is a bit confusing since the relevance shifts from grains of powder to the year it came out. But Winchester differentiates the two rounds with the YEAR that the .30-06 came out: 19″06″. The .30-06 still packs more powder than the .30-30. Hope this helps!

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    • Kelly
      8 years ago

      The 30-06 was designated that after it was adopted by the U.S. military. This is the simple way; a caliber measures the bore of the gun, a 30 caliber has a .30″ bore. The bullet is measured from the outside dimension. The true 30 caliber usually have .0375-.04 lands so if you add the land measurements to the bore you arrive at .308. Usually metric designated cartridges are measured by bore also but use the metric. You can figure this out pretty easily by multiplying the bore by 25.4, (.30 X 25.4= 7.62mm). The metric would divide by 25.4, (7.62 / 25.4= .30) The barrel it is used in would then be measured for land depth. Common 30 cal. bullets may have an added .008″ so the imperial would be .308″ bullet diameter or 7.82mm. The metric designations mostly still have the European military tags attached to them. A 7.62 X 51 means a 7.62 bore inserted in a cartridge 51mm tall. Sometimes this is simpler than naming different cartridges with names as Americans sometimes do. The 7.62 X 51 is .308 Winchester in America. The 30-06 Springfield named by the U.S. army because Springfield supposedly developed it is the 7.62 X 63 in Europe. Hope this helps.

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  51. Phil
    8 years ago

    Why do people like using a .22 instead of a .25? Is it because of the velocity, .22 does like 1300 and a .25 does like 800.. but the .25 will do more damage in the end IMO because it has a bigger grain size

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    • Mike Kinard
      8 years ago

      Actually my friend, the caliber of the .22 is obviously smaller than the .25 But the .25 is actually less powerful and has less penetration power due to the lighter round, the .22 takes longer to slow down at the same velocity.

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  52. luggage
    8 years ago

    ok so a 22 is 22/100 of an inch diameter – BUT whats a 22LR / what designation works in guns ? versus rifles ? are there 22’s with centerfire versus rimfire ?

    thanks

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    • A Gun Guy
      8 years ago

      When it comes to .22 caliber, there is no distinct designation for handguns versus rifles. There are both rifles and handguns that fire the traditional .22 as well as .22LR and .22MAG. The .22LR is short for .22 Long Rifle. This round is also a rimfire and was designed with a larger charge for longer distances initially to be used in a rifle. Hence, the “long” refers to the longer cartridge to contain more powder for firing in rifles. However, there are also handguns that are designed to fire the .22LR as well, so it is not a “rifle only” round. Same for the .22 Magnum which has yet a larger cartridge and stronger charge than the .22LR.

      There is a .22 centerfire cartridge: the .22 Hornet. As far as I know, there are no handguns designed for this round as it is a high-powered rifle round with muzzle velocities as high as 3,000 fps. That kind of velocity makes this type of cartridge very close to the 5.56mm or .223 rifle rounds that are used in common hunting, sporting and even military rifles. It is nowhere near as commonly used as either of those rounds, but there are a number of manufacturers that offer rifles for that round.

      Overall, the .22LR is the most common firearm round used in the world. It is cheap, very accurate and is used in a variety of firearms. Maybe people just getting into firearms start with a pistol and/or rifle that fires the .22LR. It’s a good round to learn with given their low cost and (typically) high availability. Most of the other .22 rounds are a more of a novelty than a commonly used cartridge.

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    • Mike Kinard
      8 years ago

      The .22 lr is just longer in size and usually comes in magnum rounds, they are a more powerful version

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      • highmiles68
        7 years ago

        I’ve never heard of 22 lr magnum, there’s 22 short, 22 long, 22 long rifle & 22 magnum. All of these are a rimfire cartridge with velocities from about 700 fps to 2200 fps. The 22 lr is the most common and is available in a low velocity/quiet version, standard velocity & high velocity with various bullets such as round nose, hollow point, fragmenting, etc. depending on the intended usage, there’s even a shot shell version available. 22 short & 22 long are less common today but not obsolete although 22 long can be very difficult to find.

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  53. John Webb
    9 years ago

    A cast 9mm bullet should be what size? 3.56 or 3.55? I am using Alox lube and a Lee 2 X 3.56 mould and the bullets vary from 3.56.5 to almost 3.57, so I was told by Brownells to size all my case bullets at 3.55 and a second coating of Alox and then load! What say you? And what are your qualifications in giving advice?

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  54. don roupp
    9 years ago

    Do they make a .25 cal. revolver? I can’t remember ever seeing one.

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  55. DJW
    9 years ago

    can you help explain on rimfire and centerfire more? I know the basics, just want more specific understanding

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    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Hi DJW, we will be adding a post for that soon with some great diagrams to help illustrate the difference. Sign up to get updates every time we add a new post here.

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  56. Howard Clay
    9 years ago

    Does a .44 .40 mean the bullet ( projectile ) is 44 hundreths of an inch…and the .40 is the powder casing of the shell? Does this make it a 40 caliber? Is this just 1/001 of an inch smaller than a .45 caliber?

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    • Howard
      9 years ago

      I meant to say does this make it a .44 caliber? If so, then why not simply call it a .44

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      • A Gun Guy
        9 years ago

        Fair question. The .44-40 was created by Winchester arms way back in 1873. It is a .44 caliber (although technically, the bullet is 0.427 inches in diameter – the neck is .443). The second number, the “40” used to refer to the 40 grains of black powder that was used to charge the round. Over the years, the bullet slug weight and charge have varied and are now available in multiple combinations. However, since the cartridge is quite unique, no matter what the charge or bullet weight, it’s still referred to as a .44-40. Firearms terms have a funny way of not changing over time.

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  57. Elizabeth
    9 years ago

    This is great info and helps a lot! Thank you! I’m getting my first handgun this week and wools love any suggestions! I’m a female looking for personally protection in a gun compact enough for a purse but not tiny. I think I’ve determined I want more than a .22 (probably a 9mm or .38) and a SA pistol but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Any suggestions?

    If it helps I’m 5’6″ and I consider myself pretty strong.

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    • Elizabeth
      9 years ago

      Wow typos… Sorry I’m on my phone!
      Would** love any
      Personal** protection

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      • A Gun Guy
        9 years ago

        Hi Elizabeth. Glad the site is helpful to you. If you’re looking for a personal protection firearm, as much as I love the Ruger SR22, I agree that a .22 doesn’t have enough stopping power. If you’re going to carry your firearm, be sure to check your state laws about concealed carry. I know certain states prohibit you from carrying your gun with you.

        Beyond that, I would agree that a 9mm or .380 would be your best choice. There are some enthusiasts that insist nothing less than a .45 is adequate for personal protection, but I don’t agree with that opinion. Just about all police officers in the United States carry 9mm, so if it’s good enough for them, I think it’s good enough for the rest of us. The .380 round is the same diameter as the 9mm, but the casing is a little smaller resulting in less muzzle velocity. The .380, also referred to as a “9 short”, is the most common carry caliber chosen by women. I think that is because it combines a similar stopping power of a 9mm with a more desirable recoil. Guns and Ammo magazine recently did an article about compact personal defense pistols that might be helpful (http://bit.ly/LLQgq1). I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Beretta Nano and I know Ruger has a great reputation for their LC9 and LC380 pistols. Personally, I like the Beretta PX4, but that’s not as small as the Nano and LC’s. I would definitely recommend talking to your local gun shop for their recommendations as well. Hope that helps.

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  58. Kelford Woodard
    9 years ago

    what does 7.62×54 mean?

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    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      7.62×54 is referring to the bullet size. It is 7.62mm wide by 54mm long.

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      • Brad
        8 years ago

        Slight correction in order here: 7.62 refers to caliber (bullet width) in millimeters, 54 refers to case length in millimeters, measured from case neck to case head.

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  59. andres herrera
    9 years ago

    Cool

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  60. rd
    9 years ago

    What guns use cci 17 ammo

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    • rd
      9 years ago

      OK so cc I is a brand… My question is what weapon s are 17caliber

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      • A Gun Guy
        9 years ago

        Yes, CCI is a brand. The most common .17 is the Hornaday Magnum Rimfire (.17 HMR). There are a number of rifles and a few revolvers that fire that round. Savage Arms and Marlin make some nice target rifles for that caliber and I believe Ruger makes a revolver in that round. Like .22 caliber, .17 are mostly for varmint or target shooting. Impact Guns carries quite a few models if you check out their website you can see: http://www.impactguns.com/firearms.aspx?Caliber=17+HMR+Hornady+Magnum+Rimfire

        Hope that helps rd.

        ReplyCancel
        • rd
          9 years ago

          It does help…. My education continues. It’s nice to have a site where I can ask about what seems to be common knowledge to experienced gun guys. I found the descriptions on your recommended site very useful. Thanks

          ReplyCancel
          • A Gun Guy
            9 years ago

            Happy to help rd.

            ReplyCancel
  61. Michael Tellup
    9 years ago

    Just to point this out, the British use the Metric System, not the U.S.
    So you have it backwards.
    The U.S. Measures in inches (.308, etc)
    The English use meters (mm instead of inches, km instead of miles, etc)
    Just saying, you may want to make corrections. 🙂

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Fair point. I was thinking more of the English language rather than “English” as British. You are right, the metric system is used by the British. It’s us Americans that have our own way of measuring to make things complicated. Thanks for pointing that out.

      ReplyCancel
      • dave
        8 years ago

        british use metric and imperial. eg use miles/inches/pounds/stone but metres/cm for some things…mostly imperial though

        ReplyCancel
        • dave
          8 years ago

          lol nm, just seen comment below

          ReplyCancel
    • Richard Miller
      9 years ago

      As an English man I would like to politely correct you on the terms used. There is the Metric system or SI (French) system International which is the European standard, In Britain (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) we still use the Imperial system, mixed with the metric system that is :- Feet, Inches, Pints Gallons, Miles and so on, where it becomes confusing is the metrification of the inch. I will try and explain, we turn the inch into a percentage, part of 100 so a quarter of an inch is not 1 over 4 but 25% or 0.25. Half an inch is 1 over 2 but we all call it “50 cal” point five of an inch. So to clarify I am English my passport says I’m British, we gave all our Ex colonies (sorry) the Imperial system. This is a similar problem on European tyres where the sizes are a mix of metric and imperial and the imperial is written in in the percentage format like 6.75 inches, The Imperial system will never go because of USA influence around the world I give a good example of your Aircraft industry, how many 747s are held together with torque settings in pound/feet, good thing to.
      Look forward to your reply
      Regards

      ReplyCancel
      • A Gun Guy
        9 years ago

        Your correction has been noted. Thank you for your kindly input.

        ReplyCancel
  62. ThePelikan93
    9 years ago

    Oh, and could you talk about what a “magazine” is?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      We’re actually planning a post on this topic to help the common misunderstanding about “clips” and “magazines”. The short answer is that a firearm magazine is a container that holds multiple rounds of ammunition. A magazine can be internal (common in shotguns and many rifles) or detachable which is most common in semi-automatic handguns and sporting rifles.

      Magazines are different than ammo “clips”. A clip is usually made of metal and is used to hold several round of ammo together so they can easily be inserted into either an internal or detachable magazine.

      To understand the basic difference, someone once compared paperclips and everyday printed magazines to ammo clips and mags. Put simply, you can always insert a paperclip into a magazine, but not the other way around. The same is true of ammo magazines and ammo clips. Hope that helps. We’ll definitely post more on that in the future. You can sign up for automatic email updates here: http://www.thefirearms.guide/subscribe-updates

      ReplyCancel
    • spritom
      9 years ago

      A magazine is a working machine by itself. It has moving parts such as the internal spring that moves the ammunition along the magazine from the bottom to the top. The purpose of the magazine is to have a round of ammunition ready at the top of the magazine for the gun to grab the cartridge when it needs it.

      This is similar to a magazine in a battleship that might be 3-5 stories tall and moves the ship’s ammunition from the bottom of the ship up to the deck for the guns (using elevators and other moving parts).

      A PEZ dispenser is a type of magazine.

      —–

      A clip has no moving parts and simply bands the ammunition in place. Similar to the function of a paperclip that simply holds paper in place or a hair clip that simply holds hair in place.

      There were guns in the 20th century that used clips, but today it is more common to see a “stripper” clip that is used to load a magazine.

      ReplyCancel
    • Mike Kinard
      8 years ago

      A magazine also known as the clip is just what holds the ammo for semi auto handgun, types of rifles, machine guns.

      ReplyCancel
    • terry
      7 years ago

      A magazine is a glossy publication with pretty pictures. Sorry I’m a news person couldn’t resist. Nice site looking at replacing a gun I just broke and was mulling over calibers. Nice to see all the info and comments.

      ReplyCancel
  63. ThePelikan93
    9 years ago

    Hi!! 🙂 Thanks a ton for this website!! 🙂 Am taking a Forensic Pathology course, and studying terminal (wound) ballistics. The whole jargon was lost on someone like me who knew nothing about guns. Been reading books and stuff, but wasnt really helping me as everytime they said something remotely technical, i lost it!! Your website really helped nail the basics, so i can actually understand what my books are getting at.

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      ThePelikan93, it makes us very happy to know that the information here can be helpful to you. Please feel free to ask any questions if we can be of any more assistance.

      ReplyCancel
  64. Britt
    9 years ago

    I just bought a Rossi 22/410 combo and was wondering which bullets would be best for each caliber? We plan to shoot animals ranging from squirrels to a deer.. Would love to hear feedback on how well you liked the gun (if you’ve shot or owned one ) and which bullets would be best. There’s just so many to choose from is why I’m asking on here. Any info on this will be greatly appreciated!

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      That’s a great and popular combo gun that’s affordable and offers variety. You definitely don’t want to use the .22 when hunting deer. Those little rounds are for small game that will provide some challenging targets. I’m admittedly not a hunting expert, but I like the CCI .22LR rounds a lot and they are well respected. They have a 36 grain hollow-point and a 40 grain round nose that, I suspect, would be fine for hunting squirrels and other small game. As for the .410 for taking down deer, I’m going to have to defer to some others here. As I said, I’m not the most experienced hunter. While .410 is capable of taking down a deer, I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to be pretty close to take ’em down with one shot. I’d probably go with Federal or Remington slugs or 00 buck. But, as a I said, I would like to see what others recommend.

      ReplyCancel
  65. Lorie F
    9 years ago

    I have a 17 Caliber rifle I went to buy some shells they handed me shells that said 17 caliber but they looked like a 30/30 shell they wont fit my gun so whet kind of gun is that shell used in curious!

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Lorie, is your rifle designed to shoot .17 caliber HMR rounds? If so, that’s all it will take. The .17 HMR is a rimfire round – which means it doesn’t have a centerfire charge. You can tell that easily by looking at the bottom of the round. If there is a small disc or circle n the middle of the base of the round, then that is a centerfire cartridge and not meant to be fired in your rifle. If is doesn’t have that, and it fits your rifle, than it would appear to be a .17 HMR.

      ReplyCancel
      • Lorie F
        9 years ago

        Thank you for your input very helpful

        ReplyCancel
  66. N. Belal
    9 years ago

    In Bangladesh one can own non prohibited bore (N.P.B) hand gun. N.P.B is defined as any caliiber up to 0.32 oe 7.65MM. The law was framed in 1873. Would 0.327 caliiber be considered as non prohibited considering that the diameter of both is same.

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      N. Belal, I can’t speak to the legality of a firearm in another country. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with the N.P.B. laws of Bangladesh so I can’t tell you if a 0.327 caliber would be legal or not. I would consult a local lawyer on the subject. Sorry, I can’t be of more help.

      ReplyCancel
  67. DB
    9 years ago

    What is the difference between a 30 30, 30 odd 6, and a .300 bullet?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      All three are similar in that the all fire .308 caliber rounds, meaning the slugs used in all three are .308 inches in diameter. The differences come in the case sizes and loads (amount of powder).

      The .30-30 Winchester was one of the earliest small bore sporting rounds in the USA back in the late 1800’s. The second “30” represents the 30 grains of powder in the round. The .30-30 was the predecessor of the .30-06.

      The .30-06 Springfield (it’s not “odd”, but “aught” as in another word for “zero”) was introduced in 1906 (hence the 06). The round was adopted as US Army standard issue and remained such until the 1950’s when it was replaced by the 7.62x51mm NATO round (also called the .308 Winchester). Most .30-06 cartridges pack 50+ grains of powder giving it a larger charge than .30-30 Winchester.

      There are actually several different types of .300 caliber cartridges out there varying in size and load. These are less commonly used than the .30-30, .30-06 and .308 Winchester.

      ReplyCancel
      • DB
        9 years ago

        You are the greatest! Appreciate your detailed feedback. Thanks Gun Guy!

        ReplyCancel
        • A Gun Guy
          9 years ago

          Happy to help DB.

          ReplyCancel
  68. William R Durham
    9 years ago

    Whats the differance between a 22 and a 10/22. Is the 10/22 to much gun for squirrel hunting?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      There are a number of different .22 caliber rounds out there. There’s the typical .22 also known as the .22 short, there’s .22LR (or .22 long rifle) and the .22 magnum. All are .22 caliber but carry different loads meaning the amount of powder is different. The .22LR is not only the most commonly used of the .22 varieties, it is also the most common caliber used in the world. The 10/22 is not ammunition but a rifle produced by Ruger that fires .22LR rounds.

      ReplyCancel
  69. cliff
    9 years ago

    I’m really confused on caliber. I’m wondering how a 5.56mm Nato round can show it is .224″ dia., When 5.56mm is .219 inch diameter. I know that’s not a whole lot difference, but I thought even a little difference could be a problem in rifle I.D. What am I missing here, or has some regulating body just given the 5.56mm caliber the same ID as the .223, even though the actual diameter of the bullet is smaller?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      I know some diehards will probably wanna punch me for this, but the English measurements in inches are not always dead-on. The Metric versions, however are typically exact. I know the round was created by Remington, but I don’t know why they introduced it as .223 rather than the actual .224 diameter. But, it’s not the first time an English measurement wasn’t accurate. One other example: the .38 special is not .38″ but is actually .357″ in diameter. There’s a whole history of why that is. You can read about that in this article: http://www.thefirearms.guide/blog/educational/something-new-i-learned-about-the-old-38-special

      ReplyCancel
  70. Bobby
    9 years ago

    This was very helpful. Thank you very much for the info. I am trying to get a better knowledge of firearms, and this site is very useful.

    ReplyCancel
  71. Kelvin Hulena
    9 years ago

    If I wanted something bigger than a .22 but smaller than a 303 what would be a good choice

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Are you talking about rifle rounds or handgun rounds? For handguns, the only common option would be the .25 ACP or a .22 magnum. For rifles, there are more options. The most common are the .22 magnum, .223/5.56 NATO, 22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester or the .270 Winchester.

      ReplyCancel
  72. Angela
    9 years ago

    Does anyone know what the entry demension would be using a .25? Please forward answer to angelar777@gmail.com

    ReplyCancel
  73. John Teeny
    9 years ago

    Hello Gun Guy. Thanks for the blog. Couple of questions:
    1. How does person tell what caliber a gun is?
    2. Can a rifle be machined to a different caliber?
    3. How does grain play a factor?

    ReplyCancel
    • johny
      9 years ago

      #1 its on the barrel #2 yes its a lot of work but yes you can go bigger but not smaller#3 bigger caliber bullits are typically heaver grain.. some twist rates require or shoot more accurately with different grain bullets. It all depends on what each gun likes thats why alot of people like myself reload their own ammunition.

      ReplyCancel
      • smithandwesson93
        8 years ago

        Sorry to correct you “Johny,” resurrecting a really old thread, but you’re dangerously wrong on #2, and I don’t want anyone to get hurt.

        You can safely go smaller, but not bigger. For instance, many popular handguns (most notably Glocks) chambered in .40 S&W have conversion kits to enable them to fire 9mm, but not the other way around. Similarly, revolvers chambered for .357 magnum can fire .38 spl, but even if you were able to fit a .357 mag into the chamber a .38 weapon, it would most likely blow up the weapon (and your hand).

        This is because the pressure tolerances are tailored to the original caliber of the gun. Simply put, they can safely handle less powerful rounds, but rounds that are higher powered than the original design compromise the structural integrity of the weapon.

        ReplyCancel
  74. Bud
    9 years ago

    I have several boxes of 303 British Remington ammo, I did a bullet test on the muzzle of my 303 and the bullet went all the way to the casing, indicating the bore is shot out, using a bullet from one box, but I also used a round from a different box and it was a good 1/4 inch from the casing, so now I’m totally confused. I don’t have a micrometer, to measure the bullets. Anyone got any ideas why so much difference between the rounds? I called Remington and talked to a quality control person, they told me to send the box of ammo that was too small to them, they replied by letter and told me everything
    was in tolerance, but why is there so much difference between the two different boxes,
    and made by the same company?

    ReplyCancel
  75. bucky
    9 years ago

    Im tring to find out what size bullit will work in my 12mm black powder pistol from spain

    ReplyCancel
  76. Frank
    9 years ago

    Hi Gun Guy. Is there a difference between a .40 caliber and .40 s&w caliber? I see s&w all the time and don’t know if there’s a difference.

    ReplyCancel
    • johny
      9 years ago

      no there isnt

      ReplyCancel
    • Mike Kinard
      8 years ago

      No the S/W just stands for Smith and Wesson

      ReplyCancel
  77. kenneth
    9 years ago

    Hi gun guy, I got a .38 special taurus snub nose. Love the gun, but was wondering whether there is an semi auto version that is compact and has the same caliber?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      As far as I know, there are no semi-auto pistols designed for .38 special ammo. I could be wrong, but I believe only revolvers are designed to shoot that round. It could be because of the length of the cartridge or just because the .38 special was designed for revolvers to begin with. But, I think the snub nose revolver you have is the most compact version you’re going to see for that round.

      ReplyCancel
      • johny
        9 years ago

        38 special is a rimmed cartridge they do not make an auto for rimmed cartridges like the 38 special

        ReplyCancel
      • Doug
        7 years ago

        Henry Repeating Arms company makes a rifle for .357 mag
        and .38 special. Henry model#H006M

        ReplyCancel
  78. Derrick
    9 years ago

    Hey there , what is a 22-250 is it a 22 or 250?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      The 22-250 is a rifle round. The bullet itself is .224 in diameter but the diameter of the casing is .254. Like a 5.56mm or 7.62mm NATO round, the casing is bigger than the bullet which is why it has two numbers in it’s name.

      ReplyCancel
  79. mike fogg
    9 years ago

    Why does a 45 appear as larger than a 9mm–am I thick?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      No you’re not thick. .45 is larger than 9mm. 9mm is closer to .38 caliber so .45 is definitely larger.

      ReplyCancel
  80. Jeremy
    9 years ago

    You should also consider that .02 mm is only .00078 inches. People shoot .223 ammo out of 5.56 chambers every day. 5.56=.2189 inches. Point is very few things work out to be exact when it comes to ammo.

    ReplyCancel
  81. Vicky
    9 years ago

    Good one…..simple to understand

    ReplyCancel
  82. Albert
    9 years ago

    What size ammo does a winchester 30×30 shoot? Is 308 the same as a 30×30.
    Waht pistol ammo can you shoot through a winchester 97a.

    ReplyCancel
  83. ron delatrinidad
    9 years ago

    can a .25 cartridge be a substitute for an 8mm cartridge?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Ron, are you talking about a .25 ACP pistol round? The only 8mm rounds I’m familiar with are rifle rounds. So, if the .25 ACP is what your referring to, you could not substitute one for the other. They are VERY different types of ammo. Not to mention the fact that the 8mm is much larger than a .25. 8mm is almost 0.32 of an inch.

      ReplyCancel
  84. funtogo
    9 years ago

    The .17 ..can this used in a 22 cal revolver ?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      No, you can’t interchange ammunition from one firearm to another without adapters.

      ReplyCancel
      • funtogo
        9 years ago

        Thanks, interesting site.

        ReplyCancel
        • James McHenry
          9 years ago

          A couple things you CAN change, depending on the strength/length of the cylinder of a revolver:
          .357 mag / .38 special
          10mm / .40 S&W
          .45 Long Colt / .45 ACP

          The general rule is, if it is made for the first, you can use the 2nd as a cheaper alternative. ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

          ReplyCancel
          • King Dude
            9 years ago

            Don’t forget

            9mm / .380

            ReplyCancel
  85. G. L. R.
    9 years ago

    gracias senor, very good!!!!

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      very happy to help

      ReplyCancel
  86. USMC
    9 years ago

    I never go to Wikipedia it sux

    ReplyCancel
  87. JeffreyB
    9 years ago

    Thanks, Gun Guy…..You laid this out in a very simple way that helped me explain this to my son…JUST what I was looking for when he asked why a .22 was so much smaller that a 9mm

    Really, S.J.B…? …REALLY?!?!?

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Glad to be of help, JeffreyB. That’s what I hoped to do when I started this site, so it makes me happy to know I’ve been helpful.

      ReplyCancel
  88. Rudy Chorvat
    9 years ago

    Gret article, Thankk YOU!!!!!

    ReplyCancel
  89. stan
    9 years ago

    why is a .380 smaller than a .38 and why would either one be any different than a .380000

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      9 years ago

      Good question, Stan. Actually the .380 and .38 special have nearly the same diameter. The big difference between the two rounds is not the slug itself but rather the bullet casing. The length of the case for the .380 is almost half that of the .38 special. So, the load is much hotter providing more velocity. Here’s a great article outlining the differences in more detail: http://gundata.org/blog/post/38-special-vs-380-acp/

      Hope that helps.

      ReplyCancel
  90. S.J.B.
    10 years ago

    According to Wikipedia, caliber is decided from the internal measurement of the barrel across the lands. The evidence for this is that a 9mm bullet is in fact not 9mm but 9.02 mm, so to my mind your article is misleading.

    ReplyCancel
    • A Gun Guy
      10 years ago

      Well, (a) “misleading” is an inaccurate criticism. This article is about “bullet caliber” not “firearm caliber”. If I was discussing what caliber is when describing specific firearms, then I would say that it refers to the inside diameter of the bore. But I’m explaining here how to understand the difference in caliber in relation to ammunition.

      (b) If you’re number one source of information is Wikipedia, prepare yourself to be mislead often. Wikipedia is a great resource, but not always 100% accurate.

      ReplyCancel
      • Rudy Chorvat
        9 years ago

        GOOD replay,…

        ReplyCancel
      • Robin
        9 years ago

        Well said Gun Guy! I’m a woman and I’m going to purchase my first hand gun tomorrow for self defense and home protection. The way you explained the caliber and size of the ammo will really help me with choosing the right firearm for me. Been doing a lot of research and I may go with the Ruger SR9 and/or the S&W Bodyguard 38.

        ReplyCancel
    • TALC
      9 years ago

      Also there is rifling and the inside of a barrel and that closes .02mm of space betwen the bullet and the inner edge of the barrel.

      ReplyCancel
    • mik3
      8 years ago

      mik3
      SJB I agree, caliber is measured across the lands of the barrel. Bullet diameter, what the writer calls bullet caliber is sometimes not the same as the actual caliber. The writer should have explained this difference in the article.
      Example: a .38 caliber bullet is designed for a .357 caliber firearm. the manufacturer calls the firearm a ’38 caliber’, the actual caliber of the firearm and bullet is .357″.
      Confused? Don’t be. In 1963 two Dallas detectives identified a rifle as a 7.62 Mauser by reading the barrel, the rest is history.

      ReplyCancel
    • Lorrie
      7 years ago

      If you’re reading this, you’re all set, pardren!

      ReplyCancel

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