How do csaliber range...?

Koontzy · 12-30-2005, 12:39 AM

I dont really know much about rifles... whats the smallest? to biggest? is the .308 bigger than the .30-06? ect...

Thx

halcon · 12-30-2005, 01:33 AM

They are both the same caliber , just have different case sizes . The 30-06being a little faster . Both will work fine for most game .

Soilarch · 12-30-2005, 02:23 AM

It can get kinda confusing. the 308 and the 30-06 both a shoot a "30 caliber" bullet its diameter is .308 inches. The caliber name isn't exactly accurate, the 44magnum shoots a "44 caliber" that measures .429 inches in diameter. The .222; .223; 22-250; and 220 swift all shoot "22 caliber" bullets that measure .224 inches indiameter. Calibers range from the tiney .17 all the up to .600 (even bigger...I *think* there's also a 700nitro and maybe 800). The *popular calibers for animals here in North America range from the .22s up to .338s. Now you also have more traditional loads like the 45-70 (shoots "45 caliber) that break the my above rule. Of course handguns competely destroy that rule with .375 .41 .44. .45 .480 and 500 all being loads. The gun world lives by exceptions to the rules. Best thing is to just sit back, keep pluggin away and it'll eventually start to come together. There are also metric calibers that will throw you for a loop. 6mm=.243 6.5mm=.264 7mm=.284 7.62=.30 8=.323 9mm=.356 and 10mm=.400 Even with the metrics there are some lies...like the 9mm Makarov shoots a .365 bullet and the 6.5 Carcano that shoots .268 Basically start with learning the specs on the most popular rounds and then start filling in the gaps. I've learned just about everything from forums and Lord Google (is that sacreligious?)

If info is certianly out there to be had.

p.s on the metric stuff if you see something like 6.5x55 it means it shoots a 6.5mm bullet and the case is 55mm long (simple enough right?) AND Handgun bullets and rifle bullets are two different animals all together;different use, different design...same horrible naming system

Pawildman · 12-30-2005, 06:18 AM

A good source of information on this are reloading manuals. Some give quite explicit definitions of cartrige and bullet dimentions, and even a brief history of that particular caliber,as to how it was derived, etc. They can be very informative.

Roskoe · 12-30-2005, 10:05 AM

I agree. One of the better manuals is the Nosler. They give you a little history and application stuff in the opening page for each caliber. Very enlightening. Barnes is good as well.

eldeguello · 12-31-2005, 08:01 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Koontzy

I dont really know much about rifles... whats the smallest? to biggest? is the .308 bigger than the .30-06? ect...

Thx

Depends on what you're talking about. In modern rifles, I have seen some that were as small as .12" caliber, and there may be a .10" caliber by now. Then, on the top side, there are muzzle-loadingrifles as large as a 2-bore, firinground balls that weigh half apound!

The .30/'06 and the .308 Winchester (plus many others such as the .300 Savage, .300 Win. Mag., .300 Weatherby, .30/30 Win., .308 Norma Magnum, ad nauseum) ALL shoot bullets of .308" diameter,. However, all have cartridge cases of different dimensions holding different amounts of powder. Therefore, even when firing identical bullets, their muzzle velocities, and hence, ballistic performance, are different from one another. This same situation exists for a lot of different bullet sizes, such as .224, .228 .243, .257, 6.5mm, 7mm, 8mm, .303 (.311"-314").338, etc., etc., as well as .308.

For example, although of quite similar performance, the .308 Winchester has a smaller case than the .30/'06. Therefore, the .30/'06 can be loaded to give slightly more power than the .308 - not that any game animal could tell you which one he was shot with!