ORIGINAL: Charley
Rather than buying a handloading manual, get a copy of Cartridges of the World. Probably the best basic reference to current, obsolete, European, and military cartridges you can find.
I agree get this book, or a relaoading manual, they'll teach you a lots! Theres not much of a standard for caliber identification!
For instance, most double numbers, in older cartridges meant caliber, first, and then powder charge. Many of todays designations, first number is caliber, second is the "parent case caliber!"
Another good example is, "when is a .30 caliber, not a .308? When it's a .303, then its .311! whew-wee!!!!
With no real standards its confusing! Those manuals make for good reading and much learning!