Unless we are in the Reloading Forum: Calibers - Cartridges; Cartridges - Calibers -- Tempest In A Teapot!

While I understand the difference between caliber and cartridge, common usage renders the point pretty much moot. People measure what you' ve got by " the cartridge the rifle is chambered for" (what a mouthful) rather than the diameter of the bore. This point is apparently not lost on some of the gun manufacturers out there who themselves use the " caliber" term to describle " the cartridge the gun is chambered for" (what a mouthful).

I strolled down to the gun safe and took a look:

** NONE of the Winchesters or Remingtons refer to the cartridge as being a caliber when reading the information is imprinted on the barrel; ....

** HOWEVER, other manufacturers DO identify the cartridge chambering as being the caliber. Many of the folks that are getting corrected on this forum may be merely reading (and writing) what they have seen CARVED IN STEEL:

** Sako: Cal 338 Win Mag
** Mossberg: Cal 338 Win Mag
** Ruger: 22LR Caliber
** Ruger: 44 Mag Cal
** Walther: 9mm Kurz Cal
** Navy Arms (Siamese Mauser) Cal 45-70

Regarding those who mentioned shotguns in their choice of the three " calibers" they would want to keep, they could have said .755" caliber ...... but few would have known they were talking about their 12 gauge, so whats the point? If you want to state your cartridge when what' s asked for is the the caliber, then go ahead -- I' ll know what you mean (and so will they) and apparently so do a fair portion of the gun manufacturers.

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM