The perplexaty of cartridges is a story in it self. The best thing you could do to understand this is buy a book called Cartridges of The World by Frank Barnes. It has all the info that anyone could want in it. Hope i helped. vangunsmith

I'll definently have to buy that book and read it. Once I read the post that said there was no real standard by which all of these cartrages are named it started to click for me. I've been looking to figure out what the common thread was and how to understand it. But now that I know there isn't a set in stone common thread it makes more since kinda intresting. Out of curiosity what is the largest cartrige anyone should use on big game (without going out to just demolish a creature)? For example I understand that a .338 will flat out do the job, but I've come across listing for some cartriges that are much larger than that in the shooters bible. What's the point of anything larger than .308?

Actually .264" is considered a 6.5mm

There are a TON of guys out there that like thoase big bores! Some just plain like the biggest cal. they can get, some read too many african stories and others believe every "long tale" they read about Alaska. Point is, they then think they need a cannon to kill a moose or a brown bear.

That's all "ok" with me, as that's what makes the world go around. Ijust draw the line when they come here and preach that you HAVE to use a cannon when i already know better.

I just wish hunters would send the message that it's MORE about useing the "right bullet" than what caliber you are shooting!

Drilling Man

I second this nomination, and suggest you add a copy of Julian Hatcher's book called HATCHER'S NOTEBOOK. That will provide you with a lot of good info as well as will COTW!