what makes a sub caliber a sub caliber?

[Vanilla Gorilla]

what makes a sub caliber a sub caliber? i have heard this term tossed around quite a bit is there any standard for what a sub caliber is?

[rromeo]

According to Wikipedia, which I found through Google, a sub caliber is a projectile that is smaller than the barrel and uses a Sabot.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I have heard things like .380 and the .25 auto referred to as sub caliber ammo all the time
here is one place i have see this term used

http://thehutofthewitchdoctor.blogspot.com/2010/08/sub-caliber-pistols-bersa-thunder.html

[SJgunguy24]

In my understanding, "sub" ammo is pistol ammo. Hence the name sub gun, or sub machine gun. 9mm, 45acp, 380, 7.62x25 are all sub gun ammo. 556, 7.62x39 are intermediate rounds and 308 is rifle. At least that's what I was taught and have read in the past.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

In my understanding, "sub" ammo is pistol ammo. Hence the name sub gun, or sub machine gun. 9mm, 45acp, 380, 7.62x25 are all sub gun ammo. 556, 7.62x39 are intermediate rounds and 308 is rifle. At least that's what I was taught and have read in the past.

.380 not 308
i know the difference between rifle and pistol rounds
A submachine gun (SMG) is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol
i am asking about what makes a sub caliber round sub caliber

[9mmepiphany]

In my understanding, "sub" ammo is pistol ammo. Hence the name sub gun, or sub machine gun. 9mm, 45acp, 380, 7.62x25 are all sub gun ammo. 556, 7.62x39 are intermediate rounds and 308 is rifle. At least that's what I was taught and have read in the past.

That's what I was taught too

...but it depends on context:

When talking about machine guns, the sub refers to the gun, not the caliber...smaller than full sized

In handguns, sub refers to calibers which are smaller than service calibers. Domestically, that would be anything smaller than 9mm/.38...in Europe anything smaller than 7.65mm, which used to be their LE round

[Vanilla Gorilla]

That's what I was taught too

...but it depends on context:

When talking about machine guns, the sub refers to the gun, not the caliber...smaller than full sized

In handguns, sub refers to calibers which are smaller than service calibers. Domestically, that would be anything smaller than 9mm/.38...in Europe anything smaller than 7.65mm, which used to be their LE round

oh ok thank you that clears it up a bit

[dfletcher]

So how does the Pedersen Device and the 1903 rifle figure into this whole "sub caliber" discussion?

[CSACANNONEER]

A friend of mine is into "sub caliber" wildcats. He shoots the bigger stuff like .12 cal and .14 cal.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

So how does the Pedersen Device and the 1903 rifle figure into this whole "sub caliber" discussion?

i dont think it would be a sub caliber because it isnt a handgun

[M. D. Van Norman]

The sub-caliber version (usually .22 LR) of a standard firearm for training purposes is my understanding of the term. For example, you may use a sub-caliber conversion unit for your m1911 pistol. Many military rifles also had sub-caliber training versions.

Eventually, the armed forces simply adopted sub-caliber firearms as their standard service weapons (e.g., the U.S. M-16 rifle in 5.56mm NATO).

[redcliff]

Sub-caliber just means a round smaller than that which the firearm is normally intended to fire. A .22.lr conversion unit for an AR-15 is a sub-caliber conversion. A 22 lr conversion unit on a 1911 is sub-caliber.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

That's what I was taught too

...but it depends on context:

When talking about machine guns, the sub refers to the gun, not the caliber...smaller than full sized

In handguns, sub refers to calibers which are smaller than service calibers. Domestically, that would be anything smaller than 9mm/.38...in Europe anything smaller than 7.65mm, which used to be their LE round

This has always been my understanding. Many gun terms are very esoteric.

[GW]

So, its not a caliber for using on submarines???

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Sub-caliber just means a round smaller than that which the firearm is normally intended to fire. A .22.lr conversion unit for an AR-15 is a sub-caliber conversion. A 22 lr conversion unit on a 1911 is sub-caliber.

This has always been my understanding of the proper use of the term, a la .50 sub-caliber device for tank main guns, used for training.