Possibly really stupid caliber question

[BigMak911]

What caliber takes a "30 caliber" projectile? Xtreme lists the diameter as .308 but it lists that as the same diameter for their "308 caliber" projectiles. Sorry in advance for such a base level question.

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[TakeFive]

Caliber nomenclature recently is mostly advertising, not measurement, but historically the .30 caliber bullet diameter is .308, the .303 caliber bullet diameter is .311, the .32 caliber bullet diameter is .312, the .38/.357 caliber bullet diameter is .355 or .356, the .40 caliber bullet diameter is, gasp, .40, the .41 caliber bullet diameter is .41, the .44 caliber bullet diameter is .429 and the .45 caliber bullet diameter is .451 or .452. More than confusing.

[Divernhunter]

"Caliber" is the diameter of the bullet. 30 cal can be .308/.310.311 bullets.
.30 caliber .308 bullets are used in CARTRIDGES such as 308win/300win mag/30-06/30-40krag etc
30caliber bullet that are >311 are used in 303brit/7.7jap.
30caliber bullets that are .310 are used in 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R

CALIBER is not the same as CARTRIDGE

The question is not stupid. People often wrongly say caliber when they mean cartridge

[NytWolf]

Caliber nomenclature recently is mostly advertising, not measurement, but historically the .30 caliber bullet diameter is .308, the .303 caliber bullet diameter is .311, the .32 caliber bullet diameter is .312, the .38/.357 caliber bullet diameter is .355 or .356, the .40 caliber bullet diameter is, gasp, .40, the .41 caliber bullet diameter is .41, the .44 caliber bullet diameter is .429 and the .45 caliber bullet diameter is .451 or .452. More than confusing.

How about the fact that a 9mm luger's diameter is .357 bullet, or that a 10mm auto is also a .40 caliber projectile?

Winchester recently came up with the short magnums, where the 300WSM uses .308" projectiles and the odd 325WSM where the bullets are .323" diameter.

[Wrangler John]

How about the fact that a 9mm luger's diameter is .357 bullet, or that a 10mm auto is also a .40 caliber projectile?

Winchester recently came up with the short magnums, where the 300WSM uses .308" projectiles and the odd 325WSM where the bullets are .323" diameter.

9mm Bullet diameter is .355", not .357".

[NytWolf]

9mm Bullet diameter is .355", not .357".

I stand (or sit, depending where I'm at) corrected.

[stilly]

YEah, there is a list of calibers and their diameters you will find around here somewhere I am sure. I get mixed up with the .308 stuff because Xtreme has the .308 caliber or whatever plater 150gr loads but those are meant for 300 whisper or 30-30 or something...

[Solus]

10mm is metric and 40 is standard but they both use a .401inch diameter bullet

[Munk]

Some of the difference in nomenclature comes from how the caliber of a gun is measured by the countries that spawned the cartridge. Some standards used the diameter of the bore to the lands, and others used the diameter to the grooves.

10mm is metric and 40 is standard but they both use a .401inch diameter bullet

In some countries, they even refer to the .40s&w as the 10mmKurz(Literally 10mmShort).

[BigMak911]

Basically I'm trying to figure out the difference between what I would use THESE for vs what I would use THESE for. My understanding is the second set are for 308 Win Rifle loads... what's the first one for?

[orangeusa]

This is an excellent thread and excellent question, IMO.

@munk - thanks for the 10mm explanation, I never DID figure that one out..

My favorite is .357 mag vs .38 spl. Which is about bullet size vs shell diameter IIRC.

2nd favorite is 7.62 vs .308

Or maybe .357 Sig. (which is a necked down 40 with 9mm boolit).

.

[ironpete]

Before you make some bad purchases I would suggest taking a reloading class or at least checking through some of the online reloading tutorials.

The first set of .308 projectiles are for an M1 Carbine (round nosed 110gr bullet)

The second set of projectiles can be used for a bunch of different cartridges that take a .308 bullet. The flat point limits their usage.

The point is that both are .308 (in diameter) but both sets of projectiles are not anything you would generally encounter or use.

If money is burning a hole in your pocket at least figure out what type of round you want to reload (like .30-06) and your purpose (target, hunting, plinking, etc) and look up recipes for that particular round.

For example I like to shoot my M1 Garand (which shoots .30-06). I use it for target shooting. If I look in my reloading manuals appropriate bullets are 168gr Hornady A-Max, 168gr Sierra Match Kings, etc.

-Pete

[CCrawford]

This Spreadsheet lists many bullet diameters for different cartridges. Also, older guns many not have the same bores as modern ones. Different manufactures also sometimes made different bore diameters for the same caliber. Some different .22 caliber chamberings use .222, .223 or .224 projectiles. Many older "Western" and foreign guns should be slugged for actual diameter. The best example is the 8x57 Mauser with .318 and .323 sizes. They use "J" and "S" at the end of the name to tell which bullet it took. And no stupid questions here.

Best thing is to refer to whatever reloading source material you are using. Never hurts to double check it with other info as well.

Cheers
Criss

[stilly]

Some of the difference in nomenclature comes from how the caliber of a gun is measured by the countries that spawned the cartridge. Some standards used the diameter of the bore to the lands, and others used the diameter to the grooves.



In some countries, they even refer to the .40s&w as the 10mmKurz(Literally 10mmShort).

BoLee lists it as that too...

[Fjold]

Basically I'm trying to figure out the difference between what I would use THESE for vs what I would use THESE for. My understanding is the second set are for 308 Win Rifle loads... what's the first one for?

The first bullets are .308 diameter but of lightweight and thin jacket construction for the smaller capacity cartridges like the 30 carbine, etc.

The second bullets are also .308 in diameter and used for cartridges like the 30/30 because of their flat point they can be used in tubular magazines where the point of the bullet rests against the primers of the cartridge ahead of it in the magazine. You do not want to use pointed bullets in guns with tubular magazines (like the model 94 Winchester lever guns) as the pointed bullet tip of one cartridge can impact the primer of the cartridge ahead of it in the tubular magazine and set it off.

Generally people who shoot lever guns use flatpoint bullets for this reason.

Shooting a bolt action rifle or a rifle with anything other than a tubular magazine you want to use pointed bullets as they retain velocity (and energy) better down range.

For the medium (308, 30.06, etc.) cartridges people generally use 130 grain up to about 200 grain bullets for hunting, etc. people shooting the big 30 caliber magnums (300 win Mag, 300 H&H, 300 RUM, etc.) usually use the 150 up through 220 grain bullets for more energy and longer range hunting.