Caliber and Cartridge
- Thread starter Gatehouse
- Start date
stubblejumper said:I have seen people actually fire 300winmag ammunition in a 300 wby because they bought the cheapest 300 magnum ammunition without knowing the difference.Or one fellow that was frustrated when he couldn't chamber 300wby loads in his 300win mag weatherby vanguard rifle.They care now.
I don't think that is because they don't know the difference between calibre and cartridge.
Stupid with the correct lingo, stupid without the correct lingo, you're still stupid!!
- Location
- Manitoulin Island
Cartridge nomenclature is confusing as heck when compared to true calibre. 38 Spl. is actually 35 Cal. 44 is actually 42, lots of other examples. The only explanation I ever got was this was a holdover from black powder days. We just gloss over this in Firearms Safety Training, except for emphasizing that the data stamp must match the cartridge PERFECTLY (eg: no .303 Br. and .303 Sav. interchangeability). This reminds me. Got into an argument the other night. What cartridge is a Winchester model 1895 rifle marked .30US? Is it 30-06, 30-03 or 30/40 Krag?
Hey, I got it right!
- Location
- Near Coldwater, Ont
stubblejumper said:
You meant 40grs of black powder, right? I had a guy at a gun shop ask me what "caliber" I was using after I asked him what 22 cal bullet he would recommend for jack rabbits. Lots of people use the word incorrectly even though they know the difference. The same applies to bullet vs. cartridge and mag vs. clip.
Workin Man said:
And SOMEHOW the sky hasn't fallen--that's my point. We all know the difference, but I don't bother correcting people when they use the 'wrong' term. So long as the context is clear, communication can happen. Worrying about the terminology in and of itself is just silly.
Our North American system of identifying various cartridges really sucks! I may get a bit of flack for this one but the European Metric system is far superior when it comes to telling you something about a specific cartridge. Of course many proprietary chamberings override either system, and just cause confusion amongst the uneducated. It requires a decent study, accompanied by a good memory, to keep track of all the variants that exist. I don't blame some poor schmucks for being a bit confused. However, it is good practice to make sure before one chambers a round and touches it off!! Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- Near Coldwater, Ont
Bishopus said:
That is the point I was trying to make as well, Thanks for finishing the thought for me.
BTW, I could of swore that the 30-40 was originally a black powder cartridge, but I looked it up in the Hornady manual and Stubblejumper is correct. I've always thought designations like that were black powder cartridges originally. I guess you learn something new everyday.
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Bishopus said:
You will often hear guys refer to Cartridges as "shells" or "bullets", while I can usually guess what they are talking about; I should'nt have to. Silly is the guy I saw @ wholesale who walked up to the counter and asked for some bullets for his 30-06, the smartass counterdude handed over a box of bullets; in the end the conversation went something like this;
What are these?
Bullets!
I don't want them!
You asked for Bullets!?!
I want the other kind
180gr?
Uh?
Here you go
I don't want these
etc...
So why is the guy behind the counter a smartass.He gave the guy exactly what he asked for.When I walk up to the counter and ask for bullets,I expect to be sold bullets and would find it annoying if the counter person handed me loaded ammunition.
stubblejumper said:
Me too..
I walk into a gun store and say "I need some . 30 cal bullets"
Because there are so many ignorant gun owners that dont' seem to know what sort of terms to use, the guy is often,,, UHH What cartridge?
Not his fault that so many are dumbasses and dont' understand the difference between a bullet, a cartrdge and a caliber.
- Location
- Near Coldwater, Ont
NAA said:Kinda like the morons that call magazines "clips "....
Half of the gun manufacturers and many retailers refer to them as clips. I can't imagine where the buying public gets the idea that that is the correct name.
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