there must be an easier way! how in the world can you understand ammunition specs?

[Dr.Lector]

yeah, stuff like that

 

[drvrage]

I bought the lyman reloading manual to help me understand the vaguaries of the ammo world. It has tough me so much. I have it on the bed side table for late night reading. (My finacee is soooooooo pissed about it)

 

[tootall]

Like 7mm-08 or 6.5-06 for example?

good examples of a bad "system"

Start with a .308 case (7.62 mm diameter in metric), neck it down to 7mm, call it a 7mm-'08

Start with a .30-06 (.30 caliber, model of 1906), neck it down to 6.5mm, call it a 6.5-06, even though it came much later than 1906.

Another thing is that barrel makers start with a pipe with a .300" hole, then cut away some material for the rifling grooves. The grooves are generally .004" in deep, so that adds .008" to the bore size. The bullet has to be .308 diameter to properly seal the bore, so a round using that barrel and bullet combo can be called either .30, .300, .308, or anything in between.

Buy a good book......