Just wondering how many know the difference between calibre and cartridge?

[J E Custom]

One thing for sure, there are lots of opinions on this site.

The OP sure got his moneys worth out of this post!!!

J E CUSTOM

 

[Rich Coyle]

That's the way I think it should be ! Anyone that doesn't know that a 30 cal. could be many different cartridges shouldn't be messing with guns! And there are many different calibers. For instance the following are all 30 calibers but are meant to be used in DIFFERENT chambered guns ! 30-30 WIN., 300 win. mag., 308 Win., 308 Norma mag., 30-06, 300 ultra mag., 300 H&H mag , 378-30 plus many more all being 30 cal., all to be used in "different" rifles ! If a shooter using any of these rifles was to be asked what caliber he was using, the correct answer for any of them would be a 30 caliber ! Then he should go on to state the chambering for the rifle.

Now you've gone and done it. You brought up "chambering".

 

[Wild Bill G]

Harper C you truly are a wise man that knows the right words to use. J.E.Custom I never dreamed this thread would last this long or get as heated as it did. It is to bad I was the one who got it into the heated state.
The yrouble is I get a little upset when people show no concern for the safety of others. To me there are alot of people out there that could get hurt with a lack of knowledge on this topic of caliber and cartridge. If we can help other we should and as I have now learned be prepared to get roasted once in a while.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Harper C you truly are a wise man that knows the right words to use. J.E.Custom I never dreamed this thread would last this long or get as heated as it did. It is to bad I was the one who got it into the heated state.
The yrouble is I get a little upset when people show no concern for the safety of others. To me there are alot of people out there that could get hurt with a lack of knowledge on this topic of caliber and cartridge. If we can help other we should and as I have now learned be prepared to get roasted once in a while.

The vast majority of the posters here know the difference. It seems foolish to think we here at this sight can prevent ignorance in the shooting community with this thread; or even trying to help the ignorant at the range.

 

[HARPERC]

....Harper C you truly are a wise man that knows the right words to use......

.....Enlightened self interest at best, and fortunate enough to have a circle of friends that trust me enough to learn on their kids. I've made most of the mistakes, and continue to find more.

..... For us old guys look back to the education systems we've lost, schools, scouts, the family farm where we could shoot our BB guns dawn to dusk. Proximity to uncles and grandparents. For me, coming from a non-shooting/hunting family, it was neighbors that took the time to give me opportunities.

.....I'll circle back to the political side a bit. Here in Washington we have bad legislation on the books from the last election cycle. The same billionaires that pushed that one are back for another bite. Laws that make difficult or impossible passing on firearms, mandated education clauses that provide no educational opportunities, and a citizenry that doesn't understand high capacity magazines include the "clips" for their 10/22's or XD's etc.

Them is us, and us is going to have to fix it.

 

[Cuz]

Wild Bill, it's a good conversation to have. Most people I know that are knowledgeable in firearms and reloading are quite willing to share their knowledge. I think the internet has been both good and bad in that respect. I will explain to someone that I think doesn't understand what caliber means, and the different cartridges. If I think they are interested. I don't think the problem stems from someone asking what caliber a gun is, but from the answer. Someone might say 300 mag instead of 300 winchester, or 300 norma or 300h&h. 40 something years ago we didn't have as much of a problem, but over the last several years there have been a ton of new cartridges. Some could be very confusing for someone new to shooting or reloading. I think being specific about the cartridge is very important. Also I think knowledge can only be gained by someone who is willing to learn and there are a lot of people who either think they know it all or are unwilling to learn. No roasting intended

 

[Wild Bill G]

You make a good Point Cuz. We can only offer help we can not force people to accept what we tell them. How ever I do bslieve if some one is spouting rubbish or doing some thing wrong we should offer help. What they do with our help is up to them.

 

[Cuz]

Absolutely. One of the big reasons for joining this site was my passion for firearms and long range shooting. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge on this site, but that doesn't mean you don't have to wade through some bs occasionally. I remember the 70's and 80's when a 3-9 on a 7mm rem. Was about as good as it got. No decent rangefinder or ballistic apps. 300 yds was a good shot, 500 yds a great shot and past that a Hail Mary. A lot of the stuff we have to learn now is being developed as we learn, not from a 10-20 year old book. You will always have people unwilling to learn or change. Some people are misinformed and some are uniformed. Like you said, you can only offer, you can't make them accept.

 

[Buck Buster]

Everyone of us started exactly here. All of us, have had to unlearn erroneous information. The question is how to instruct those that don't know.

Did that !

 

[Buck Buster]

Now you've gone and done it. You brought up "chambering".

Since when aren't different cartridges in need of different chambering ? This was the problem that I assumed was going on. When a caliber was stated some thought they would all fit in all guns of that caliber, when in fact they won't. Different cartridges of the same caliber take different chambering ! This is where guys by my understanding were going wrong. Thinking a 30-06 would work in a 300 win. mag., same caliber but different CHAMBER ! That' what it's all about, some guys not knowing this ! In # 78 : BJH stated he didn't take their listing as using the 2 terms interchangeably. It just means that they offer rifle CHAMBER for many calibers, and many cartridges within those calibers !

 

[Buck Buster]

This is what I think I read was going on: That some beginners ( gunners ) were assuming that a cartridge of a certain caliber would fit in all guns of that same caliber If this is incorrect, then disregard my statements. And if this is right I stand by my statements ! And that you can not run before you learn to walk ! A beginner in owning firearms has got to learn the very basics as to safety, what I assume is being talked about here ! One of the first things should be that you only use the correct ammunition for the firearm that is being used ! Actually common sense, that every gun handler should have, but we all know that's not so just by watching some of the people at the range, and I might add should not be there ! They didn't take the time to learn the basics, they haven't learned to walk yet !

 

[adam32]

At the end of the day, interchanging the terms doesn't make a bit of difference to new shooters or old to guys. Nor does it make anyone less safe. If you can't simply read the side of the barrel and match the ammo to that, then knowing the difference between caliber, cartridge and chambering isn't going to help you.

 

[BJH]

At the end of the day, interchanging the terms doesn't make a bit of difference to new shooters or old to guys. Nor does it make anyone less safe. If you can't simply read the side of the barrel and match the ammo to that, then knowing the difference between caliber, cartridge and chambering isn't going to help you.

I agree with this to a point. But if you don't know the difference between caliber and cartridge...what good is the stamp on the side of the barrel? If someone doesn't know what that stamp means then how does it benefit them?

 

[Vortex!]

This is becoming boring since it's just one argument after another. It's all stuff that we all know but it seems some on here think they are being attacked or told that they don't know what they are talking about. A lot of truth here though... A good thread for someone to read if they are new to shooting.