Gauge or Caliber: Getting Your Research Right
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by: williemeikle
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Word Count: 475
CALIBER (or calibre) is "usually" a numerical term, without the decimal point, in a cartridge's name to indicate the bullet diameter.
Alternatively it can be a measurement of the diameter of the gun’s barrel.
It is described in most glossaries as: "The internal diameter of a gun's barrel." This can be measured either in English units or in metric. The measurement can be taken in a rifled arm either land to land or groove to groove. E.g., in most US .300-caliber rifles, the diameter of the bore land to land is .300 inches, while groove to groove it is .308 inches ( Land is the raised portion of rifling in the barrel, groove is the recessed portion of rifling)
In the US the measurement is usually expressed in hundreds of an inch; in Great Britain in thousandths; in Europe and elsewhere in millimetres. That's why you see the calibre of handguns often expressed in different units.
Just to confuse matters, even in the same country the quoted calibre does not always indicate the true bore diameter but measure the diameter of the "outer" barrel.
Not all calibers indicate bore diameter. The .44 Magnum is not .44 inches in diameter. It is .429 inches in diameter. A .38 Special is not .38 inches. It is .357 inches. The .357 Magnum, though, is truly .357 inches in diameter. A 9mm is .355 inches. Some calibers are also confusing. A .45 Colt is a revolver cartridge. A .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) is an automatic cartridge. They are not interchangeable.
Caliber also has an alternative meaning when it relates to the length of the barrel in larger, artillery, pieces eg an artillery piece may be described as 5 inch/50 caliber, which would mean it has a barrel 50 times the bore diameter, or 250 inches long.
GAUGE refers to shotguns and is the bore size of a shotgun determined by the number of round lead balls of bore diameter that equals a pound
For example, twelve lead balls that fit the diameter of a 12 gauge shotgun equal one pound. The most common sizes of shotgun gauge are 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410. ( Again, just to confuse matters, the .410 is the exception in shotguns in that it is measured as a caliber not a gauge, so the .410 has a barrel .410 inches in width.)
So, using this system, as the gauge goes up, the bore diameter goes down. This is the opposite of calibre. Just remember, as a writer, your duty is to get it right. And also remember, there's always going to be somebody out there who'll point out your mistakes, so try to get it right first time.
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About the Author
William Meikle is a Scottish writer, with seven novels published in the States. He is available for all freelance writing work. Contact him and read some free fiction at his web site http://www.williammeikle.com
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