{"id":548,"date":"2019-10-15T10:55:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T10:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammoforsale.com\/ammo-club\/?p=548"},"modified":"2019-10-16T17:49:53","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T17:49:53","slug":"what-is-the-caliber-a-guide-for-new-shooters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammoforsale.com\/ammo-club\/what-is-the-caliber-a-guide-for-new-shooters\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Caliber? \u2013 a Guide for New Shooters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Upon entering the gun industry, there are tons of terms and specific phrases thrown around the local gun shop, online forums, and even in Hollywood movies. With what seems to be a never-ending supply of new products that hit the market every week, it can be difficult to keep up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you have picked out your firearm of choice, whether it is for hunting, target shooting, personal defense, or any other intended purpose, the next choice you are faced with is choosing the right round for your firearm. The ammunition conversation opens up a vast array of topics and choices. Choosing the right round for specific firearms was a much easier task just a few years ago, but now, the choices are overwhelming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will spare you the extensive topics of types of rounds out there and instead, we are going to explain something that is a little broader of a topic in the ammunition conversation and that is bullet caliber.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It may seem like common knowledge that the caliber of bullets refers to their size, but in fact, it technically refers to the nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel. True \u201ccaliber\u201d specifications are required to be measured and listed in the Imperial System of inches, but due to the inaccuracy of converting imperial to metric, caliber sizes are specified primarily on where the cartridge was developed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, you have a 9mm vs. .45 round. The 9mm round is expressed in the metric units and the .45 means the caliber is forty-five one-hundredths of an inch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bullet vs. Cartridge\/Round<\/b><\/h2>\n

These words are thrown around often and, most of the time, used interchangeably. However, if you want to show that you understand the basic workings of firearms and their ammunition, it can be beneficial to know the differences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cbullet\u201d is the actual metal projectile that is fired and that leaves the barrel of the firearm. A \u201ccartridge or round\u201d is otherwise known as the casing, and it houses the primer, the propellant, and the projectile. When it comes to matching the caliber of the firearm with the right ammunition, you will be looking to match the bullet size, not the cartridge\/round. Keep in mind that there are tolerances in the ten-thousandths of an inch that the barrel can accommodate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Bullet<\/p>\n

Confusing Examples of Calibers<\/b><\/h2>\n

When it comes to the exact measurement of the calibers compared to their designations in the industry, true math lovers may be a bit dumbfounded. Let\u2019s walk through a few of the confusing examples of these cases.<\/span><\/p>\n