The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

chucko · June 6, 1999, 04:50 PM

I'd never put much thought into it before, but where in history did our SO CALLED standard caliber sizes come from? Is there some formula that helps engineers come up with new calibers or do they just have a big "Magic 8 Ball" that tells them to come up with a new size? .303, .308, .223, .357, etc. For example the .308 (7.62x51mm) and the soviet 7.62x39mm ( which is actually a .310 ).

Is the .308 the result of testing that showed that the .308" diameter bullet performed better that the .306, .307, .309, and .310 sizes?

I know its trivia, but ther must be some sort of answer. Sort of like the way that the width of modern rail road tracks have origins based on the width of a Roman battle chariot.

Chuck

[This message has been edited by chucko (edited June 06, 1999).]

June 6, 1999, 04:50 PM	#1
chucko Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 1999 Posts: 151	I'd never put much thought into it before, but where in history did our SO CALLED standard caliber sizes come from? Is there some formula that helps engineers come up with new calibers or do they just have a big "Magic 8 Ball" that tells them to come up with a new size? .303, .308, .223, .357, etc. For example the .308 (7.62x51mm) and the soviet 7.62x39mm ( which is actually a .310 ). Is the .308 the result of testing that showed that the .308" diameter bullet performed better that the .306, .307, .309, and .310 sizes? I know its trivia, but ther must be some sort of answer. Sort of like the way that the width of modern rail road tracks have origins based on the width of a Roman battle chariot. Chuck [This message has been edited by chucko (edited June 06, 1999).]