The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Black Powder and Cowboy Action Shooting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 6, 2011, 02:46 AM   #1
Newton24b
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 10, 2009
Posts: 974
bore diameter

how can the army caliber percussion revovler be a 45 caliber sidearm, if it is normal for the bore of the weapon, and some chambers, to be .4452?
Newton24b is offline  
Old May 6, 2011, 03:30 AM   #2
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,453
Colt and Remington percussion revolvers were normally referred to as .44 caliber, not .45.

But caliber designations are only nominal and sometimes it is hard to find an actual measurement in the gun that agrees with the number in the book.
Jim Watson is offline  
Old May 6, 2011, 09:24 AM   #3
Hardcase
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 14, 2009
Location: Sunny Southern Idaho
Posts: 1,909
This may veer off topic, but I think that the best example of a caliber not matching bore diameter is the .38 Special.

The .38 Short Colt was used in old .36 caliber pistols. The .38 Short used a heeled bullet, so the exposed portion of the bullet was the same diameter as the case - about .375".

The .38 Long Colt didn't use a heeled bullet, but the case diameter was the same as the .38 Short. And the .38 Special was derived from the .38 Long, so the naming convention stuck.
__________________
Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae
Hardcase is offline  
Old May 6, 2011, 10:09 AM   #4
ClemBert
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 2, 2009
Location: Orlando
Posts: 936
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but as I recall....

In the USA, generally, the bore of a handgun in measured between the lands whereas the bore of a rifle is measure between the grooves.

For example, on a Ruger Old Army, typical dimensions are:

Lands Diameter: 0.443"
Groove Diameter: 0.451"
Chamber Diameter: 0.453"

So, on an ROA we see that the recommended 0.457 roundball get shaved down to 0.453 when seated in the chamber. The roundball remains .45 caliber. When fired, the shaved roundball gets squished down to 0.451 when pushed through the forcing cone. The roundball remains .45 caliber. However, since the lands diameter is 0.443 this firearm is designated a .44 caliber. Confusion persists on this topic when a firearm like this is converted to shoot .45 Colt cartridges since the typical bullet diameter used is 0.452.

Recall, that some ROAs left the factory marked ".44 caliber" and while others were marked ".45 caliber". Both of these revolvers are identical. The only difference are revolver's markings for caliber. I believe, from a technical point of view, both markings are correct. It was just a marketing ploy by Ruger to get a .45 caliber classification for a USA measured .44 caliber revolver. I believe the ATF would consider the ROA to be .44 caliber. However, I seem to recall that Ruger may have marked some ROAs as .45 caliber to get acceptance of these firearms in other countries which use the groove diameter consistently for all firearms regardless of if it's a rifle or handgun. Great Britain comes to mind. Additionally, from the point of hunting statutes in some states, I believe there is a legal advantage for hunting purposes when the desire is to hunt with a handgun. I don't hunt so I don't know the specifics.

So, as you can see, it depends on how you want to measure the bore...lands or grooves...
ClemBert is offline  
Old May 6, 2011, 10:12 AM   #5
Noz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 25, 2009
Posts: 643
The raw inside dimension of the barrels is roughly .44. The grooves were cut to .45.
Call them what you will.

The small chamber are of no import. The dead soft RB will bump up to the bore diameter(within reason).
Noz is offline  
Old May 6, 2011, 10:56 AM   #6
ClemBert
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 2, 2009
Location: Orlando
Posts: 936
Just looked at the markings on the boxes for both my ROAs. My 1982 manufactured ROA says .44 caliber. My 2007 manufactured ROA says .45 caliber. This, even though both have identical land/groove diameters.
ClemBert is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.05330 seconds with 10 queries