FatherandSon Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 I got asked today why a 12g is called 12g and 20g called 20g? I was told years ago 'originally with 1lb of lead you could make 12 cartridges for a 12g or 20 cartridges for a 20g' or 28 cartridges for a 28g and so on. I never questioned it but, is it correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 (edited) It you took 1 lb of lead and made them into 12 equal size balls, they would fit in a tube equal to 12 bore. I think that's right :-) Edited February 25, 2014 by aris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 (edited) if 12 balls of lead are taken from 1lb of lead each ball would equal the bore of a 12g shotgun. Likewise 4 balls for 4 bore, 20 for 20 bore etc. (just too late ) Edited February 25, 2014 by Good shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 The scientific explanation is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_(bore_diameter) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatherandSon Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 So why is my 9mm also called a 3 bore :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 And a 410? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatherandSon Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 I assume 410 as its bore is .410" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 (edited) I assume 410 as its bore is .410" .410 is a 36 gauge Have to wonder how they come up with these ****ed up measurements. Edited February 25, 2014 by aris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Your old number 1, 2 and 3 bore are another old way of naming a calibre and mixing the term `bore` with what should be `gauges` is what causes confusion! 20 balls from a pound of lead = 20guage. 12 balls ----- - ------ - ----- = 12guage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 (edited) There is no confusion with .410"! It is a bore diameter measurement of 0.410/1000s of an inch! It is a `bore` measurement and not called a gauge! Just how 12, 20, 28, 4, 8, and 10 gauges should only be called gauges and not `bores`! U. Edited February 25, 2014 by Underdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 There is no confusion with .410"! It is a bore diameter measurement of 0.410/1000s of an inch! U. That's very small! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatherandSon Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 That's very small! Ha ha very very small, I think he means 410/1000th of an inch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 ooops yes lol hope it does not negate the other things to much. It never ceases to amaze me this common British fondness for shooting someone down for the slightest obvious simple mistake. Usually from snobby middle class pig headed idiots. Oh well...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hi And I think it equates to the ideal load for the gun 16 bore = 16 balls of lead =1 oz 4 bore = 4 balls of lead = 4 oz However things have changed and we seem to wish to fire heavier loads out of smaller guns so this historic information is proberably obsolete All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 (edited) And a 410? A 410" is a 36 bore! It really is very simple. Edited February 25, 2014 by TIGHTCHOKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 ooops yes lol hope it does not negate the other things to much. It never ceases to amaze me this common British fondness for shooting someone down for the slightest obvious simple mistake. Usually from snobby middle class pig headed idiots. Oh well...... Regret it if you took offence - I thought that the smileys would reflect that I was joking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Hi And I think it equates to the ideal load for the gun 16 bore = 16 balls of lead =1 oz 4 bore = 4 balls of lead = 4 oz However things have changed and we seem to wish to fire heavier loads out of smaller guns so this historic information is proberably obsolete All the best Of as before 16 equal balls of lead amounting to 1lb in weight for 16 gauge 4 equal round balls amounting to 1 lb = 4 gauge etc.........nowt to do with ideal load though..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 When those measurments and bore diameters came about would it be the case that it was easier to get an exact measurment by weight rather than any inch tape or whatever was used at the time.? Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Under the English system the .410 would be a 67.4 bore not a 36 bore ,67.4 ball's to the pound to fit a 410 bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Under the English system the .410 would be a 67.4 bore not a 36 bore ,67.4 ball's to the pound to fit a 410 bore.yes...there is an explanation of how the 36cal came about on that 410 web site. It is called 36 CAL not gauge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Under the English system the .410 would be a 67.4 bore not a 36 bore ,67.4 ball's to the pound to fit a 410 bore. Quite right - thank you for the correction. Some background: http://www.fourten.org.uk/36gauge.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 as before 16 equal balls of lead amounting to 1lb in weight for 16 gauge 4 equal round balls amounting to 1 lb = 4 gauge etc.........nowt to do with ideal load though.....Sorry shold have saidAt the time they were decided were considered by many to be the correct load for the bore sise my appologe All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Quite right - thank you for the correction. Some background: http://www.fourten.org.uk/36gauge.html that's the one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 nice little diagram to explain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Top diagram. You gotta love imperial measures. Every cartridge through a 12 or 20 bore should thus show an imperial load ( e.g. 1 ounce, 1 1/16, 1 1/8 ) should it not? Hang metric measurements in these bores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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