alexm Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) I think this is one of the few examples where the British have corrupted words that the Americans use correctly and lately it has started to annoy me slightly. Especially because I have caught myself doing it too. B) In Britain we seem to use gauge/bore interchangeably but on a technicality 'Bore' should refer to a calibre expressed directly by the diameter in inches or mm. For example, .410 bore. 'Gauge' should be used to describe a calibre where the diameter is expressed in the number of lead spheres of the calibre's diameter it would take to weigh 1lb. So, in the case of the 12 gauge, 12 lead balls, each with diameter 0.729" would weigh 1lb. 10 gauge, 10 balls, 8 gauge, 8 balls etc. Interestingly a '1 gauge' would therefore be a diameter so large that just one lead ball of that diameter would weigh a pound. This is where we cross over to measuring in lbs. A theoretical "1 gauge" is the equivalent of a 1 lb gun. So the 32 pounder cannons on the bottom deck of HMS Victory are the equivalent of 1/32 gauge guns. So, next time you hear someone say 8 bore, 12 bore etc. then step in and annoy them with your new anal knowledge. Edited February 4, 2009 by alexm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 anal knowledge. Was it just me who saw this before ANYTHING else on the page? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 heads would be the head of the loaded cartridge, you know just above the shoulder and neck on the brass? thanks rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Along the same lines of things grating on you..... We shoot SHOTGUNS, not bloody 'SHOTTIES' !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 So what 'Guage' would a .410 'bore' actually be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEREALTHRILLER Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Along the same lines of things grating on you..... We shoot SHOTGUNS, not bloody 'SHOTTIES' !!!!! Deffo - hate that term Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 So what 'Guage' would a .410 'bore' actually be? Well.... a lead ball of .410" diameter would have a volume of: 4/3(pi)r^3 = (4/3) * 3.141 * ((.410/2)*2.54)^3 = 0.591 cm^3 The density of lead is 11.34  g/cm−3 So a lead sphere of diameter .410" weighs 6.71g or 0.0148 lbs So it would take 1/0.0148 = 67.6 .410 balls to the pound. So it would be about a 68 gauge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 So it would be about a 68 gauge! Is that right They are only slightly smaller than 28 bore The bullet 'head' thing is nonsense as well, as headspace is the gap at the back of the cartridge and the bolt face is it not? I don't like deffo either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) .410 is a 36-bore, in standard gunmaking terms. Edited February 5, 2009 by Baldrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Is that right They are only slightly smaller than 28 bore I know it doesn't sound right, but the 'gauge' isn't linear. Because it's based on weight of a sphere it's proportional to the cube of the diameter of the bore so as the diameter decreases in size the 'gauge' increases to the power three! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) .410 is a 36-bore, in standard gunmaking terms. This is a historical thing, it has been referred as a 36 gauge (I have no idea why), but it is in fact a 68 gauge. The maths does not lie! Edited February 5, 2009 by alexm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 so what gauge would 9mm shotgun be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) I worked out the example above on a spreadsheet. Just for fun here is a table of bore (in inches) versus 'Gauge'. As you can see, the 'Gauge' shoots up once the bore starts to get smaller. A .22 is a 438 gauge and a .17 is 949 gauge! Bore(in) Gauge 1.500 1 1.490 1 1.480 1 1.470 1 1.460 1 1.450 2 1.440 2 1.430 2 1.420 2 1.410 2 1.400 2 1.390 2 1.380 2 1.370 2 1.360 2 1.350 2 1.340 2 1.330 2 1.320 2 1.310 2 1.300 2 1.290 2 1.280 2 1.270 2 1.260 2 1.250 2 1.240 2 1.230 3 1.220 3 1.210 3 1.200 3 1.190 3 1.180 3 1.170 3 1.160 3 1.150 3 1.140 3 1.130 3 1.120 3 1.110 3 1.100 4 1.090 4 1.080 4 1.070 4 1.060 4 1.050 4 1.040 4 1.030 4 1.020 4 1.010 5 1.000 5 0.990 5 0.980 5 0.970 5 0.960 5 0.950 5 0.940 6 0.930 6 0.920 6 0.910 6 0.900 6 0.890 7 0.880 7 0.870 7 0.860 7 0.850 8 0.840 8 0.830 8 0.820 8 0.810 9 0.800 9 0.790 9 0.780 10 0.770 10 0.760 11 0.750 11 0.740 12 0.730 12 0.720 12 0.710 13 0.700 14 0.690 14 0.680 15 0.670 16 0.660 16 0.650 17 0.640 18 0.630 19 0.620 20 0.610 21 0.600 22 0.590 23 0.580 24 0.570 25 0.560 27 0.550 28 0.540 30 0.530 31 0.520 33 0.510 35 0.500 37 0.490 40 0.480 42 0.470 45 0.460 48 0.450 51 0.440 55 0.430 59 0.420 63 0.410 68 0.400 73 0.390 79 0.380 85 0.370 92 0.360 100 0.350 109 0.340 119 0.330 130 0.320 142 0.310 156 0.300 173 0.290 191 0.280 212 0.270 237 0.260 265 0.250 298 0.240 337 0.230 383 0.220 438 0.210 503 0.200 583 0.190 680 0.180 799 0.170 949 0.160 1138 0.150 1381 0.140 1699 0.130 2122 0.120 2698 0.110 3503 0.100 4662 Edited February 5, 2009 by alexm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 so what gauge would 9mm shotgun be? 105 gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy22 Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 heads would be the head of the loaded cartridge, you know just above the shoulder and neck on the brass? thanks rick So why's the writing at the other end called a headstamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Well ****** me with the bell end of a rag mans trumpet . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palombier Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) Since when did definitely become 'deffo'... hate that term. P Edited February 6, 2009 by palombier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 So why's the writing at the other end called a headstamp? because butt stamp just doesn't quite do it. ;o) I guess with a head stamp at one end and the neck and shoulders at the other end, rifle cartridges are the push-me-pull-you of the shooting world. Thanks, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.