JonD Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Hi all, Sorry for the noob q but being fairly new to all things shooting i haven't managed to find a noob's guide to rifles. Can anyone point me in the direction of an explanation of the different rifles available and what the letters mean, i know the bigger the calibre the larger the diameter but listed below are a few of many that have confused me: HMR .22 .22LR .223 .308 I know the basic difference between rimfire and centre fire but would love to know more, from the lowest power FAC rifle right through to what the maximum you could possible own would be and the difference. Cheers, Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 (edited) Geez, that's a VERY big question there mate!!! Rather than try and confuse you I would point you in the direction of wiki!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rifle_cartridges Just keep reading and you should figure most of it out, but come back with more questions if required! To answer a few of you specific calibre questions: HMR is refering to the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (Hornady made it - magnum due to it's development/size/shape, 0.17 of an inch in diameter) .22 is a round that is 0.22 of an inch in diameter - in 99% of cases when used in terminology people are generally refering to the .22lr .22lr is a rimfire round that is 0.22 of an inch in diameter and lr stands for long rifle (rather than pistol, or short rifle) .223 is a centre fire (o.223 of an inch in diameter) used widely by the miltary of the western world and is also a very common fox/vermin round .308 is a centre fire (0.308 of an inch in diameter) used also used widely by the miltary and is prodominately a deer round Edited April 20, 2009 by Oly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Oly, I thought that the NATO round was 5.56mm, which was developed from the .223 Remmington round, but not exactly the same. Similarly, .308 Win in not equivalent to the 7.62mm NATO round, but close enough for most applications. I could be wrong though, but I remember reading that somewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Oly, I thought that the NATO round was 5.56mm, which was developed from the .223 Remmington round, but not exactly the same. Similarly, .308 Win in not equivalent to the 7.62mm NATO round, but close enough for most applications. I could be wrong though, but I remember reading that somewhere... And lo, the Fourth Seal was opened ! Lets just keep it simple for the new lad and say that .223Rem and 5.56mmx45mm / .308Win and 7.62mmx51mm are the same cartridges! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZ550Kevlar Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Lol someone had to compare 5.56 & .223 or .308win & 7.62 and open that can of worms, long and short of it is that they are essentialy completely different in alot of ways. In order to buy them you have to have them listed individualy on your ticket or you will be turned away, it is the same when buying a rifle if you have a 7.62 slot you can`t drive all the way from Devon to Folkestone for example only to find out the gun you are buying is a .308win and they are not the same and expect the RFD to part with it lol. Also some guns will hate having nato rounds put through them due to the pressures etc involved and is pretty damn dangerous unless you know for certain they are designed for both, my ruger will take both nato and win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Lol someone had to compare 5.56 & .223 or .308win & 7.62 and open that can of worms, long and short of it is that they are essentialy completely different in alot of ways. In order to buy them you have to have them listed individualy on your ticket or you will be turned away, it is the same when buying a rifle if you have a 7.62 slot you can`t drive all the way from Devon to Folkestone for example only to find out the gun you are buying is a .308win and they are not the same and expect the RFD to part with it lol. I have 5.56x45mm/.223 on my ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZ550Kevlar Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) So do i, so double Edit:- the person driving a long distance from one side of the country to the other was not me!! was just a story that was recounted to me whilst out shooting at the weekend. Edited April 21, 2009 by CZ550Kevlar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 I have 7.62 x 51mm/.308 on mine, And they are not the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Geez, that's a VERY big question there mate!!! Rather than try and confuse you I would point you in the direction of wiki!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rifle_cartridges Just keep reading and you should figure most of it out, but come back with more questions if required! To answer a few of you specific calibre questions: HMR is refering to the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (Hornady made it - magnum due to it's development/size/shape, 0.17 of an inch in diameter) .22 is a round that is 0.22 of an inch in diameter - in 99% of cases when used in terminology people are generally refering to the .22lr .22lr is a rimfire round that is 0.22 of an inch in diameter and lr stands for long rifle (rather than pistol, or short rifle) .223 is a centre fire (o.223 of an inch in diameter) used widely by the miltary of the western world and is also a very common fox/vermin round .308 is a centre fire (0.308 of an inch in diameter) used also used widely by the miltary and is prodominately a deer round OLY, The 223 Rem is actually 0.224" diameter. All modern 22 caliber centerfires (and the 22 Mag rimfire) use a 0.224" bullet. The 22LR uses a 0.222" bullet and a long time ago there were some 22 hornet models that used 0.223" bullets. Thanks, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Ok, so JonD's original question was not actually so easy to answer and has thrown up some really good information. Sorry for making it complicated though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 ..and some misinformation as well Jond have a look here for loads of gumf on rifle rounds, be warned there are lot of them! If you click on the one you are interested in, there is short description of each calibre. http://www.reloadersnest.com/rifle.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 (edited) Hear we go again .308 and 7.62 . I to have both on my ticket for shooting in my stalking rifle . The reason that my firearms dept . class them as different rounds is because they do not equate exactly mathmatically . I have 7.62 ammo on my ticket so that i can reload headstamped 7.62 cases as .308 ammo for my .308 rifle . Some rifles are chambered and stamped .308 on the barrel and some rifles are chambered and stamped 7.62 on the barrels . Those stamped .308 are generally sporting rifles and those stamped 7,62 are normally target rifles . In fact i have never seen a sporting rifle stamped 7.62 or a target rifle stamped .308winchester . Both rounds are so much the same that they can be fired in either gun . Harnser . Edited April 21, 2009 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Try this link, the site itself will hold most of your answers. http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_bullet_diameter.htm ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted April 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Thank you all for the replies Looks like i have a lot of reading to do The only rifle i have fired so far is a .308 Win, the first 9 out of 10 rounds were in the bull or V bull @ 200yds but i suspect it will be some time before one of those is on the cards Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeinVA Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Oly, I thought that the NATO round was 5.56mm, which was developed from the .223 Remmington round, but not exactly the same. Similarly, .308 Win in not equivalent to the 7.62mm NATO round, but close enough for most applications. I could be wrong though, but I remember reading that somewhere... I too shared your assumptions on those two? Christ, this is the first time i have been wrong about anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethevanman Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 As in rifles???........the least powerful rifle you could own would be a cork gun?.its a rifle device and fires a projectile??? the most powerful could be a 700NE....rifled 2 Bore firing 3000 grain slugs?, however the chance of these getting passed for anything in Britain is 1/10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000 Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 I have never seen a rifled cork gun, so by definition it wouldn't be a rifle. It would be a gun. Double Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 So 7.62 and .308 are the same size, but just in 2 different units? I am interested in applying for an FAC for bunnies and magpies, so i assume would go for a .22 or .177? (or .22lr) I imagine that getting a hornet is harder to get and maybe not necessary, but i want a fair bit of range. Off the tops of your heads, what range would a .22lr, .22WMR and a .22 hornet give you? (i know i should look it up myself but...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 george, the 7.62 and .308 are the exact same size. The .308" is the diameter of the bore and how bullets and components will be listed. It is also the common name of the 308 winchester. The number 7.62mm refers to the land diameter, which is 0.300". That is the common designation for a host of cartridges such as 300 win mag, 300 WSM, 30-06 (30 caliber, 1906), etc. The 308 winchester has a 0.300" land diameter. They all use the same bullets interchangeably. The 7.62x51 has the exact same case (externally) as the 308 winchester, though the brass is probably going to be heavier (which means adjusting your loads down if you handload). The chambers are likely to be cut larger for military weapons because the specification for the NATO chamber is a bit bigger. If you're shooting rabbits and similar sized vermin/varmints then a 22LR will max out around 100 yards. Same shooter with a 22mag will top out around 150. Again the hornet will be around 250 for the same person. Thanks, Rick Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 Thanks Rick. I'll prpbably want a gun that takes magnum rounds then. Don't know if i can justify the hornet to the plod, but might be worth a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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