Calibre Education?

[toxo 160]

Having recently applied for my FAC, I'd like to familiarise myself a lot more with the different calibre sizes, loads etc. I know some but always love to learn more. Even the many variants of the lowly .22 have me confused.

Is there a web site or a publication that shows/teaches calibres graphically as well as textually (so you can compare them side by side)? I'm surprised that this site and some others that I look at don't have this info as a sticky or if they do I've never come across it.

The closest that I've seen to what I'm looking for are the re-loading manuals but I don't know if they would be too formal and not cover the whys and wherefores of each calibre e.g. what the calibre is commonly used for and what distance from what load etc. I would imagine it won't be cheap.

[charlie caller 3,654]

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html

 

Have a look here some good information, what calibre have you applied for?

[toxo 160]

Interesting site but still calls for some prior knowledge.

Looking for something that explains that THIS calibre is purely a measurement whereas THIS calibre is a measurement plus load size or case size if you see what I mean.

Because my permissions are quite small (except one which still isn't massive) I've just applied for the .22LR and FAC air. I would like a slot for .17HMR but that can wait. Wanted to be sure to get it first. Will of course mention the 17HMR to the FEO who may or may not tell me to add it on.

I'm happy to play the long game and as my permissions get larger I'll hopefully upgrade.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Reloading manuals, and firearms history type books will probably be the best source of the kind of information you are looking for, or just do a search for a specific calibre you require information about.

[Alsone 789]

You can gain some rough guidance from the table in the Firearms Licensing Guidance Manual as this sets out suitability for "Good Reason".

 

It's only a rough guide though, but does list quite a few calibres and their energies and suggested prey for good reason purposes (note this doesn't always mean they aren't suitable for purposes outside of those purposes, it just means if applying for a grant for a given calibre, that's the prey you need to be applying for to get granted that calibre with MOST forces (it is guidance not a bible).

 

For more information, the Wikipedia is a good source eg google .30-06 and you'll turn up a whole page about it, as you can for most calibres

 

I do agree though it would be handy to have a 1 stop single reference point with maybe a table of ALL calibres, their ballistic information ie speed, energy, drop at various distances, ballistic coefiicient, suitability and some comment about overall performance.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Alsone

[J_Edwards 70]

http://gundata.org/bullet-database/compare-rifle-ammo/

 

A lot depends on the grain of the bullet, as I've just looked on Wikipedia, and there can be a 200ft/Ib difference in power with a slightly different bullet weight. The link above seems to make a good average.

 

I'm sure someone with a bit of time and shooting experience could make a document with all of the above data, and suitable quarries. Also some info on ammo availability could be nice.

[geordieh 74]

Hi Toxo

See if you can get hold of a copy of The Sporting Rifle by Robin Marshall Ball it will give you a good idea what the different calibres will do

[Alsone 789]

Just thouight I'd add, if you're interesting in the .22, there's an excellent book called "The book of the .22", although the copy I saw was old and is probably out of print.

 

I don't know if it's been updated as it covered older calibres such as .22LR, Hornet etc but was full of not only ballistic details and commentary but also slow motion pics of each bullet entering ballistic gel and showing the amount of shock damage and expansion from each round side by side for comparison.

 

Best book I've ever seen, but it could well be out of print or never have been updated. Shame if it isn't still printed or hasn't been updated.

 

(It's not "the complete book of the .22" or the gun digest one. From memory it as written in the 40's or 50's).

Edited September 7, 2014 by Alsone

[Matthew Phillips 36]

This is the best i have found... although it only shows centrefire

 

http://www.riflesintheuk.com/cartridges.htm

[RogerTheCat 3]

Try this site

http://www.riflesintheuk.com/rimfire.htm