Why the inaccurate caliber designations?

[Dionysusigma]

I'm referring to how 7.62 NATO is not the same as 7.62x54R, .38 is really .355, .44 is really .429, .44BP is the same diameter as a .45LC, and so on and so forth.

Why not just call them what they really are? Like .429 Mag/Special?

Just wonderin'...

 

[Billll]

.38 is actually .357. It's called .38 because the fellow (S&W?) who first put together the first brass cartredge in that caliber used 3/8 dia brass tubing to make the cartredge, and named it after the size of the brass, rather than the size of the bullet. .357 and .45 come from their former designations in the smoothbore regiemes: 100 and 50 ga respectively.

Yeah, I know. They weren't exactly correct on the size of the tubing, either, but it's their invention, so they get to call it anything they want.

 

[Hypnogator]

'Cuz that's the way it is!

For one thing, 7.62 Nato is a different cartridge than the 7.62X54R, or the 7.62X39, or the 7.62X63 (30.06). Like the 300 Win Mag is different from the 300 Weatherby Mag, or the 300 H&H Mag.

The bullet diameter thing dates back to the early years of cartridges when all had lead "heeled" bullets the same diameter as the cartridge cases (like the .22 S, L, & LR still are, today). With the invention of jacketed bullets, bullet diameter was measured by land diameter rather than the older method of groove diameter.

Modern calibers (e.g., the .357 Magnum, .40 S&W) are accurate, insofar as they correctly reflect the land diameter of the caliber.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The French metric system is much more uniform; it's also, however, completely soulless and boring.

 

[JohnKSa]

The French metric system is much more uniform

Oh yeah? Then what's the bullet diameter of the 7.5 French rifle round?

 

[Majic]

With care firearms will last several human generations easily. If you rename all the cartridges then will you know what ammo the older firearms are chambered for?

 

[Rebeldon]

Not to confuse things, but as many of you know, Western 7.62mm diameter bullets are .308-inches in diameter. But the Eastern 7.62mm diameter bullets are .311-inches in diameter.

 

[WonderNine]

For one thing, 7.62 Nato is a different cartridge than the 7.62X54R, or the 7.62X39, or the 7.62X63 (30.06).

Or the 7.62X51 or the 7.62X25.

 

[Red_SC]

quote:
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For one thing, 7.62 Nato is a different cartridge than the 7.62X54R, or the 7.62X39, or the 7.62X63 (30.06).
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Or the 7.62X51 or the 7.62X25.

7.62 Nato is different from 7.62X51?

 

[Highland Ranger]

In a word . . . . marketing.

 

[Quantrill]

Highland Ranger hits the nail on the head. Every body that produces a "round" wants his name on it regardless of whether it is correct or not.
Some just for vanity, most to sell their product. Quantrill

 

[RWK]

Highland Ranger is absolutely right; it's marketing -- and it always has been. To illustrate, doesn't ".357 Sig" sound far more impressive than "9mm (or .355) xxx" or “10mm magnum†more potent than “10mm�