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Episode-128- TSP Rewind – Understanding Caliber, Millimeter, Gauges and Ballistics

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Today is an episode of TSP Rewind, commercial free versions of past podcast episodes. Today’s episode was originally Episode-855- Understanding Caliber, Millimeter, Gauges and Ballistics and was originally published on March 8th, 2012.

The following are the original show notes from that episode..

When I stated I wanted to do some more shows on firearms topics I was flooded with emails by new shooters that all basically said some version of this…

“Jack can you do a very basics style show that explains what all these calibers and rounds mean. Sometimes when you are talking about a firearms subject I am fine then you start saying something like the 38 special is 35 caliber and I just don’t get it. Or that a 40 S&W is equivalent to a 10mm in a carbine. None of this makes sense, please help.”

The 30-06 is the Father and Grandfather of Many Rounds

The 30-06 is the Father and Grandfather of Many Rounds

Often I feel that those of us who grew up reading gun magazines and shooting our entire lives forget how long it took for us to actually “know what we know”. My hope today is to condense this stuff into an hour long show in a way that will make sense to newbie.

I also hope that those of you who know this stuff will gain a better understanding of how to explain it to others. Just because you know something doesn’t mean you know how to teach it.

One thing I can promise you is that even if you are brand new to shooting and ballistics after today you will likely want to pull your hair out the next time you hear some idiot behind the counter at a sporting goods store giving out advice.

Join me today as we discuss…

  • Cartridge vs. case vs. bullets
  • What happens when you pull the trigger
  • Rim fire vs. center fire
  • What is a caliber
  • What is the difference between millimeters and calibers
  • What is a gauge
  • What are some common caliber to millimeter equivalencies
  • What actually does the killing when it comes to a gun shot wound
  • Power mythology – real numbers from real shootings
  • What is “sectional density”
  • What is “ballistic coefficient”
  • How “new” rounds usually come into existent
  • The effects of longer barrels on handgun rounds
  • Choosing a round is not as hard as people try to make it

 

Resources for Today’s Show

 

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

 

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David
David
5 years ago

Hey Jack, thanks a ton for this rewind because as a young guy trying to get into guns for self defense and hunting it’s a little hard when my circles would probably look down on me if I started asking questions.
 
You mentioned you were planning on doing a reloading episode, if you could mention what you think about swaged bullets vs cast I’d be appreciative. Being a physics nerd I think I would have been with you on the ballistics charts if my dad had been more into hunting and shooting. The advantages to the swaging as I understand from forums  are a much higher quality bullet, the ability to make jacketed rounds at home using copper flashing or spent brass, the ability to make hollow point or boat tail without a lathe, and it requires no electricity or heat source. The main disadvantage I see are much higher setup cost, around 600-1000 for the press and another 500-1000 per caliber plus the reloading dies themselves. That being said I can potentially stomach a cost like that if I keep the number of calibers low and as far as I can tell these things never wear out if made correctly. Plus I think liberals will more easily get assault weapon ammo bans passed versus assault weapon bans, a personal concern of late. Its something I’ve been meaning to ask you or JR about but have been lazy and keep forgetting. 
 
The cast boolits forum has a ton of info regarding this and an open source swage press if you can weld, I was listening VERY intently to your semi recent interview on welding for this reason because some people report it takes the price down into the 2-300 range for the press.
 
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?76514-Lets-make-a-Swage-press
 
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?153325-Making-308-Swaged-bullets

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