Drives me nuts... 32ACP,32mag... not really 32's. Why?

[mattw]

Why would the 32ACP, 32H&R and several other cartridges be called a 32? The 32-40 uses a bullet in the range of .320-322, other old rounds us these diameters as well and some are larger yet, but are still 32's. But, others such as the 32 short, 32 long, 32ACP and 32 H&R use .313'ish diameter bullets.

So, did 31ACP, 31H&R magnum just sound bad or not roll off well?

I assume there is a historic reason for all of this strange naming, but I am not aware of it. Maybe someone here is...

Matt

[Outpost75]

The early revolver cartridges used a heeled bullet with enlarged front band, being "outside" lubricated, the caliber designation following the black powder naming convention. That is why the .38 Special is called a ".38" because that is the chamber diameter.

[RED BEAR]

Same thing with the 38 and 44 the heeled bullets used to be 38 and 44 .

[mattw]

Thanks guys! That is something that has bugged me for years. Yes, the 38 and 44 dimensions had also bugged me for years.

Thanks for helping my brain out!

Matt

[reddog81]

I'm sure you could come up with dozens of examples if you tried. And manufacturers are still coming up with naming conventions that don't make sense - see .460 S&W and .327 Federal Magnum. I'm pretty sure the marketing department just choose whatever sounds the best and is close enough.

[L Erie Caster]

If a 357mag is the diameter of the bullet then why is the 44mag not called a 429mag? I guess it doesn’t sound as powerful, but if so then why is the 357mag not called a 38mag?

[Texas by God]

The 32, 38, and 44 WCF- aren't.

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[tazman]

If a 357mag is the diameter of the bullet then why is the 44mag not called a 429mag? I guess it doesn’t sound as powerful, but if so then why is the 357mag not called a 38mag?

This is the English language. It isn't required to make sense or even sound right. It just is.

[Chainsaw.]

There are more cartridge names that are misleading like this than there are whos labels are on point. Same with motorcycles. Who want to ride a harley 1193 when you can ride a 1200??

[sureYnot]

They seem to choose between bore, groove, and cartridge diameter. I think they look at all three, compare metric and standard measurements, and then pick whichever one they think sounds the coolest.

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[Jedman]

There are a lot of names that don't follow any rules. A 260 Rem uses a .264 bullet like the 264 Win Mag does but a 270 Win uses a .277 bullet ??? I have 3 rifles that are 8 mm but the bullets range from .318 to .330 and are all called 8 mm. There are many more.

Jedman

[gwpercle]

There is no rhyme or reason for the naming... no one accepted method.
I think marketing has/had a lot to do with it.
357 magnum (.357) and 41 magnum (.410) are two that make some sense .

44 special and 44 magnum...they were never 44's , 429 or 43 at best !

Get a copy of Cartridges of the World and you can amuse yourself for hours reading about the strange names some rounds have. The metric system Europe has is a more logical way of naming rounds but even they have some odd balls .
Gary

[Green Frog]

There is no rhyme or reason for the naming... no one accepted method.
I think marketing has/had a lot to do with it.
357 magnum (.357) and 41 magnum (.410) are two that make some sense .

44 special and 44 magnum...they were never 44's , 429 or 43 at best !

Get a copy of Cartridges of the World and you can amuse yourself for hours reading about the strange names some rounds have. The metric system Europe has is a more logical way of naming rounds but even they have some odd balls .
Gary

^^^ What he said! ^^^

My all time favorites are the old 38-40 which should be called a "40-40" by the actual bullet measurements, and the modern 327 Fed Mag that is actually a .313 Magnum. I guess the bean counters thought that didn't sound flashy enough and that the 327 brought images of the first magnum, the 357. Oddly, the 357 actually measures close to that diameter but came from lengthening the 38 Special case, while the 327 FM came from continuing stretching the length of the old 32 S&W and S&W Long. Are we all good and confused yet? :veryconfu

Froggie

[Bigslug]

If a 357mag is the diameter of the bullet then why is the 44mag not called a 429mag? I guess it doesn’t sound as powerful, but if so then why is the 357mag not called a 38mag?

Yes, but 426 inspires all kinds of awe when you apply it to a Chrysler V8. . .though there was that Dodge 440 Magnum being made around that time. . .

239323

How's this for confusing? I've got a BSA that started life as a .310 Cadet. The groove diameter in the barrel is about .3185" and it's using a .320" diameter bullet. The original chamber was reamed out to use .32-20 Winchester brass (nominally a .314" bullet), and that gets blown out to the much less tapered version shown above.

So, I've always wondered what to call this particular combination - the .32-20 Actual (it actually IS a .32), or the .32-20KS (Kinda Sorta)?

[T_McD]

They seem to choose between bore, groove, and cartridge diameter. I think they look at all three, compare metric and standard measurements, and then pick whichever one they think sounds the coolest.

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Yep or just bastardize an existing caliber. Who the hell thought up 45 GAP?

[Burnt Fingers]

Yep or just bastardize an existing caliber. Who the hell thought up 45 GAP?

Gaston Glock.