Barrel Proofs & Old English Numbers...?

03-19-2002, 03:55 PM

I am a bit stumped and coud use some help.

Some barrels are marked as either "172,28" (meaning 7.65 cal.) or as "118,35" (meaning 9 mm).

These marking are some indication as to how many bullets (of a size caliber) can be made from a pound of lead. I think I have this part correct...

Without knowing "Old English", how do I interpret these numbers ? The "comma" between the numbers is throwing me for a loop. Does "172,28" mean that a little over 172 bullets of 7.65 cal. can be made from one pound of lead ?

Thanks in advance for any help...

03-19-2002, 04:35 PM

"Pete",

If my memory serves me well, The term calibre came from the French Artillery and was the number of times that the bore devided into the barrel length.

This, I believe, was used in setting the range of the weapon.

It is still so used in Naval Terms.(Perhaps in the Pressure ,time, and distance traveled.(Internal Ballistics)

Some where along the line it was mis-directed to mean a measure of bore diameter independent of the barrel length.

As I seem to recall.

ViggoG

Jerry G. · 03-19-2002, 05:54 PM

If memory serves -- shotgun gauges are related to the number of lead balls made with 1 lb. of lead. That is, with 1 lb. of lead, if you make 16 equal size round balls - each resulting ball will fit perfectly in a 16 ga. bore. 12 balls = 12ga., usw.

Jerry

tom · 03-19-2002, 06:03 PM

In German numbering, a comma is used where we would use a decimal point.

Tom

03-19-2002, 03:55 PM	#1
Wm. "Pete" Ebbink Guest Posts: n/a	Barrel Proofs & Old English Numbers...? I am a bit stumped and coud use some help. Some barrels are marked as either "172,28" (meaning 7.65 cal.) or as "118,35" (meaning 9 mm). These marking are some indication as to how many bullets (of a size caliber) can be made from a pound of lead. I think I have this part correct... Without knowing "Old English", how do I interpret these numbers ? The "comma" between the numbers is throwing me for a loop. Does "172,28" mean that a little over 172 bullets of 7.65 cal. can be made from one pound of lead ? Thanks in advance for any help...

03-19-2002, 04:35 PM	#2
Viggo G Dereng Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Barrel Caliber and such "Pete", If my memory serves me well, The term calibre came from the French Artillery and was the number of times that the bore devided into the barrel length. This, I believe, was used in setting the range of the weapon. It is still so used in Naval Terms.(Perhaps in the Pressure ,time, and distance traveled.(Internal Ballistics) Some where along the line it was mis-directed to mean a measure of bore diameter independent of the barrel length. As I seem to recall. ViggoG

03-19-2002, 05:54 PM	#3
Jerry G. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Barrel Proofs & Old English Numbers...? If memory serves -- shotgun gauges are related to the number of lead balls made with 1 lb. of lead. That is, with 1 lb. of lead, if you make 16 equal size round balls - each resulting ball will fit perfectly in a 16 ga. bore. 12 balls = 12ga., usw. Jerry

03-19-2002, 06:03 PM	#4
tom User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 269 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Barrel Proofs & Old English Numbers...? In German numbering, a comma is used where we would use a decimal point. Tom