Author Topic: Who determines what calibers fit "smal (Read 934 times)

longwinters · « **on:** January 06, 2004, 11:12:21 AM »

Who (or more specifically what) determines what calibers fit in the small, medium or large bore catagories. Now don't get me wrong, as I have no complaints. Just wondering how one decides. It really can't be based on recoil or powder capacity. Not even bullet size. For myself I would think 7mm would be tops for medium bore . . . but just curious. As more and more big bangers get popular do the catagories shift?

long

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2004, 12:03:40 PM »

long,

Here at Graybeard's it has been decided that the Small Bore forum would cover calibers from as small as they make to .257. The Medium Bore forum covers 6.5mm(.264) to 9.3mm(.366). The Big Bore forum covers .375 up to as big as you want to go caliber. Basically it is decided by the caliber not the cartridge. Graybeard himself is the one who will decide if the calibers would change in the different forums but I don't think a cartridge's popularity will have anything to do with his decision. Lawdog

unspellable · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2004, 02:19:17 AM »

This is one of those questions that by the nature of things has an arbitrary answer. I myself consider the 9.3x74R to be a big bore but the 9.3x72R to be a medium bore. So you can't win this argument even when you are arguing with yourself.

longwinters · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2004, 12:21:01 PM »

Well, like I said, I have no complaints. It is just interesting how the lines have been drawn. Plus there are sooooo many calibers that I dont know how anyone can keep track of them all :eek:

long

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2004, 04:15:22 PM »

Around here I make those kinda decisions. First we had only a big bore forum and we defined big bore in those days as starting at .375" but I also told folks that it was OK to discuss the .35s cuz I like them and while we wouldn't call it a big bore it was OK to discuss it on the big bore forum.

Then someone asked me to set up a small bore forum so I did. There was a bit of discussion on where to draw the line and folks thought either at .257" or 6.5mm. Personally I'd have drawn it smaller still but that's what folks wanted so I said OK.

Then along comes a request to add a medium bore forum and I agreed. I arbitrarily tossed the 6.5mm out of the small bore class and into this new one. I'd really like to toss the .25s here too but didn't. I know of no hard and fast way to make such a determination. But since we have three forums for small, medium and large I figured we needed some guidelines as to what we talk about where. So ya might say I reached up and grabbed them from thin air.

Quote

For myself I would think 7mm would be tops for medium bore . . . but just curious. As more and more big bangers get popular do the catagories shift?

Nope that's not likely. We say small, medium and large BORE. So to me the ONLY consideration is bore diameter. Now I have one heck of a time thinking of the .25-06 and .257 Whby. as small bores personally but such is life. I see no need to change what's in the categories. I think If I changed it tho I'd move up the .25s and maybe even .24s to medium. Heck to be honest I'd divide it into four categories. the .22s down in one, the .24s to .28s in another, the .30s to .375 in yet another and all over that in big bore. That's kinda how I personally view it.

GB

onesonek · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2004, 04:46:03 PM »

I'm just happy to see a medium bore forum, as it's the most widely used group on this continent. Although a 4 way split is more traditional, I have no problem with the way it is set up. While I've always considered .264 caliber a small bore. It doesn't bother me to call it a medium bore. After all, the 6.5x55 has taken as many or more moose, than the 30-06 has taken elk. Thanks again GB, for MB forum :grin:

longwinters · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2004, 11:48:14 AM »

No problem for me. Just gives me another forum to ck everyday :grin:

long

Mauser · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2004, 03:09:31 PM »

I know I'm very late in on this thread but I had to say that this classification makes much more sense to me than the more traditional small-bore threshold of .308 and down. I suspect that classification came from the military "small arms fire" term which, I believe, described fire from shoulder fired rifles of 8mm and 30 caliber on down. It seems to me that rifles from .264 to .358 (I think 9.3 is slightly beyond that) are used on pretty similar game. Common sense and mathematics inform that the .308 has more in common with .338 than it does with .243.

I think I had this conversation on Marlin Talk once and argued that .277 should be the low end of "medium bores" but .264 works for me.