Why are .38 .44 and .45 not they true caliber?

[bluez]

Why are there so many cartridges like the .38, 44, and 45 colt, not the true caliber of the bullet?
They are like .357, .429 and .480

[shot1]

Because way back when a .357 special or a .429 special or a .454 Colt (original bullet diameter)  did not sound good I guess. They did not sing. "Here lies Henry Moore shot in the head with a .429, no Moore lies." See it does not sing. 

[bluez]

I think i have heard in the case of the .38 that ".38" was referring to the neck dia.

[kevinsmith5]

Some are named for neck diameter, some are named for groove diameter instead of bore, some are named so a company could make their new cartridge stand out from their competitors.

[243dave]

The 45colt is a true .45 caliber, .452 for most bullets.

[bluez]

And most .30 cal bullets are 308" ?

[Reed1911]

As stated the .38 Special and .38 S&W were named for the exterior brass at the mouth, an old hold over from when centerfire rounds were heeled bullets (Like the .41 Long). The same goes for the .44 caliber and the .32 series (.32 ACP, .32 S&W, .32 Long, and H&R and .327 Fed). Now some, like the .327 Fed are a mix of the old designation plus a nominal change to make the name noticeable. Some are named just to be noticed like the .218 Bee using a .224" bullet and the .454 Casull using a .452" bullet. I'm pretty sure the .454 was a reference to the 454 in3 engine for those of us old enough to be motorheads (but I don't know that for sure).

[guzzijohn]

Kind of the same thing with motorcycle engines. They are almost never a true 500cc, 1,000cc, etc.
GuzziJohn

[McDerry]

Why are there so many cartridges like the .38, 44, and 45 colt, not the true caliber of the bullet?
They are like .357, .429 and .480

The .38 was .380 but was heeled same as the .44 like a 22lr bullet.  Cases got longer and the bullets are no longer heeled.  The .44 Russian started the change from heeled to internally lubed bullets.

The .45 is a .45 not a .480.