Jump to content

Gauge (firearms)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gauge
From left to right; a .45 ACP cartridge, a .410 bore shotshell, a 20-gauge shotshell, and a 12-gauge shotshell
TypeShotgun
Place of originVarious

The gauge (in American English or more commonly referred to as bore in British English) of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the inner diameter (bore diameter) and other necessary parameter to define in general a smoothbore barrel (in difference of caliber what define a barrel with rifling and there cartridge).

Gauge of a Shotgun is defined as a list include all necessary data to define a functional Barrel. For example the Dimension of the Chamber, the Shotgun bore Dimension and also the valid Proof Load and Commercial Ammunition as defined in by the C.I.P.

for Greater Britain in the APPENDIX I of the:

RULES, REGULATIONS AND SCALES
APPLICABLE TO THE
PROOF OF SMALL ARMS
2006[1]

Of The London Proof House and The Birmingham Proof House, as referred in the Gun Barrel Proof Act 1978, Paragraph 6. [2]

For USA exist only a quasi standard defined in SAAMI Z299.2 – 2019

List of Gauge

gauge diameter of bore in mm
10 20.0
19.9
19.8
19.7
19.6
19.5
19.4
19.3
12 18.9
18.8
18.7
18.6
18.5
18.4
18.3
18.2
16 17.3
17.2
17.1
17.0
16.9
16.8
20 16.2
16.1
16.0
15.8
15.7
15.6
.410 10.7
10.6
10.5
10.4
10.3
10.2
APPENDIX I TABLE 1B RULES OF PROOF SHOTGUN BORE DIMENSIONS[3]

Historical Development

[edit]

The concept of using a material property to define a bore diameter was used before the term gauge, in the end of the 16th century.[4]

The term gauge in connection of firearms was first used in book A light to the art of gunnery (1677).[5]

Gauge was determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound, e.g., a one-twelfth pound lead ball fits a 12-gauge bore. Therefore with a 12-gauge, it would take 12 balls of lead of the same size as the 12 gauge shotgun's inner bore diameter to weigh 1 pound (454 grams).[6] The term is related to the measurement of cannons, which were also measured by the weight of their iron round shot; an eight-pounder would fire an 8 lb (3.6 kg) ball. Therefore, a 12 gauge is larger than a 16 gauge.

Due to problems to define an pound and to get pure lead the Gun Barrel Proof Act 1855 defined a Gauge as a list of defined Values.

Today Gauge is commonly used today in reference to shotguns, though historically it was first used in muzzle-loading long guns such as muskets, then later on in breech-loading long guns including single-shot and double rifles, which were made in sizes up to 2 bore during their heyday in the mid to late 19th century, being originally loaded as black powder cartridges. These very large and heavy rifles, called "elephant guns", were intended for use primarily in regions of Africa and Asia for hunting large dangerous game animals.

Gauge is commonly abbreviated as "ga.", "ga", or "G".

Bore sizing

[edit]

Since shotguns were not originally intended to fire solid projectiles, but rather a compressible mass of shot, the actual diameter of the bore can vary. The fact that most shotgun bores are not cylindrical also causes deviations from the ideal bore diameter.

The chamber of the gun is larger, to accommodate the thickness of the shotshell walls, and a "forcing cone" in front of the chamber reduces the diameter down to the bore diameter. The forcing cone can be as short as a fraction of an inch, or as long as a few inches on some firearms. At the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can constrict the bore even further, so measuring the bore diameter of a shotgun is not a simple process, as it must be done away from either end.

Shotgun bores are commonly "overbored" or "backbored", meaning that most of the bore (from the forcing cone to the choke) is slightly larger than the value given by the formula. This is claimed to reduce felt recoil and improve patterning. The recoil reduction is due to the larger bore producing a slower acceleration of the shot, and the patterning improvements are due to the larger muzzle diameter for the same choke constriction, which results in less shot deformation. A 12-gauge shotgun, nominally 18.5 mm (0.73 in), can range from a tight 18 mm (0.71 in) to an extreme overbore of 20 mm (0.79 in). Some also claim an increased velocity with the overbored barrels, up to 15 m/s (49 ft/s), which is due to the larger swept volume of the overbored barrel. Once only found in expensive custom shotguns, overbored barrels are now becoming common in mass-marketed guns. Aftermarket backboring is also commonly done to reduce the weight of the barrel and move the center of mass backward for a better balance. Factory overbored barrels generally are made with a larger outside diameter, and will not have this reduction in weight—though the factory barrels will be tougher, since they have a normal barrel wall thickness.

Firing slugs from overbored barrels can result in very inconsistent accuracy, as the slug may be incapable of obturating to fill the oversized bore.

Gauges in use

[edit]
See also: Shotgun § Gauge
left-to-right: .410 bore, 28 gauge, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge shotgun shells

The six most common shotgun gauges, in descending order of size, are the 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, and .410 bore.[7] By far the most popular is the 12 gauge,[7] particularly in the United States.[8] The 20-gauge shotgun is the next most popular size, being favored by shooters uncomfortable with the weight and recoil of a 12-gauge gun, and is popular for upland game hunting. The next most popular sizes are the .410 bore and the 28 gauge. The least popular sizes are the 10 gauge and the 16 gauge; while far less common than the other four gauges, they are still commercially available.[citation needed][9]

Shotguns and shells exceeding 10 gauge, such as the 8 gauge, 6 gauge, 4 gauge, and 2 gauge are historically important in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in mainland Europe. Today, they are rarely manufactured. These shells are usually black powder paper or brass cartridges, as opposed to modern smokeless powder plastic or wax cartridges.

The 18, 15, 11, 6, 3, and 2 gauge shells are the rarest of all;[10] owners of these types of rare shotguns will usually have their ammunition custom loaded by a specialist in rare and custom bores. The 14 gauge has not been loaded in the United States since the early 20th century, although the 2+9⁄16-inch (65 mm) hull is still made in France.[10] The very small 24 and 32 gauges are still produced and used in some European and South American countries. Punt guns, which use very large shells, are rarely encountered.

Garden gun calibers: 9mm Flobert shot, 9mm Flobert shot, .22 Long Rifle shot, .22 Long Rifle, .22 Long Rifle shot, .22 CB Short, and 9mm Flobert BB cap

Also seen in limited numbers are smoothbore firearms in calibers smaller than .360 such as .22 Long Rifle (UK No. 1 bore) and 9mm Flobert rimfire (UK No. 3 bore), designed for short-range pest control and garden guns. The No. 2 bore (7 mm) has long been obsolete. All three of these rimfires are available in shot and BB-cap.[11][12]

Gauge and shot type

[edit]
A 10-gauge (3+1⁄2-inch (89 mm)) shotgun shell shown next to a United States quarter

The 10 gauge narrowly escaped obsolescence when steel and other nontoxic shot became required for waterfowl hunting, since the larger shell could hold the much larg[1]er sizes of low-density steel shot needed to reach the ranges necessary for waterfowl hunting. The move to s[1]teel shot reduced the use of 16 and 20 gauges for waterfowl hunting, and the shorter, 2+3⁄4-inch (70 mm), 12-gauge shells as well. However, the 3+1⁄2-inch (89 mm) 12-gauge shell, with its higher SAAMI pressure rating of 14,000 psi (97 MPa) compared to standard 2+3⁄4-inch (70 mm) and 3-inch (76 mm) 12-gauge shells with their lower pressure rating of 11,500 psi (79 MPa), began to approach the performance of the 3+1⁄2-inch (89 mm) 10-gauge shells with a pressure rating of 11,000 psi (76 MPa).[13] Newer nontoxic shots, such as bismuth or tungsten-nickel-iron alloys, and even tungsten-polymer blends, regain much or all of the performance loss, but are much more expensive than steel or lead shot.[14] However, laboratory research indicates that tungsten alloys can actually be quite toxic internally.[15]

Bore sizes used in the United Kingdom

[edit]

Legend: left side is the bore size, right side is the case length

  • 2 bore: 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm)
  • 4 bore: 3+1⁄4, 4 in (83, 102 mm)
  • 6 bore
  • 8 bore: 3, 3+1⁄4, 3+3⁄4, 4 in (76, 83, 95, 102 mm)
  • 10 bore: 2+9⁄16, 2+5⁄8, 2+7⁄8, 3, 3+1⁄4, 3+1⁄2 in (65, 67, 73, 76, 83, 89 mm)
  • 12 bore: 1+3⁄4, 2, 2+1⁄4, 2+1⁄2, 2+3⁄4, 3, 3+1⁄2 in (44, 51, 57, 64, 70, 76, 89 mm)
  • 14 bore: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm)
  • 16 bore: 2+1⁄2, 2+9⁄16, 2+5⁄8, 2+3⁄4, 3 in (64, 65, 67, 70, 76 mm)
  • 20 bore: 2+1⁄2, 2+3⁄4, 3, 3+1⁄2 in (64, 70, 76, 89 mm)
  • 24 bore: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm)
  • 28 bore: 2+1⁄2, 2+3⁄4, 3 in (64, 70, 76 mm)
  • 32 bore: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm)
  • .410 bore: 2, 2+1⁄2, 3 in (51, 64, 76 mm)
  • .360 bore: 1+3⁄4 in (44 mm)
  • 9 mm (No. 3 bore) short rimfire, 9 mm (No. 3 bore) long rimfire
  • 7 mm (No. 2 bore) rimfire
  • 6 mm (No. 1 bore) short rimfire, 6 mm (No. 1 bore) long rimfire

Conversion guide

[edit]
Portrait of Frederick Courteney Selous with his 4 bore single-shot Boer rifle and African hunting regalia, 1876

The table below lists various gauge sizes with weights. The bores marked * are found in punt guns, obsolete, or rare weapons only. However, 4 gauge was sometimes found used in blunderbuss guns made for coach defense and protection against piracy. The .410 and 23 mm are exceptions; they are actual bore sizes, not gauges. If the .410 bore and 23 mm diameters were measured using more traditional means, they would be equivalent to 67.62 gauge (.410 bore) and 6.278 gauge (23 mm), respectively.

Gauge
(bore)		 Diameter Weight of unalloyed (pure) lead ball
(mm) (in) grams ounces grains
AA* 101.60 4.000 6,225.52 219.6 96,080
A⁠1/2⁠* 76.20 3.000 2,626.39 92.64 40,530
0.25* 67.34 2.651 1,814.36 64.000 28,000
0.5* 53.45 2.103 907.18 32.000 14,000
A* 50.80 2.000 778.19 27.45 12,010
0.75* 46.70 1.838 604.80 21.336 9,328
1* 42.42 1.669 453.59 16.000 7,000
B⁠1/2⁠* 38.10 1.500 328.3 11.58 5,066
1.5* 37.05 1.459 302.39 10.667 4,667
2* 33.67 1.326 226.80 8.000 3,500
3* 29.41 1.158 151.20 5.333 2,333
4* 26.72 1.052 113.40 4.000 1,750
B* 25.40 1.000 97.27 3.43 1,501
5* 24.80 0.976 90.72 3.200 1,400
6* 23.35 0.919 75.60 2.667 1,166
6.278* 23.00 0.906 72.26 2.549 1,114
7* 22.18 0.873 64.80 2.286 1,000
8* 21.21 0.835 56.70 2.000 875
9* 20.39 0.803 50.40 1.778 778
10 19.69 0.775 45.36 1.600 700
11* 19.07 0.751 41.24 1.454 636
12 18.53 0.729 37.80 1.333 583
13* 18.04 0.710 34.89 1.231 538
14* 17.60 0.693 32.40 1.143 500
15* 17.21 0.677 30.24 1.067 467
16 16.83 0.663 28.35 1.000 438
17* 16.50 0.650 26.68 0.941 412
18* 16.19 0.637 25.20 0.889 389
20 15.63 0.615 22.68 0.800 350
22* 15.13 0.596 20.62 0.728 319
24 14.70 0.579 18.90 0.667 292
26* 14.31 0.564 17.44 0.615 269
28 13.97 0.550 16.20 0.571 250
32 13.36 0.526 14.17 0.500 219
36* 12.85 0.506 12.59 0.444 194
40* 12.40 0.488 11.34 0.400 175
67.62 10.41 0.410 6.71 0.237 104

Note: Use of this table for estimating bullet masses for historical large-bore rifles is limited, as this table assumes the use of round ball, rather than conical bullets; for example, a typical 4-bore rifle from circa 1880 used a 2,000-grain (4.57 oz; 129.60 g) bullet, or sometimes slightly heavier, rather than using a 4-ounce (110 g) round lead ball. (Round balls lose velocity faster than conical bullets and have much steeper ballistic trajectories beyond about 75 yards or 69 metres) In contrast, a 4-bore express rifle often used a 1,500-grain (3.43 oz; 97.20 g) bullet wrapped in paper to keep lead buildup to a minimum in the barrel. In either case, assuming a 4-ounce (110 g) mass for a 4-bore rifle bullet from this table would be inaccurate, although indicative.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "RULES, REGULATIONS AND SCALES". 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Gun Barrel Proof Act 1978". 1978.
  3. ^ "APPENDIX I RULES OF PROOF SHOTGUN BORE DIMENSIONS TABLE 1B". 2006.
  4. ^ van Meteren, Emanuel (1599). Belgische ofte Nederlantsche historie, van onsen tijden [A Generall Historie of the Netherlands: with the genealogie and memorable acts of the Earls of Holland, Zeeland, and West-Friseland, from Thierry of Aquitaine the first Earle, successively unto Philip the Third, King of Spain] (in Dutch). Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Nationale bibliotheek van Nederland: Vennecool, Jacob Conelissz. p. 843.
  5. ^ Binngin, Thomas (1677). A light to the art of gunnery. Binngin Thomas. p. 175.
  6. ^ Barnes, Frank C.; Woodard, W. Todd (2016). Cartridges of the world : a complete and illustrated reference for more than 1500 cartridges (15th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 629. ISBN 978-1440246425. OCLC 934886116.
  7. ^ a b Krause, Angel. "What Shotgun Gauge Should I Use for Hunting?". Outly. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  8. ^ Carter, Greg Lee (2002). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.; Oxford: ABC-CLIO. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-57607-268-4.
  9. ^ Wintersteen, K. (2014, December 9). The decline of 10- & 16-gauge shotguns. Firearms News. https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/decline-10-16-gauge-shotguns/78028
  10. ^ a b Frank C. Barnes (2009). Layne Simpson (ed.). Cartridges of the World (12th ed.).
  11. ^ Clair Rees (March 2000). "Marlin's 'Garden Gun'—Model 25MG". Guns Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  12. ^ Frank C. Barnes (2003). Stan Skinner (ed.). Cartridges of the World (10th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87349-605-1.
  13. ^ Tom Roster is an independent ballistics consultant and author specializing in the design and testing of shotshell loads for U.S. shotshell and reloading components manufacturers. He is a court-recognized shotshell/shotgun expert witness. Tom was formerly, T. R. (2014, January 1). Important information about shotshell pressures. Shotgun Life. https://www.shotgunlife.com/shotguns/tom-roster/important-information-about-shotshell-pressures.html
  14. ^ Randy Wakeman (2007). "Why the 10 Gauge Shotgun Is Obsolete". chuckhawks.com. Archived from the original on 2006-05-13.
  15. ^ John Kalinich; et al. (2005). "Embedded weapons-grade tungsten alloy shrapnel rapidly induces metastatic high-grade rhabdomyosarcomas in F344 rats". Environmental Health Perspectives. 113 (6): 729–34. Bibcode:2005EnvHP.113..729K. doi:10.1289/ehp.7791. PMC 1257598. PMID 15929896.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gauge_(firearms)&oldid=1265530688"