# Is there a guide to ammo calibers that lay people can read and understand? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107 "2016-01-14T03:38:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![joe.russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@joe.russell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joe.russell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107/21 "2016-01-15T00:38:40Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Hijack: what information on .38-55 are you looking for, or did you find anything? My friend acquired one (forget what, but not Win 94) and is looking for ammo/reloading info; as it’s pretty obsolete it’s IIRC about $2/round. I inherited a 94 from my dad, its gold plated, and has been shot about 6 times. He gave me what was left in the box, so 4 rounds. I dont plan on shooting it much, but I was curious of they even made the round. You’ll b hard pressed to find it cheaper than $2.00/rd. I wouldn’t see it getting much cheaper either. Sorry, not much help, but glad someone else is in demand for the round! ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107/22 "2016-01-15T06:42:44Z")
I first knew about the .380 as a 9mm Kurtz. I was a kid and was reading some fanzine about the guns my heros, Illya Kuryakin and Napoleon Solo, used. In both the .223/NATO 5.56 and the .308/NATO 7.62, the bullets, cases, and probably primers are the same for both the civilian and military versions. The difference is the type of powder and how much. From what I gather looking at M-14/M-1A boards, oddly enough, the .308 is a hotter round than the NATO 7.62. One of the reasons the first M-16s jammed up was that they were designed around the original .223 round and the Army Ordnance Corps started using a different, “hotter” powder. It was designed and built to fire at 860 rpm but the new ammo made it fire at 930 rpm. This and other issues were resolved with the M-16A1/E1, but for clarification, that’s when they started calling the military round the 5.56. Of course, after the US forced the 5.56 on NATO, they said “Well, okay, but we’re going to use a slightly different 5.56 round than you use.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107/23 "2016-01-15T09:17:10Z")
I do believe that the 7.62x51 and .308 have a different headspace at the shoulder. Yes, .308 is supposed to be stronger. I’ve shot.308 out of a 7.62 to no ill effect (military bolt action). The difference between the two means that they are basically equivalent. The 5.56 vs .203 difference is usually considered more significant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107.md?page=1)