Basic FAQ starting point

F

FScott

New member
I'm trying to learn a little more about rifles and the dizzying array of calibers is somewhat (OK, a lot) confusing.

Anyone know of a good basic FAQ source that gives a general overview of the various actions (bolt, semi auto) and ammo types?
 
A good idea might be to purchase a copy of the Gun Digest. You can get a lot of general information and some good articles. The latest is the 2002 edition, but any recent edition will do fine for your purposes.

Jim
 
Here's Dave R's primer. If you were an analytical-type guy, you could plot all calibers on a 3-axis grid.

On the "front" axis, you have "big & slow" at one end of the spectrum, and at the other end you have "small and fast". The third axis is either energy or case volume (how much powder will it hold). That axis also related to level of recoil, and price.

Generally speaking, what you want to shoot at, and how far away you want to shoot it, will give you a short list of calibers to pick from.

You want to shoot small things up close? .22lr. Want to shoot small things far away? .223, .22-250 and things of that ilk. (Shooting paper counts as a small thing).

Want to shoot big things up close? .45-70 and things of that ilk.

Want to shoot bigger things far away? .416 Rigby, .338 Lapua, .50 BMG. ($$$$)

Sitting right in the middle of that 3-D matrix, and best overall compromise, is .308 or .30-06 (there will be lots of disagreement on this.)
 
A reloading manual will give you a good idea of where each caliber/round sits energy and velocity wise. Most of that info is easy enough to find on the web as well.

That doesn't give the whole story of course, but its a starting point.
 
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