Topic: 38 Caliber Class bullet

[Bob Shem]

I am posting this for Srini Rathinam from LAPD.

[Axel Manthei]

I think it makes a difference if you live (and think) in a
"metric" or "imperial" world.

In the "metric" world .38 is more a caliber name than a measurement.

Axel
(metric)

[Srini Rathinam]

Can I interpret that most of us who participated in this poll agree that both 9mm caliber class and 38 caliber class are same? In other words, both 9mm caliber class and 38 caliber class represent the same set of cartridges like 380 Auto, 9mm Luger, 38 Super Auto, 38 Special, 357 Magnum among others. If not, I appreciate your views on the definition of 9mm Caliber / 9mm Caliber Class.

Srini
LAPD

[L. M. Kogler]

Maybe I'm going to confuse the issue, but I would regard "38 caliber class bullet" as the pistol and revolver calibers between 0.355" (380 ACP) and 0.363" (9mm Makarov), and "38 caliber bullet" as a bullet with "38" as part of the name.

If I'm talking about the family of calibers in that range, I usually use "9 mm/38 caliber". I'd use "9 mm" or "38 caliber" for specific bullets. I do this primarily for those who may be reading my notes or report who are not familar with ammunition.

[Chris Monturo]

Maybe I'm going to confuse the issue, but I would regard "38 caliber class bullet" as the pistol and revolver calibers between 0.355" (380 ACP) and 0.363" (9mm Makarov), and "38 caliber bullet" as a bullet with "38" as part of the name.

If I'm talking about the family of calibers in that range, I usually use "9 mm/38 caliber". I'd use "9 mm" or "38 caliber" for specific bullets. I do this primarily for those who may be reading my notes or report who are not familar with ammunition.

i agree 100%.

the poll is asked two different ways within the sentence.

[Geoff Bruton]

Maybe I'm going to confuse the issue, but I would regard "38 caliber class bullet" as the pistol and revolver calibers between 0.355" (380 ACP) and 0.363" (9mm Makarov), and "38 caliber bullet" as a bullet with "38" as part of the name.

If I'm talking about the family of calibers in that range, I usually use "9 mm/38 caliber". I'd use "9 mm" or "38 caliber" for specific bullets. I do this primarily for those who may be reading my notes or report who are not familar with ammunition.

I also agree with Lyn.  I would say that the key word here is "class"; the "38 caliber bullet" term would seem to imply that it is from a subset of .38 caliber bullets (that is, one containing "38" in it's name).  I also use the "9/38" designation (or "nominal .38 caliber") if that is all I am able to determine.

Can I interpret that most of us who participated in this poll agree that both 9mm caliber class and 38 caliber class are same? In other words, both 9mm caliber class and 38 caliber class represent the same set of cartridges like 380 Auto, 9mm Luger, 38 Super Auto, 38 Special, 357 Magnum among others. If not, I appreciate your views on the definition of 9mm Caliber / 9mm Caliber Class.

With regards to Srini's post, my feelings are that the term "38 caliber class" would be defined as in the poll.  However, I would interpret the term "9 mm caliber class" as meaning bullets essentially limited to those designed to typically be fired from semi/full auto firearms, i.e. 380 Auto (9x17 mm), 9 mm Luger, 9 mm Makarov, and so on.  (That is, along the same lines as with the .38 caliber bullets discussed above.)  For me, the "9 mm caliber class" is a group contained within the "38 caliber class".  That said, I have not heard the "9 mm caliber class" term before, so these are just my musings 

Warm regards to all,
Geoff.

[Garry Lawrence]

My personal feeling is that when I’m talking about calibre class then I would prefer to say 38 calibre class which would include all of the 9’s. I feel that it is alignment with the FBI GRC search data. However most of those who read my reports do not realize that a 9mm and its sub bullets are included. So that is why I include it with my notes and reports which will say 38/9mm calibre class.

If I say 38 calibre then that would include 357 Magnum and all the other 38’s unless I know based on weight and profile of the bullet that it is a 38 special calibre and not a 357 magnum calibre. The same being said of a 357 Magnum calibre and like wise for a 9mm Luger calibre and or a 380 auto calibre.

[hjeppe]

I would not refer to "38 caliber" as a class, as the term "X caliber class" is most commonly known to firearms aficionados as descriptive of a performance class (ballistic class) and could lead to confusion. I would quote physical attributes and tend to stay away from over generalization. In my view an "educated guess" is a leap of faith and remains just a guess.