Why cant a gun shoot multiple calibers?

[Specop 007]

Dimensions. It would be like putting a PCI card in the AGP slot.

Different calibers have different case widths, different case lengths, different bullet widths and lengths as well.

Sometimes you can get other calibers to chamber, if your using a smaller caliber then the intended caliber (Or a close match). This is not recommended though. Then theres the pressure issue as well.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Even by ATOT standards that question is remarkably stupid.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: dug777
:shakes head;

Oh man, even dug, from the country that hates firearms, knows the OP is an idiot!


Edit: Way back when my dad was in the Navy bootcamp, they were trained to shoot using .45's with .22 conversion kits. New barrels and some other stuff designed to make the .45 frame fire .22 rounds. After showing proficiency with the .22, they then had to convert back to .45 and pass the tests with that.

 

[biggestmuff]

wow

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: VanTheMan

Originally posted by: shortylickens
A 38 special will usually shoot a 357 magnum.

A non-automatic rifle chambered for 22 magnum will usually shoot anything below that (22 long rifle, 22 long, 22 short).

A 22 Hornet can not.
Its a center fire.


.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.

Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

As for the above idea of a single gun that can have parts changed out and use either 5.56 or 7.62: That would be a real pain in the butt, especially in the field. Its fine for a collectors or hunters weapon, but certainly not for soldiers out in the field.

Would actually be easier just to carry two guns.

Having said that, I have seen places like Les Baur and Bushmaster come out with AR15's in both calibers, but they are seperate guns with seperate parts.

While a gun designed for the .38 Special can fire a .357 Magnum round, you would NOT want to do this under normal circumstances. If you have a pistol designed for .357 Magnum, feel free to shoot .38 Special all you want. The reason is that a .357 (being a Magnum cartridge) produces a much higher pressure than a .38 Special and your cylinder could deform, crack or even explode.

Not to mention that the overall length of a .357 round is longer than a .38 round, so most .357 loads will not even fit in a .38 special cylinder. You would have to find a load that has the same OAL of a .38 or handload the .357 to try that mistake.

 

[Mikey]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I can't even begin on this one. This place really amazes me sometimes.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.

Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

How has no one mentioned this?

 

[shortylickens]

I should have mentioned that Beretta makes a 22 kit for its standard 9mm. Just replace the barrel and action and magazine. Its pretty darn expensive, but supposedly easy to use.

And SORRY about the mix up.
I meant to say put a 38 into a 357 magnum.

As for Nebor: I have no idea what you are asking.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
wow

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: shortylickens
.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.

Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

How has no one mentioned this?

:laugh:

Didnt even read most of the replies, but that is rather amusing.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: shortylickens
.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.

Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

How has no one mentioned this?

:laugh:

Didnt even read most of the replies, but that is rather amusing.

:laugh:

I did not catch that either.

 

[DivideBYZero]

It will only work if you are running backwards on a conveyor belt and ordering bulk beef online (>10lbs).

 

[Appledrop]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
It will only work if you are running backwards on a conveyor belt and ordering bulk beef online (>10lbs).

11 lbs still isnt bulk
and maybe it could work if the barrel had some kinda clamp-action narrowing/widenng of the barrel hmmmm

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: QuaziK

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
It will only work if you are running backwards on a conveyor belt and ordering bulk beef online (>10lbs).

11 lbs still isnt bulk
and maybe it could work if the barrel had some kinda clamp-action narrowing/widenng of the barrel hmmmm

11 pounds isn't bulk for beef, but it is bulk for gummi bears.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: shortylickens
.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.
Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

How has no one mentioned this?

:laugh:
Didnt even read most of the replies, but that is rather amusing.

:laugh:
I did not catch that either.

What did you not catch?

 

[skyking]

.223 IS nato 5.56, shorty. There is no difference in primer or case.

 

[shortylickens]

WRONG!!!!! They are NOT exactly the same round.

You go find an M-16 made just for regular 5.56's.

Put a standard load hunting .223 round in it and it wont always have the blow back power to properly load up the next round.

Doing the reverse is outright dangerous.

I was going to post a bunch of links and realized there were way too many.
Will post my google results instead.

http://www.google.com/search?h...een+nato+5.56+and+.223

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: shortylickens
.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.
Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

How has no one mentioned this?

:laugh:
Didnt even read most of the replies, but that is rather amusing.

:laugh:
I did not catch that either.

What did you not catch?

I was referring and laughing at the .308 win mag comment - no such cartridge.

There is a .308 winchester, however.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: shortylickens
.223 can sometimes be mixed with 5.56mm rounds. The primer is a little different but some guns have been designed to handle both.
Same for 308 winmag and 7.62mm.

How has no one mentioned this?

:laugh:
Didnt even read most of the replies, but that is rather amusing.

:laugh:
I did not catch that either.

What did you not catch?

There is no such round as a "308 winmag" AFAIK.
I assume you were referring to .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO.

It is generally an unwise idea to shoot .308 Winchester in military guns that take 7.62 NATO since the NATO pressure spec is lower than the commercial stuff.

 

[shortylickens]

http://www.tcarms.com/media/pr...php?Display=003_Encore

Top center.

Also please see:
http://www.google.com/search?h...when+they+are+wrong%3F

 

[Coolone]

I can only imagine that it wouldn't be good for the rifleing (sp?) at all.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
http://www.tcarms.com/media/pr...php?Display=003_Encore

Top center.

Also please see:
http://www.google.com/search?h...when+they+are+wrong%3F

Let's see, my copy of "Cartridges of the World" has absolutely no mention of your phantom cartridge. A typo on a ***** firearm manufacturer's webpage has no relevance to anything.
It is you who are wrong.

Too bad I have forgotten more about firearms then you will ever know.

 

[uli2000]

How about a .45 colt/.410 shotgun in the same pistol! Saw this in American Rifleman

http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-Judge.htm

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: uli2000
How about a .45 colt/.410 shotgun in the same pistol! Saw this in American Rifleman

http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-Judge.htm

They have those for sale around here. It is an awesome loophole, because technically they are only a .45ACP handgun. If they were not considered to just be a centerfire handgun, they would be a short-barrelled shotgun and therefore regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934.

The fact that they just -happen- to also shoot .410 is just a bonus, legally that is. I love loopholes like that.

 

[pradeep1]

A gun can shoot multiple calibers if it uses an interchangeable barrel system. Each cartridge operates are different pressures and also different sizes. You need a proper fit to ensure the gas pressure from the burning propellant is not wasted.

Thompson Center Arms makes nice interchangeable barrel models:

www.tcarms.com