what gauge means

[Whitebear]

The interior diameter of a shotgun barrel as determined by the number of lead balls of a size exactly fitting the barrel that are required to make one pound. Often used in combination: a 12-gauge shotgun.
:cannon:

[Old Judge Creek]

Whitebear,
You are correct; however, your wording gives a slightly incorrect perspective: it's not how many bore sized balls are "required" to make a pound of lead, but rather, how many bore sized balls can be cast from a pound of lead.

The measurement derived hundreds of years ago in regards to smooth-bore muskets. You bought a pound of lead knowing you could cast "x" balls from that pound.

Yes, it's a bit picayunish, but important distinction.

[Ray P]

I've always linked the smoothbore shotgun "gauge" to old smoothbore artillery; both are measured in volumes of lead by weight. A "one-gauge" punt gun would also a "one-pounder" cannon. It takes 8 8-gauge balls to equal a pound of lead, and it takes 8 pounds of lead to make one ball for an 8-pounder cannon.

I guess that wasn't until the advent of rifling that caliber (decimal inch diameter) started being used, such as a .40 caliber Kentucky rifle, a 6-inch Parrot rifled gun.

There are enough exceptions to keep me confused though; why was the Charlevoix called a .69 caliber smoothbore musket, rather than a 20-gauge shotgun? And then there is the different meaning of caliber when used to describe a Naval 3-inch 50 caliber deck gun.

[Tailgunner]

Ray P
In navy lingo a 3"-50cal means a 3" bore and a barrel length of 50 times bore diameter or 150" long barrel. a 6"-50 would have a barrel that's 300" long (6x50=300).

[Ray P]

Originally posted by Tailgunner@Mar 27 2004, 12:45 PM
(snip) a 6"-50 would have a barrel that's 300" long (6x50=300).
Thanks, Tailgunner. I knew what it meant, but not how the Navy came up with a meaning so different from common usage.

[Tailgunner]

I believe it was origionaly a measure of effency(sp), range and power. I seem to remember that the explaination is here http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Cartridges.htm

We still use a lot of old shooting terms today, even though we don't use them in there origional meaning.
"Tack driver", comes from the days when a single nail was used to hold the target (driven thru the center of the bull)
"Shoot a String", (measurment) used to be a way of scoring targets, where the total distance of each shot from the aiming point was your score (and a 1" group 5" from AP (25" string) would lose to a 6" group centered on the AP (15" string) )

[Ray P]

Tailgunner:

Thanks for the link, it is a keeper.

V/r,
RayP

[WarMonger]

I am planning of taking a cheap ghettoish shotgun and turning it into a paintball gun. I am on here to find out whether i will be able to use a real shotgun barrel to shoot paintballs, what i really need to know is what gauges are what size. If any of you can help me i will be very grateful, Thank you.

[Tailgunner]

From the link I gave above.
10 bore .775" 19.7mm
12 bore .729" 18.5mm
16 bore .662" 16.8mm
20 bore .615" 15.6mm
28 bore .550" 14mm

Match the diameter of the paint balls to the bore (gauge) size.
Although why you want to expend this much effert into a PB gun I don't understand.