Which term describes the bore size and corresponding cartridge sizes used with firearms?

Which term describes the bore size and corresponding cartridge sizes used with firearms?

• A. Gauge
• B. Caliber
• C. Shot charge
• D. Action

Answer: (B)

Caliber is the measure that ties together the bore size of a firearm and the cartridge it’s designed to fire. The bore is the inside width of the barrel, and caliber expresses that width in inches or millimeters. This same measurement defines the size of the cartridge that will fit and shoot through that bore. For rifles and handguns, caliber is the standard term you’ll see for both the bore and its matching cartridges. Shotguns use a different system called gauge, which can be confusing because a smaller number actually means a larger bore. The other options describe different firearm aspects: a shot charge is the amount of shot in a shotgun shell, and action refers to the mechanism that loads and fires the gun. So, the term that describes both bore size and corresponding cartridge sizes for firearms is caliber.

Caliber is the measure that ties together the bore size of a firearm and the cartridge it’s designed to fire. The bore is the inside width of the barrel, and caliber expresses that width in inches or millimeters. This same measurement defines the size of the cartridge that will fit and shoot through that bore. For rifles and handguns, caliber is the standard term you’ll see for both the bore and its matching cartridges.

Shotguns use a different system called gauge, which can be confusing because a smaller number actually means a larger bore. The other options describe different firearm aspects: a shot charge is the amount of shot in a shotgun shell, and action refers to the mechanism that loads and fires the gun. So, the term that describes both bore size and corresponding cartridge sizes for firearms is caliber.