Fullbore... or is it?

[TattooedGun]

I've always considered full-bore to be anything centre fire and small-bore to be rim fire i.e. .22rf .17hmr etc...

What about the large calibre rim fires then, like the .44s or the 12.7mm for example or would you call them "small bore"?

Where would pin fire cartridges fit in?

Had I ever come across any of those, I may have considered my definitions, but I wouldnt exactly assume that either of those rounds are anywhere near "common". My definition, at least in my own mind, stands as is.

As for pin fire, again, never used any and I don't suspect I will get much chance to

Obsolete and Obscure calibres seem to be the only real flaw in my logic

[Porcupine]

Obsolete and Obscure calibres seem to be the only real flaw in my logic

Except that it's confusing :lol: Imagine: New shooter, gets himself a .223, sees all these .308s and .45s and .38s that other people are using, and nothing much smaller than .223, and so when he sees a sign for 'smallbore range' he thinks, "Well my bore is pretty small so that must be for me!" If it means rimfire then why not just say 'rimfire' :-P

[dromia]

As for pin fire, again, never used any and I don't suspect I will get much chance to

Obsolete and Obscure calibres seem to be the only real flaw in my logic

Small knowledge/narrow definition, surely its better to have a definition that every one understands rather than make ones up just to suit our level or knowledge.

That seems a communication disaster. we are all ignorant, about different things.

A rimfire is a rimfire and a small bore is a small bore and full bore is an engine expression.

[Sandgroper]

A rimfire is a rimfire and a small bore is a small bore and full bore is an engine expression.

From memory, when I briefly studied fluid dynamics (a long time ago), I think term has something to with some types of valve or how they are used - valves in a carbuerettor (?)

If you opened the valve to half bore, for example, the opening was only half the size of the pipes internal diameter. If you opened up to "full bore" then the fluid (water, steam, etc) had an unimpeded flow through the pipe.

I can see the term crossing over from pipes to shooting through the use of 'bore' in shotgun sizes.

[ronboy]

Hi I initially posted in the wrong heading. .451 muzzle loader was called small bore, as opposed to Brown Bess and .577 P53.

[dromia]

See your original post Ronboy and my reply.

The .577 was also considered small bore when it was being looked at to replace the smooth bore musket.

I also think that we have covered this already in this thread, haven't checked just a strong sense of deja vu. :G