What is exactly meant by the "bore" designation for the rifles?

Ie.. What is a 2 bore rifle diameter?

Thanks

Jim B

Jim,

The bore number is the number of lead balls of that diameter to make a pound. So one lead ball of 2 bore diamter would weight half a pound and one ball to fit an 8 bore would weigh 1/8th of a pound. Gauge is the same.

Mike

Mike375, that is almost right!

"BORE" in rifled barrels, is the measurement of the top of the lands, or the bore diamether before rifleing. The number of balls moulded from a pound of lead, is "GUAGE" ie: 12 guage, 10 guage, and applies to smooth bore shotguns. A 450 bore rifle uses a .458 diameter bullet. This is the diameter a bullet needs to be to engrave the bullet, and fill the lands to seal.

Butttttttt The word IS used in both contexts by some. In Brittain rifles, are labled as "BORE" while in The USA they are labled as groove diameter, ie: .308+ 30 caliber. The cartridge manufacturers call them anything they want, for instance, the 38 special, is actually a .357 dia, or just under 36 caliber. A 44 Rem Mag is actually a .429, or just under 43 caliber.

Confuseing ain't it!