Understanding rifle ammo

Every firearms enthusiast has heard of the .30-06 round, but not all of them know how it got its name.

Rifle ammunition is kind of boring. And relatively simple. And most are unchanged since their inception. And did I mention boring? But read this anyway — maybe you’ll learn something.

Rifle calibers may be measured in either inches decimal or metric. You will see both .243 and 7mm. Where rifles can get confusing is in their naming conventions. While .243 and 7mm are self-explanatory, what exactly does .30-30, or .30-06, or .22-250, or 6.5 Creedmoor mean?

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Capt. Cayle Wills is a USCCA-certified firearms instructor and gunsmith at Higher Power Outfitters (1826 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda). Contact him at 941-916-4538 or [email protected].

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