The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - How Many Cartridges Have There Been, EVER?

**Mike Irwin** · October 27, 2009, 12:12 PM

Well, I have a number of fact based guesses...

In NRA's technical department cartridge collection and the accompanying database there were almost 2,000 distinct cartridges.

My Donnolly book of cartridge conversions lists probably better than 1,000 cartridges that can be made using other cartridges, pipe, etc.

There was also a book in NRA's technical library (I wish I had swiped it) that was simply a list of cartridges and their dimensions. The author had spent decades putting it together.

I seem to recall it was over 3,000 entries, but I may be wrong about that.

The problem is, there's way to put a meaningful number to it.

Every time I think I'm getting a handle on all of the different cartridges that are out there, I come across a dozen more I never knew existed.

October 27, 2009, 12:12 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,391	Well, I have a number of fact based guesses... In NRA's technical department cartridge collection and the accompanying database there were almost 2,000 distinct cartridges. My Donnolly book of cartridge conversions lists probably better than 1,000 cartridges that can be made using other cartridges, pipe, etc. There was also a book in NRA's technical library (I wish I had swiped it) that was simply a list of cartridges and their dimensions. The author had spent decades putting it together. I seem to recall it was over 3,000 entries, but I may be wrong about that. The problem is, there's way to put a meaningful number to it. Every time I think I'm getting a handle on all of the different cartridges that are out there, I come across a dozen more I never knew existed. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.