Use the RIGHT AMMO

[kham]

What he said...

This was apparently prompted by someone asking in the comments section of the K98 vid, "can I chamber a .308 in a 8mm Mauser?"
The obvious answer is "no" , possibly, Hell No! But, after talking with Big John, they decided it was worth some explanation. Since there are some exceptions, 38 special in .357 Magnum, 44 Special in .44 Magnums, stuff like that. And the special cartridges that only should be used in certain firearms (really hot 44s, Garrett hunting cartridges, etc) But worth talking about since if people still ask questions like that, then lets do some explaining so they dont blow themselves up.

The one that prompted things, the .308 and 7.92 set side by side and you'd never try it. As he put it, you MIGHT chamber it, but you'll need 3 gunsmiths and 3 sledgehammers to even have a chance of extracting it.
Just dont try
Use the proper ammunition

[Mynock]

Another good example is .223 vs. 5.56 NATO. Even more confusing because it's ok to mix them one way and not the other. Basic common sense should tell you if it's not stamped with the same caliber as on the barrel DON'T USE IT.....but common sense ain't always common.

[kham]

He mentions that specifically as well. Also the many kinds of .45s , none of which are particularly compatible with each other. Some even the exact type, but modern v old (45 colt modern smokeless in 45 colt black powder.... dont do it)

[DangerGirl]

Yeah, it's further confused by the fact that the military 5.56 NATO is a more powerful cartridge than the civilian .223 Remington, but the civilian .308 Winchester is more powerful than the 7.62x51 NATO. There's a surprising number of people who just assume that the military cartridges are always more powerful than their civilian counterparts.

[Mudbogz]

The only exception that comes to mind is the Colt M1917 revolver. If I'm not mistaken it was intended for the .45 long colt round, but .45 ACP could be used with the three round half moon clips to keep the rounds from sliding clear through the cylinder. I know the Smith & Wesson version actually had a rim inside the cylinder to keep the .45 ACP rounds from sliding clear through the cylinder. The rim would engage the neck of the casing and hold it in position with or without the half moon clips.

[Chimerix]

Let's further confuse things by giving the same cartridge multiple names.
.45 Auto instead of .45 ACP, just because you're not Colt.
9x19
9mm long
9mm Luger
9mm Parabellum
9mm NATO
9mm

All proper names for the same cartridge, but only one of the above will be stamped on the barrel.

Oh, and one of my smaller pet peeves... the name of the cartridge is ".45 Colt." The word "long" is NOT part of the name!

[kham]

The only exception that comes to mind is the Colt M1917 revolver. If I'm not mistaken it was intended for the .45 long colt round, but .45 ACP could be used with the three round half moon clips to keep the rounds from sliding clear through the cylinder. I know the Smith & Wesson version actually had a rim inside the cylinder to keep the .45 ACP rounds from sliding clear through the cylinder. The rim would engage the neck of the casing and hold it in position with or without the half moon clips.

I know he's got a video on that somewhere, I remember watching it. But its too late Will look later

Chim, I think the only reason the Long got added was because the 1911 came along; until then, there was no other .45s other than 45-70 and no one would futz with that in anything but a Sharps

[Chimerix]

Chim, I think the only reason the Long got added was because the 1911 came along; until then, there was no other .45s other than 45-70 and no one would futz with that in anything but a Sharps

I believe it's because the .45 Colt and the .45 Schofield were both popular at the same time. Guns chambered for .45 Colt could fire .45 Schofield, but not vice versa, because the Colt was the longer cartridge. The shorthand of the day was to refer to ".45 short" and ".45 long."

Regardless of the historical reasons, though, the cartridge has a proper name.