RicW 67 Posted March 1, 2010 Report Share Posted March 1, 2010 (edited) The smallest calibre firearm ever made was the 3mm/0.11" Kolibri auto pistol, made around 1900. It had a muzzle energy of 4 ft.lbs. Guaranteed to stop a charging cockroach in its tracks, provided you hit it between the eyes. Of course, you had a lot of eyes to aim at . . . There was supposed to be a 2.7mm Kolibri round but there is some question as to whether it was a different round to the 3mm or was just the same one with a different name. J. According to Weekes and Hodge "A History of Firearms" it was the same round. British and Continental manufacturers measure calibre as the internal diameter across the lands, Americans across the grooves. The growing trend now is to cite the external diameter of the bullet, which is slightly larger to ensure solid engegement in the rifling. So the NATO 7.62mm, 0.30" is internal diameter across the lands, following European practice, and is the same as the .308" in modern parlance. Ric Edited March 1, 2010 by RicW Quote Link to post
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