Universal Ammunition: Difference between revisions
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* One of the main advantages to the .22 Long and its variations was that a rifle fitted for one caliber could take any that had a shorter casing. A few other calibers (the .38 for instance) also did this. This only works with rimmed cartridges though.
** A revolver chambered for .357 Magnum<ref>dimensions: .379 x 1.59 inches</ref> can safely use .38 Special<ref>dimensions: .379 x 1.55 inches. The slugs in both are ⌀.357</ref> or +P rounds. They're the same diameter, but the .357 case is slightly longer, so it cannot be used in a .38 weapon for safety reasons. Likewise, the .44 Magnum and .44 Special.
** This sort of thinking was the reason why nearly all Soviet small arms from at least 1891 to about 1974 fired 7.62mm bullets - even though they had different such bullets,<ref>7.62x54mmR for rifles and machine guns, 7.62x25mm for pistols and SMGs, 7.62x39mm for assault rifles</ref> if they ran critically short of barrels for ''anything'' during wartime production, they could take old Tsarist-era Mosin-Nagant rifles and recycle their barrels for use in other guns. This was also the logic behind the US's creation of the 30 Carbine cartridge, as most US production equipment was made for 30 caliber and making the new cartridge also a 30 caliber reduced costs and time.
* Several modern sub-machine guns which have no relation to the Uzi will take Uzi magazines. Criminal made firearms in particular are quite fond of them.
* The Sten was designed to take MP40 magazines to ease logistics. One unfortunate side-effect is these magazines were less than reliable when fully loaded in the MP40 and Allied troops didn't know to leave a few rounds out like Germans would. This added to the Sten's reputation for being unreliable. The American made M3 Grease Gun took .45 by default, but was easily modified to take 9mm and Sten/MP40 magazines.
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