.30" Caliber: Size (& Fact) Isn't Everything - Military Calibers & Federal CDC Surveys:

It would be fair to say that the most popular or widely used bullet caliber used to be the 'THIRTY CALIBER' also known as 7.62mm.

Among the more than twenty plus different popular rifles in this class are the (AK47) 7.62x39mm Russian, 7.62mm Nato (.308"), the .303 British (SMLE), the ancient 'tried & trusted' .30-30 - and more recently the .30 BLK (Blackout).

7.62x39mm Used To Be Called ".30 Russian Short".

- It's well worth remembering that the Brits and Russians mostly used 'Thirty Caliber' bullets measuring .311" - while USA and others used pills measuring .308".

- Looking at the handgun cartridges in this same caliber .. these are generally referred to as "Thirty-Twos" while their metric naming/size can wander around 7.62mm 7.63mm, and 7.65mm - but in 'Old- English' their projectiles tend to be .311/.312" in diameter.

However it needs to be said that the most widely accepted Handgun caliber is within the slightly bigger "THIRTY-FIVE CALIBER" range. This includes the 9x19mm Parabellum, Luger or NATO, the .38"Special, the .357"Magnum, .380"ACP, and many other older rounds .. BUT this .35" diameter caliber never proved to be much loved in rifle metallic cartridges - perhaps due to it's heavier recoil.

9x19mm Parabellum or Luger.
A "Thirty-Five" Caliber.

The "Military" have changed over to  "lesser" sized standard rifle cartridges .. Western defense forces adopting the 5.56x45mm NATO round (Bullet dia .224 inch) for general use .. while

5.56x45mm NATO. .224 inch Bullet Dia.

Russian / Soviet forces changed to the similar 5.45x39mm (Bullet dia. .220 inch) ammunition in 1974.

Russian 5.45x39 mm. .220 inch Bullet Dia.

The Peoples Liberation Army of CHINA has adopted a 5.8x42mm Cartridge (Bullet dia. .236 inch) which they claim is superior to both the NATO and Russian rounds:

Chinese 5.84x42mm Cartridge: .236 inch Bullet Dia.

This changeover to smaller lighter fighting calibers is calculated on the weight saving logistics - plus the Generals noticed eventually that the full power .30" Caliber 'Battle Rifles' were something of an overkill at the closer average engagement distances.

I try to remember that these debates about "Stopping Power" are mostly focused on small perceived benefits of one (or more) favored performance factor .. such as penetration or expansion, or high velocity 'shocking-power, or terminal energy or bullet diameter or projectile heavy mass etc.. Yes, they all count to a degree - and together add-up to an effective total, - BUT bullet's size/performance is of itself secondary to PLACEMENT - because if you miss - even with a three inch plus high-explosive shell - it's still a miss.

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It does seem to be normal and usual for "Authorities' to accept and act upon the facts LATE. - They tend to be waiting for the Thunder while the rest of us are watching the Lightening 😊.

US Federal Agency The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has lately released survey results indicating that DGU, Defensive Gun Use by victims of crime, is at a rate that is 3.6 times that of criminal firearms use. These CDC 'Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System' surveys were held twenty years ago - in 1996, 1997, & 1998 - polling around 5,000 people on each instance.

But a Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck reports that: “CDC never reported the results of those surveys, does not report on their website any estimates of DGU frequency, and does not even acknowledge that they ever asked about the topic in any of their surveys.”

When considered in light of the current anti-gun campaigns - this late release or "non-reporting" by a US Federal Agency of justifiable defensive firearms use surely must be viewed as concerning.

- If the facts don't support your argument .. just ignore them eh.

Capital punishment is the only rehabilitation process that so far has a 100% success rate.

Marty K.