".26 caliber pistol"?

[jeffrefrig]

Our local online newspaper had an article about one of the local brainiacs who robbed a convenience store around the corner from his home. He used a .26 caliber pistol according to the story. Never heard of that caliber, so can I take it for granted the report was in error? (I'm usually the one that's wrong, so I'm just asking.) It's most often the Sports Dept. that screws up the reporting with poor grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. I doubt anyone would use some obscure cap & ball or black powder gun for a robbery, so I'm thinking it was some cheap old .25 or maybe a .22 pistol. I only say cheap because of the section of PGH where this happened.
Have a nice day, and it's robbery season so keep your eyes peeled when you're out.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Probably a simple typo error. Today's news reporters have limited abilities in spelling or grammar, and most publications make little editorial effort. My public school teachers back in the 1960s would probably fail many modern reporters' attempts to write a story.

 

[s&wchad]

There was a Japanese "Type" 26 revolver used in WWII, but it was a 9mm. There was also a .26 caliber percussion revolver in the mid-1800's, but I seriously doubt one was used in a crime for over 100 years.

Probably just another misinformed journalist (E.g. AR14).

 

[Breakaway500]

If it's so important (why?) to report the caliber you would think they could get it correct.

Only 26 caliber I know is a Nosler rifle round and I doubt that's it..

 

[Wyo]

I recall a story some years back in which the reporter said a certain individual had robbed a convenience store and was arrested later with a "40mm" handgun in his pocket. I wondered how he got such a gun in his pocket. Words matter.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Just sneaked a peek at 'Smiths Book of Pistols and Revolvers.'
The only .26 Caliber Handgun I see is the Bergman.
According to Mr. Smith (he was a U S Army Small Arms Expert) -
The 26 Ammo was never manufactured in the US but at one time was imported by Stoeger.

 

[LVSteve]

AR-10 pistol in 260 Remington with the trailing zero deleted?

 

[22hipower]

Perhaps a .256 Win Mag? I have a TC barrel for one. I guess you could rob a store with it.

Jeff
SWCA #145

 

[ISCS Yoda]

It's one of my biggest laughs......

TV police officer - "He was shot with a .38".

Earlier TV screen shows the TV show miscreant with what we used to call an automatic pistol. Cracks me up every time.

 

[Alpo]

It's one of my biggest laughs......

TV police officer - "He was shot with a .38".

Earlier TV screen shows the TV show miscreant with what we used to call an automatic pistol. Cracks me up every time.

So, I take it that you have never heard of the 38 Super Colt? Or for that matter the Smith & Wesson Model 52? Those are just two of the several 38 automatics that exist.




As for the original question, I believe it was most likely a 25 automatic and when the guy typed it he hit a six instead of a five, so it went in as a 26 caliber pistol, and whatever they have nowadays that passes for an editor did not catch the error.

 

[357larry]

I don't expect much from people in the news media when it comes to getting facts reported correctly or their spelling and grammar. We have had a couple of talking heads on the tube say they "axed" questions. These people should have never graduated High School.

 

[CajunBass]

I recall a story some years back in which the reporter said a certain individual had robbed a convenience store and was arrested later with a "40mm" handgun in his pocket. I wondered how he got such a gun in his pocket. Words matter.

We had a reported self-defense shooting in Richmond a few years back where the "good guy" used a 40 MM pistol. That information we later learned came from the police spokesman. I had this mental image of a Bofors cannon mounted in the back of the guys pickup.

I try not to be too hard on people for stuff like that though, other than an amused chuckle. I've made worse mistakes.

 

[robvious]

it's the new 25acp MAGNUM... that sweet spot between 25 & 32 acp.

 

[Pisgah]

I recall a story some years back in which the reporter said a certain individual had robbed a convenience store and was arrested later with a "40mm" handgun in his pocket. I wondered how he got such a gun in his pocket. Words matter.

Equally egregious, our local newspaper occasionally reports some crime committed with a .12 Gauge shotgun. By my calculation such a beast would fire about an 8 pound ball...

 

[Alpo]

Someone carrying a 40 mm pistol would be fairly impressive. But I like the stories about someone that's committing a crime using a .9 mm. That would be what - about a three and three-quarters caliber bullet? With 25 and a piece mm to the inch, 1 mm is about 4 caliber, so just under 4 caliber?

 

[chief38]

More than likely a typo. I make plenty of those myself!! Probably written by a non gun person who has not a clue.

 

[mikerjf]

Well, a "45" would be like 4 feet across… the 26 is almost twice as concealable.

 

[hkcavalier]

Yes...add to the list of so many errors. Most common seem to be .9mm (great for a drafting pencil, not much stopping power), .556 (terrific knockdown power, not real popular due to American rifle caliber limits), and of course the obscure 45mm handgun which must have been used by old time lighthouses to fire flares at passing ships if the wick burned out.

What's funny is, as a wee lad, I used to devour all those pulpy war/combat novels from the 80s and 90s and found these errors and many more. Let's not start on the "pulled the hammer back on his Glock" or "slapped a fresh clip into his .38" knee-slappers out there...

 

[Greyman50]

Here's a " 40 mm Pistol", lol

 

[Tom K]

I used to own an Auto Ordnance 1911 style pistol, with the slide clearly roll marked ".10mm".