Bullet weights question

[surveyor_nm]

Forgive me in advance if this has been asked and answered before..

Can somebody on this knowledgeable forum give me an explanation as to why .38/.357 bullets ended up at 158 grains and not rounded off to say 160 grains? I'm sure there is a reason, I just can't figure out why.
The same applies to the .44 Special...why 246 grains and not 245?
Just seems strange there'd be oddball weights.

Thanks for your help.

Bill Mahnke
SWCA #1915

 

[mkk41]

Good question!

I have to think that the bullets dimensions were what was originally designed , and they ended up weighing whatever they did, and that became the industry standard.

Not exactly sure what lead alloy the factories use either , but that may have contributed to it.

 

[Smitty357]

Good question!

I have to think that the bullets dimensions were what was originally designed , and they ended up weighing whatever they did, and that became the industry standard.

Not exactly sure what lead alloy the factories use either , but that may have contributed to it.

For the same reason my old Ford Ranger use to cut out at 97mph. Why didnt they just design it to cut out at 90mph or maybe 100mph.

Its just the way it was designed, lol

 

[chief38]

LOTS of odd-ball things when it comes to guns, ammo and components.

Why did Chrysler make engines 318 cubic inches instead of 320? Why does a quart have 32 ounces instead of 30? etc.......

Short answer - - - who knows!

 

[Bkreutz]

Or why are things priced at $x.99? and who came up with the xxx & 9/10 gas prices?

 

[shouldazagged]

There are mysteries you may not yet understand, Grasshopper...

Things like, "Why the superheterodyne hell are there Kardashians and Honey Boo Boo?"

 

[old&slow]

There are mysteries you may not yet understand, Grasshopper...

Things like, "Why the superheterodyne hell are there Kardashians and Honey Boo Boo?"

+1+

More confusing to me is ,,Why is a 357 Mag. .357 dia. ,, a 40S&W is .400 . And a 44 mag. is .429 ? I figure 43 Magnum just didn't sound cool..
And what's with the 38-40 ,, I've always wondered what's the reasoning behind that one.?

On the weight ,, I just figured they hogged out a mold and it dropped a 158 gr bullet and that was the way it was.

But a really interesting question,,

 

[Nevada Ed]

A lot of the bullet weights and fps come down from the loads that were used in the old Black powder days and most companies tried to keep things on an even par with what the hunters and military had or close to it.

Mini and round ball ammo had already been used and the lead die cast................. as the old saying goes:
"If it ain't broke ..........."

They could have really upset the apple cart when Jacketed bullets came out if they used different weights and data, that would really toss a monkey wrench into the wheels but the companies probably thought better and just let the standard weight bullets stay.

 

[H Richard]

With more modern loads it is the weight ratio to what the round can efficiently fire at a desired velocity. I believe they have actually done some mathematical calculations as to what works the best in various calibers.