Chart of all Rifle Calibers In Order, And Their Power [2025]

Navigating the unfamiliar world of firearm calibers and ammunition can be tricky, but with a basic understanding, it’s easier than you think. To begin, let’s clarify some essential terms and then go deeper into the chart of rifle calibers. Here you’ll find all the cartridge names, their caliber measurements, a rough estimation of what animals they can take down (which is debatable), as well as an average energy output at 100 yards for hunting purposes.

What is Caliber?

In firearms terminology, “Caliber” denotes the internal diameter of a gun barrel and, thusly, its bullet. For example, .308″ is greater than the caliber of a .22″ bullet. While larger calibers are associated with greater devastation due to their weightiness alone; they do not express anything regarding the speed or energy behind the cartridge itself.

What is Cartridge Power?

A “Cartridge” is a comprehensive unit including the brass casing, primer, gun powder and projectile that make up an entire firing system. The word “bullet” only refers to the bullet itself which is expelled through the barrel towards its target.

We can prove this with an example. Both the .308 Winchester and .300 PRC use a .308 caliber bullet, which should not be mistaken for their cartridges’ names. In some cases, these are rounded up to create a catchy title (like the former), however, other measures are used in order to develop an appealing name for each cartridge.

No matter the cartridge, a 180-grain GMX projectile can be loaded and fired from either the .308 or .300 PRC. It’s simple science; bullets of similar caliber are mostly interchangeable between cartridges.

In comparison to the .300 PRC, the case of the .308 Winchester is considerably smaller. This impedes its ability to store copious amounts of gun powder and due to this limitation, it has decreased potential for inflicting damage on targets.

Cartridge	Caliber	Suitable for Hunting Animals Up To…	Avg Muzzle Energy
.50 BMG	0.51	Anything with a pulse	12600
.458 Win Mag	0.458	Cape Buffalo	5063
.45-70 Govt	0.458	Elk at short range	3138
.450 Bushmaster	0.452	Elk at short range	2810
.444 Marlin	0.429	Grizzly Bear	3067
.416 Rigby	0.416	Cape Buffalo	5166
.416 Remington Magnum	0.416	Cape Buffalo	5123
.416 Ruger	0.416	Cape Buffalo	5498
.378 Weatherby	0.375	Cape Buffalo	6004
.375 Ruger	0.375	Cape Buffalo	4780
.375 H&H Magnum	0.375	Cape Buffalo	4560
9.3 x 62mm Mauser	0.366	Grizzly Bear	4017
.35 Whelen	0.358	Grizzly Bear	3932
.350 Legend	0.357	Deer at short range	1907
.338-378 Weatherby	0.338	Grizzly Bear	5035
.33 Nosler	0.338	Grizzly Bear	4799
.338 Lapua Magnum	0.338	Grizzly Bear	4851
.338 RUM	0.338	Grizzly Bear	4694
.340 Weatherby	0.338	Grizzly Bear	4674
.338 Win Mag	0.338	Grizzly Bear	4164
.338 Federal	0.338	Grizzly Bear	3340
.325 WSM	0.323	Grizzly Bear	3596
.30-378 Weatherby Magnum	0.308	Grizzly Bear	4666
.300 PRC	0.308	Grizzly Bear	4246
.300 Weatherby	0.308	Grizzly Bear	4092
.300 RUM	0.308	Grizzly Bear	4135
.30 Nosler	0.308	Grizzly Bear	4111
.300 Winchester Magnum	0.308	Grizzly Bear	3827
.300 WSM	0.308	Grizzly Bear	3718
.30-06 Springfield	0.308	Grizzly Bear	3179
.308 Winchester	0.308	Elk	2784
.300 Ruger (RCM)	0.308	Grizzly Bear	2948
.300 Blackout	0.308	Hogs	998
.30-30 Winchester	0.308	Elk	1942
7.62 x 39mm	0.308	Deer	1608
.28 Nosler	0.284	Grizzly Bear	3678
7mm Weatherby	0.284	Grizzly Bear	3482
7 STW	0.284	Grizzly Bear	3458
7 WSM	0.284	Elk	3255
7mm Rem Mag	0.284	Elk	3122
.280 Ackley Improved	0.284	Elk	2952
7 SAUM	0.284	Elk	3004
.280 Remington	0.284	Elk	2873
7mm-08 Remington	0.284	Elk	2528
7mm Mauser	0.284	Elk	2330
.27 Nosler	0.277	Elk	3513
6.8 Western	0.277	Elk	3011
.270 WSM	0.277	Elk	3072
.270 Weatherby	0.277	Elk	3176


.270 Winchester	0.277	Elk	2862
6.8 Remington SPC	0.277	Deer	1624
6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum	0.264	Elk	3395
6.5 Weatherby RPM	0.264	Elk	3098
6.5 PRC	0.264	Elk	2780
.264 Winchester Magnum	0.264	Elk	2766
6.5-284 Norma Match	0.264	Deer	2462
.26 Nosler	0.264	Elk	3125
.260 Remington	0.264	Deer	2273
6.5 Creedmoor	0.264	Deer	2231
6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser	0.264	Deer	1983
6.5 Grendel	0.264	Deer	1447
.257 Weatherby	0.257	Deer	2675
.25-06 Remington	0.257	Deer	2201
6mm Creedmoor	0.243	Deer	2125
.240 Weatherby	0.243	Deer	2099
.243 Winchester	0.243	Deer	1958
6mm Remington	0.243	Deer	1953
6mm BR	0.243	Paper/steel 🙂	1712
.22 Creedmoor	0.224	Coyote	1769
.224 Valkyrie	0.224	Coyote	1519
.223 / 5.56	0.224	Coyote	1499
.22 Nosler	0.224	Coyote	1613
.22-250	0.224	Coyote	1654
.220 Swift	0.224	Coyote	1766
.222 Remington	0.224	Varmints	1165
.22 Hornet	0.224	Varmints	680
.22 WMR	0.224	Varmints	276
.22lr	0.223	Varmints	133
.204 Ruger	0.204	Varmints	1325
.17 Hornet	0.172	Varmints	622
.17 WSM	0.172	Varmints	398
.17 HMR	0.172	Varmints	240

If you’re searching for the strength of each cartridge and want to convert caliber in inches to mm, this chart is just what you need.

Rifle Caliber to MM Conversion Chart

Common Rifle Caliber Name	Common Metric Name	Bullet Diameter
.17	4.5mm	.172″ (4.32mm)
.204	5.2mm	.204″ (5.2mm)
.22 (Long Rifle)	5.56mm	.223″ (5.66mm)
.22 (or .223 such as an AR)	5.56mm	.224″ (5.7mm)
.243	6mm	.243″ (6.17mm)
.25 (or .257)	6.53mm	.257″ (6.53mm)
.260 (or .264)	6.5mm	.264″ (6.71mm)
.270 (or .277)	6.8mm	.277″ (7.04mm)
.280 (or .284)	7mm	.284″ (7.21mm)
.30 (or .308)	7.62mm	.308″ (7.82mm)
.325	8mm	3.23″ (8.2mm)
.33 (or .338)	8.6mm	.338″ (8.59mm)
.366	9.3mm	.366″ (9.3mm)
.375	9.5mm	.375″ (9.53mm)
.416	10.6mm	.416″ (10.57mm)
.50	13mm	.51″ (12.95mm)

Pistol Caliber to MM Conversion Chart

Handgun Cartridge	Bullet Diameter in Inches	Bullet Diameter in MM
.22 LR	.223″	5.66mm
.357 Magnum	.357″	9.1mm
.380 ACP	.355″	9mm
.38 Special	.357″	9.1mm
9mm (Luger)	.355″	9.02mm
.40 S&W	.40″	10mm
.44 Magnum	.429″	10.9mm
.45 ACP	.452″	11.5mm
.50 AE	.50″	12.7mm