smallcaliber

Smallcaliber is a term used to describe firearms and ammunition that fire relatively small-diameter projectiles. There is no single official boundary, but in common usage it refers to calibers smaller than .30 inch (7.62 mm) in bullet diameter. The classification focuses on projectile size more than cartridge case size, and scales with velocity and energy. In practice, small-caliber arms include many rifles and handguns designed for precision, range, or training, as well as varmint hunting.

Small-caliber ammunition typically offers lighter recoil, higher magazine capacity, lower cost per round, and easier handling for beginners. However, its terminal performance may be reduced at longer ranges and against armored or larger targets, depending on design and bullet weight.

Despite variation, several widely used examples include .22 LR (5.6 mm bullet), .17 HMR (4.5 mm representative), and rifle cartridges such as .223 Remington/5.56x45mm, .204 Ruger, and related small-caliber rounds. Some shooters also categorize popular rounds like 6.5 Creedmoor and .260 Rem as small-caliber relative to traditional big game calibers, though they are mid-power compared with larger cartridges. The term is also used in military contexts to distinguish standard infantry rounds from larger anti-armor calibers.

In summary, smallcaliber denotes a class of firearms and ammunition characterized by small projectile diameter, often paired with light recoil and economical practice, while trading off energy and penetration at longer ranges.