Generally Accepted Cartridge and Chamber Names

When SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government, it was tasked with creating
and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality within the
firearms and ammunition industry. Firearms should only be used with the ammunition designated by
the firearm manufacturer for use in that firearm. Markings which indicate the appropriate ammunition
to be used in a firearm are usually found on the firearm’s barrel but may alternately appear on the
frame or receiver. The discharge of ammunition which does not match the firearm markings can be
dangerous and can result in serious injury or death to the user and/or bystanders, as well as damage to
the firearm.

The best way to verify that you are using the correct ammunition is to check the head stamp on the
ammunition to confirm that it matches the markings on the firearm.

Some types of ammunition, most notably rimfire and

cartridges produced for military use, do not have
cartridge markings on the head stamp of the case. In
those instances, check the original ammunition
packaging to determine its proper designation. If you
have any doubt about the designation of the
ammunition, you should not use it until you have it
examined by a qualified person.

Remember – just because a round of ammunition can

fit into a firearm’s chamber, barrel, or action – this
does not necessarily mean that it is safe to use that
ammunition in that firearm. Again, always verify that
the ammunition to be used matches the markings on
the firearm.

Firearm and headstamp markings and other references to specific cartridges and chambers may utilize
the full official name, or other approved abbreviated names, as listed in the SAAMI standards. In
addition, there are some cartridges/chambers with equivalent/historical names found in common use.
A listing of the most common examples of these equivalent/historical names is presented below.

An Important Note About the Following Information: The Equivalent or Historical Names information
provided below is for informational use only. The cartridge names were compiled based upon research
that has revealed several obsolete cartridge designations, discontinued names, or variations upon
SAAMI-standard designations. Also included in this table are certain non-SAAMI standard cartridge
designations where applicable. The names listed below represent the results of this research at the time
this table was created. This list is not exhaustive, and new information may be discovered which may
cause this table to be amended from time to time. As such, the user of this table is reminded and

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warned that using ammunition in a chamber that is not marked for that specific ammunition may
result in serious injury or death to the user and/or bystanders, as well as damage to the firearm. A
user should always check the owner’s manual or with the firearm manufacturer with questions about
the safe compatibility of a cartridge for use in a particular firearm.

Equivalent / Historical Names

SAAMI Full Name SAAMI Abbreviated Also Known As
Name
22 Long Rifle 22 LR 22 Long Fur Bruchsen
22 IFB
22 Long Rifle Shot 22 LR SHOT 22 Long Rifle Shot Claybirding

22 Winchester Rimfire 22 WRF 22 Remington Special.

22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire 22 WMR 22 Magnum
22 Win Mag 22 Win Mag R.F.
22 WMRF
22 Winchester Model 1890
25-20 Winchester 25-20 WIN 25-20 Remington
25-20 WCF
25-20 Marlin
25 WCF
6mm Remington 6MM REM 244 Remington
25 Automatic 25 AUTO 25 Auto Colt Pistol
25 ACP
6.35mm Browning
7mm Mauser 7mm 7X57
7x57mm
275 Rigby
280 Remington 280 REM 7mm Express Remington [7MM EXP REM]
30 Luger 30 LUGER 7.65 Parabellum
7.65 Para
7.65 Luger
30-06 Springfield 30-06 SPRG 30-06 Spring.
30-06
30 GOV’T -06
7.62x63mm
30-30 Winchester 30-30 WIN 30-30 Savage
30-30 Winchester “Accelerator”
30-30 Marlin
30 WCF
300 AAC Blackout 300 BLK 7.62x35mm
32 Automatic 32 AUTO 7.65 Browning
7.65mm Automatic Pistol
7.65mm Browning
32 ACP
32 Automatic 32 Colt Automatic
32 Auto Colt Pistol
32 Smith & Wesson Long 32 S&WL 32 Colt New Police
32 Colt Police Positive

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 Equivalent / Historical Names
SAAMI Full Name SAAMI Abbreviated Also Known As
Name
32 Winchester Special 32 WIN SPL 32 Win
32 WS
32-20 Winchester 32-20 WIN 32-20 Win High Speed
32-20 Colt LMR
32-20 Marlin
32-20 WCF
32 WCF
338 Lapua Magnum 338 LAPUA MAG 8.6x70mm
38 Smith & Wesson 38 S&W 38 Colt New Police
380 Webley
38 Special 38 SPL 38 Colt Special
38 S&W Special
38 S&W SPL
38 S&W Special Mid-Range
38 Special Flat Point
38 Special Match 38 SPL Match 38 Special Wadcutter
38 Special Wad Cutter
38-40 Winchester 38-40 WIN 38 Marlin
38 Winchester
38 Remington
38 WCF
380 Automatic 380 AUTO 9mm Browning Short
9mm Browning Court
9mm Browning Conto
9mm Browning Kurz
9mm Corto
9mm Kurz
380 ACP
9mm Luger 9MM LUGER 9mm Parabellum
9x19mm
9x18 Makarov 9x18 MAK 9mm Makarov
44 Remington Magnum 44 REM MAG 44 Magnum
44 Marlin
44-40 Winchester 44-40 WIN 44 Winchester
44 WCF
44 Largo
45-70 Government 45-70 GOVT 45-70 Marlin
45-70 Winchester
45-70-405
45 Automatic 45 AUTO 45 ACP
45 Colt 45 COLT 45 Long Colt
8mm Mauser 8mm 7.92x57mm
8x57
8x57mm
8x57mm JS

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Beyond historical cartridge names that are in common use, there are a very few firearm/ammunition
combinations which will generally allow for the safe firing of an alternate cartridge in a specified firearm
chamber. A listing of those cartridges/chambers and a general discussion of military ammunition can be
found at https://saami.org/publications-advisories/advisories/.

For information regarding the interchangeability of 223 Remington/5.56mm NATO

ammunition/firearms, see SAAMI FAQs at https://saami.org/faqs/.

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