Caliber and cartridge; Is it just semantics?

[Pete D.]

Probably my only pet peeve across various shooting fora is the use of Caliber when speaking about cartridges.
Here's a hypothetical scenario: You load everything that you shoot.
You own eleven rifles. Five are chambered in .222Rem, .223Rem., 225 Winchester, 220 Swift, and 22-250. All use .224" bullets.
The other six are chambered for .30 Carbine, 30-30 Win., .308 Win., .30-06 Springfield, 300 Win., and .300 RUM. All use .308" bullets
Someone asks how many calibers you reload. What do you answer? Two or eleven? Explain.
Pete

Also posted on on other forum

 

[EddieNFL]

Two ...and unlike Dirty Harry, my .44 Automag doesn't shoot a 300 grain cartridge.

 

[68wj]

11. I see the argument going the other way too though.

Your .30-06 is being admired at the range. Someone asks you, "What caliber is that rifle?" Do you answer .308, .30-06, and/or correct their use of the term caliber and specify that the question should be, "What cartridge is that rifle chambered for?"?

Though I live in GA, I don't call a Dr.Pepper a Coke

 

[oneounceload]

You are reloading 2 calibers in 11 different cartridges - caliber deals with bullet diameter, cartridge deals with case design

 

[steve4102]

Kinda kin to Magazine or Clip.

 

[Art Eatman]

Enough wasted bandwidth...