Chart of All Rifle Cartridges by Case Capacity

Knowing the internal volume of a rifle cartridge, or its water capacity, is a valuable metric for understanding the cartridge’s potential for velocity because of increase space for powder; however, water capacity numbers are all over the map as everyone seems to measure somewhat differently.

The following chart shows the usable interior case volume of all popular rifle cartridges, measured in cubic inches and assuming a standard .013″ brass thickness.

By “usable case capacity,” I mean the internal area of the body of the case and shoulder, but none of the neck. This would be the space occupied by powder in the case of a flat-based bullet that doesn’t protrude into the powder column.

The chart is ranked from the largest internal volume (.50 BMG), to the smallest internal volume (.22LR). The caliber and case length are provided for reference.

Cartridge	Usable Case Capacity (cubic inches)	Caliber	Case Length (in)
.50 BMG	1.405329	0.51	3.95
.338-378 Weatherby Mag	0.584641	0.338	2.91
.416 Weatherby Magnum	0.562919	0.416	2.91
.378 Weatherby Magnum	0.561975	0.375	2.91
.30-378 Weatherby Mag	0.513395	0.308	2.91
.338 Lapua Magnum	0.509707	0.338	2.72
7mm RUM	0.499980	0.284	2.85
.300 RUM	0.498640	0.308	2.85
.416 Rigby	0.480380	0.416	2.90
.338 RUM	0.478114	0.338	2.76
.26 Nosler	0.452120	0.264	2.59
.28 Nosler	0.450937	0.284	2.59
.458 Win Mag	0.448092	0.458	2.50
.27 Nosler	0.439364	0.277	2.59
.30 Nosler	0.439066	0.308	2.56
7 STW	0.432684	0.284	2.85
.375 Ruger	0.424468	0.375	2.58
.300 Weatherby Magnum	0.423292	0.308	2.83
6.5-300 Weatherby Mag	0.423278	0.264	2.83
.340 Weatherby Magnum	0.423242	0.338	2.83
.416 Ruger	0.420281	0.416	2.58
.416 Remington Magnum	0.418204	0.416	2.85
.300 PRC	0.417787	0.308	2.58
.33 Nosler	0.417178	0.338	2.46
.338 Win Mag	0.409246	0.338	2.75
.300 Win Mag	0.396906	0.308	2.62
.375 H&H	0.393821	0.375	2.85
.264 Winchester Magnum	0.373258	0.264	2.50
7mm Rem Mag	0.371432	0.284	2.50
7mm Weatherby Magnum	0.368277	0.284	2.55
.270 Weatherby Magnum	0.368236	0.277	2.55
.257 Weatherby Magnum	0.368134	0.257	2.549
.45-70 Govt	0.367897	0.458	2.11
6.5 Weatherby RPM	0.363425	0.264	2.57
7 WSM	0.361136	0.284	2.10
.338 Weatherby RPM	0.359766	0.338	2.55
7mm PRC	0.359592	0.284	2.28
.270 WSM	0.353278	0.277	2.10
.300 WSM	0.351746	0.308	2.10
.325 WSM	0.350945	0.323	2.10
.444 Marlin	0.342859	0.429	2.23
6.8 Western	0.335343	0.277	2.02
7 SAUM	0.323900	0.284	2.04
.300 Ruger (RCM)	0.319972	0.308	2.10
.280 Ackley Improved	0.311775	0.284	2.53
9.3 x 62mm Mauser	0.308591	0.366	2.44
6.5 PRC	0.307813	0.264	2.03
.280 Remington	0.300311	0.284	2.54
6.5-284 Norma Match	0.295176	0.264	2.17
.25-06 Remington	0.294311	0.257	2.49
.270 Winchester	0.292559	0.277	2.54
.30-06 Springfield	0.289289	0.308	2.49
.35 Whelen	0.282460	0.358	2.49
.240 Weatherby Magnum	0.280226	0.243	2.50
.450 Bushmaster	0.272519	0.452	1.70
6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser	0.251768	0.264	2.17
7mm Mauser	0.249161	0.284	2.24
.277 Sig Fury	0.247771	0.277	2.02
6mm Remington	0.246908	0.243	2.23
.243 Winchester	0.241925	0.243	2.05
.260 Remington	0.240352	0.264	2.04
7mm-08 Remington	0.238904	0.284	2.04
.308 Winchester	0.235851	0.308	2.02
.338 Federal	0.232938	0.338	2.02
.22 Creedmoor	0.228156	0.224	1.92
6mm Creedmoor	0.227313	0.243	1.92
6.5 Creedmoor	0.226483	0.264	1.92
400 Legend	0.220237	0.4005	1.65
.220 Swift	0.218219	0.224	2.21
.22-250	0.205188	0.224	1.91
360 Buckhammer	0.203951	0.359	2.16
6mm GT	0.193304	0.243	1.73
.350 Legend	0.178046	0.357	1.71
.30-30 Winchester	0.168228	0.308	2.04
6mm BR	0.159895	0.243	1.56
.22 Nosler	0.159725	0.224	1.76
6.5 Grendel	0.151442	0.264	1.52
6.8 Remington SPC	0.150396	0.277	1.69
6mm ARC	0.144126	0.243	1.49
.204 Ruger	0.141475	0.204	1.85
7.62 x 39mm	0.141054	0.308	1.53
.224 Valkyrie	0.137899	0.224	1.60
.223 / 5.56	0.130279	0.224	1.76
.222 Remington	0.114629	0.224	1.70
.300 Blackout	0.091366	0.308	1.37
.17 Hornet	0.059231	0.172	1.35
.22 Hornet	0.048434	0.224	1.40
.17 WSM	0.043954	0.172	1.20
.22 Mag (WMR)	0.036245	0.224	1.06
.17 HMR	0.030373	0.172	1.06
.22lr	0.038822	0.223	0.61

Measuring Case Capacity of Rifle Cartridges

Usually, rifle cartridges are measured by the water capacity of the case. This is a good measurement because it only looks at the internal volume instead of looking at the exterior dimensions of the case.

However, it has a major limitation of making it difficult to measure the capacity without including the neck volume. Neck volume shouldn’t be included in case capacity calculations because it isn’t space that can be occupied by powder.

Consequently, I am showing the case capacity of all popular rifle cartridges by actually doing the math from the published drawings of the case to determine the precise internal volume of each cartridge.