Q: What does "millimeter" refer to when taking about a 9 mm handgun? Does it have anything to do with caliber? -- From the front desk.

A: Yes it does. The millimeter is in reference to the caliber of the gun, and the caliber of a gun is the diameter of the hole in the barrel or the bore.

So, a 9 mm gun has a bore of 9 mm and shoots a bullet 9 mm in diameter.

However, a gun described using caliber is not measuring the bore or the diameter of the bullet in millimeters.

Let's take the .45-caliber for example -- notice the period before the numerals?

This indicates that the caliber is being measured in inches. The bore of a .45-caliber barrel is 45âÑ100 of an inch, or just under a half-inch.

Forty-five millimeters comes out to just about an inch and three-quarters, which means you would be able to roll a golf ball down the barrel.

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Q: What is the appropriate exclamation after missing a 4-foot birdie put? -- From somewhere on the back nine of the municipal course.

A: "Man, I gotta' practice."

Well, it's the most printable anyway.

Eric Norris is the adult department librarian at the Hays Public Library. "Ask Eric" questions can be mailed to 1205 Main, Hays, KS, 67601, submitted through www.hayspublib.org at the "Ask Eric" link or e-mailed to enorris@hayspublib.org.