Ammunition Definition

Ammunition must match the firearm and varies by firearm type. The ammunition is made up of four parts, case, primer, gunpowder and projectile. Pistols and rifles use a cartridge (case) that contains a single projectile/bullet. A single piece of ammunition is sometimes referred to as a “round”. Shotgun ammunition uses a cartridge (case) that contains a large number of small projectiles (buckshot or buckshot) or a single bullet.

Ammunition components:

Cash register: The container that holds all the other components together. Usually made of brass or steel, cartridges are often a combination of brass and plastic.

Primer: A very small but explosive chemical compound that, when struck by the firing pin, ignites the gunpowder inside the case. The primer can be placed on the edge of the case (rimfire cartridge) or in the center of the base (centerfire cartridge).

Powder or Gunpowder: A chemical mixture that, when ignited, instantly turns into a forcefully expanding gas. Modern smokeless powder will burn slowly if lit outdoors (out of the box).

black powder: Much less stable than smokeless energy and is explosive even when ignited outdoors.

Projectile/Bullet: The solid object that is fired from the barrel of a gun at the target.

Slug: A solid projectile fired through the barrel of a shotgun, usually used for hunting large mammals.

Shooting: Shot, small droplets of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth shot fired from a shotgun.

There are some special rifle cartridges that are loaded with buckshot.

bullet: The common name for the projectile, commonly made of lead, fired from rifles and pistols.

Bullets come in various shapes, sizes, and different materials. The bullet is usually made of lead or may have a lead core and a jacket (jacket/cladding) made of copper or a copper alloy.

Bullets used for hunting are generally designed to expand on contact for maximum impact.

Full metal jacketed bullets that do not expand on contact are illegal for hunting.

Bullets used for target shooting usually have solid points or flat points that make smaller holes.

Different types of ammunition

Center Fire: The primer is a separate piece and is loaded in the center of the cartridge case. Most ammunition for rifles, shotguns, and pistols is centerfire. Centerfire cartridges are very reliable and can withstand high pressure. Centerfire cartridges can be reloaded at least once.

Rimfire: The primer is loaded on the rim (outer edge) of the cartridge case. This type of cartridge is a low power, low pressure cartridge used in small caliber pistols and rifles. Rimfire ammunition cannot be reloaded.