Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge (also called a round, sometimes a shell) is a type of ammunition, consisting of a cylindrical casing (made of metal, usually brass) that has inside of it a bullet, gunpowder and primer. It is made to fit neatly in the chamber of a gun. This kind of cartridge became usual in the 19th century.
Cartridge (firearms) Media
Three non-bottlenecked cartridges (9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W and .45 ACP) on the left, three bottlenecked cartridges (FN 5.7×28mm, 5.56×45mm NATO and .300 Winchester Magnum) in the center, and two polymer-cased 12-gauge shotshells on the right
Smokeless powders used for handloading
- Percussion caps.jpg
Percussion caps, the precursor of modern primers
Comparison of primer ignition between centerfire (left two) and rimfire (right) ammunitions
Flash hole profiles on Berdan (left) and Boxer (right) primers.
US Cartridges 1860–1875*(1) Colt Army 1860 .44 paper cartridge, American Civil War*(2) Colt Thuer-Conversion .44 revolver cartridge, patented in 1868*(3) .44 Henry rim fire cartridge flat*(4) .44 Henry rim fire cartridge pointed*(5) Frankford Arsenal .45 Colt cartridge, Benét ignition*(6) Frankford Arsenal .45 Colt-Schofield cartridge, Benét ignition