All Things Ammunitions

Cartridge

a single unit of ammo consisting of the cartridge case, primer, propellant, and w/ or w/o one or more projectile(s)

Cartridge Case

the container for all the other components which comprise a cartridge

What part of the cartridge serves as a gas seal during firing?

cartridge case

Head

the base of the cartridge case which contains the primer

Where can the headstamp be found on a cartridge?

head

Headstamp

numeral, letters & symbols (or a combination) stamped into the head of a cartridge case or shotshell to identify the manufacturer, caliber, gauge, or other additional information

Bunter

die which produces the headstamp on rimfire cartridge cases or the headstamp & primer pocket on centerfire cartridge cases

What is a bunter often made from?

hardened steel

Mouth

the opening in the cartridge case into which the projectile(s) is seated

What part of the cartridge case is the arrow pointing to?

mouth

Web

solid portion of a brass centerfire cartridge case between the inside of the case at the head end & the bottom of the primer pocket

Extractor Groove

an annular groove cut in rimless, semi-rimmed, or belted cartridge cases forward of the head for the purpose of providing a surface that the extractor may grip to remove the case from the chamber

What part of the cartridge is the arrow pointing to?

extractor groove

Shoulder

section of a bottleneck cartridge case connecting the main body of the cartridge case & the smaller diameter neck

What part of the cartridge is the arrow pointing to?

shoulder

Neck

the reduced diameter, cylindrical portion of a cartridge case that extends from the top of the shoulder to the cartridge case mouth

What is the primary role of the neck of a cartridge case?

hold the bullet in place

What part of the cartridge case is the arrow pointing to?

neck

Primer Pocket

a cylindrical cavity formed in the head of a centerfire cartridge case or shotshell for the insertion of a primer or battery cup primer assembly

Flash Hole

a hole(s) pierced or drilled through the web in the primer pocket of a metallic cartridge case

Battery Cup

a type of primer using a flanged metallic cup as a holder for the primer components

What does battery cup do?

provide rigid support for primer cup & anvil

How many flash holes does the Berdan primer have?

2

Which country is a Berdan primer used in?

European countries

How many flash holes does the Boxer primer have?

1

What country is a Boxer primer used in?

USA & Canada

Centerfire Primer

primer system which is assembled central to the axis of the head of the cartridge case

Rimfire Primer

a primer system in which the priming mixture is found in the circumferential rim cavity

Cannelure

circumferential groove generally of a knurled or plain appearance on a bullet or cartridge case

Belted Cartridge

a cartridge case design having an enlarged band or belt at the base ahead of the extractor groove

What cartridge type is most commonly used for large capacity magnum cartridges?

belted

What type of cartridge is displayed?

belted

Bottleneck Cartridge Case

a cartridge case having a distinct angular shoulder stepping down to a smaller diameter at the neck position of the case

What type of cartridge is displayed?

bottleneck

Rebated-rim Cartridge

a centerfire having a cartridge case whose rim diameter is smaller than the diameter of the body of the case

What is the benefits of a rebated-rim cartridge?

larger body allows for greater powder capacity w/ smaller head size

What type of cartridge is displayed?

rebated-rim

Rimless Cartridge

a centerfire w/ a cartridge case whose case head is approximately the same diameter as the body, having a groove forward of the head to provide an extraction surface

Rimmed Cartridge

a cartridge case having a rimmed or flanged head that is larger in diameter than the body of the case

What type of cartridge is displayed?

rimmed

Semi-Rimmed Cartridge

a centerfire cartridge w/ a case having a case head only slightly larger in diameter than the body w/ an extractor groove just forward of the head

What type of cartridge is displayed?

semi-rimmed

Centerfire Cartridge

any cartridge that has its primer central to the axis in the head of the cartridge case

Rimfire Cartridge

a flange-headed cartridge containing the priming mixture inside the rim cavity

Where on a belted cartridge case is the headspace measured?

rear most part of chamber to the forward edge of the belt

This image displays the headspace measurement for which type of cartridge?

Belted Cartridge

Where on a bottleneck cartridge case is the headspace measured?

rear most part of chamber to the datum line of the cartridge

This image displays the headspace measurement for which type of cartridge?

Bottleneck or Rebated-rim

Where on a rebated-rim cartridge case is the headspace measured?

rear most part of chamber to datum line of cartridge

Where on a rimless cartridge case is the headspace measured?

rear most part of chamber to mouth of cartridge

This image displays the headspace measurement for which type of cartridge?

Rimless

Where on a rimmed cartridge case is the headspace measured?

rear most part of chamber to front end of case rim

This image displays the headspace measurement for which type of cartridge?

Rimmed

Meplat

a term describing the flat, measurable portion of a bullet, specifically the tip’s diameter

What portion of the bullet is being pointed to?

meplat

Mold Line/Mold Marks

the residual line on an object, such as a cast bullet, resulting from the flow of metal into the juncture where the two mold halves come together

Ogive

the curved portion of the bullet forward of the bearing surface

What portion of the bullet is indicated by the arrows?

ogive

Bearing Surface

that portion of a bullet’s outer surface that comes into direct contact w/ the interior surface of the barrel

What is another term for “bearing surface”?

band

What portion of the bullet is displayed?

bearing surface

Diameter

the maximum dimension across the largest cylindrical section of a bullet

Crimp

the inward shaping of the mouth of a cartridge case or shotshell to secure the projectile(s)

Core of Bullet

the inner portion of a jacketed bullet often made of lead

Shank

the cylindrical, full-diameter part of the bullet’s body, located behind the curved nose section & before the base

Full Metal Jacket Bullet

a projectile in which the bullet jacket encloses the entire bullet w/ the usual exception of the base

What is the abbreviation for a full metal jacketed bullet?

FMJ

Total Metal Jacket Bullet

a projectile made by copper plating a lead core to create a jacket that encloses the entire bullet

What is the abbreviation for a total metal jacketed bullet?

TMJ

Semi-Jacketed Soft Point Bullet

a jacketed expanding bullet w/ soft metal core enclosed by a stronger metal jacket left open at the forward tip

What is the abbreviation for a semi-jacketed soft point bullet?

SJSP

Hollow Point Bullet

a projectile w/ a cavity in the nose to facilitate expansion

What type of bullet is displayed?

hollow point

Jacketed Hollow Point Bullet

a bullet having a metal jacket enclosing a lead alloy core

Wadcutter Bullet

generally cylindrical projectile design having a sharp, shouldered nose intended to cut target paper cleanly to facilitate easy & accurate scoring

What type of bullet is displayed?

wadcutter

Semi-Wadcutter Bullet

a projectile w/ a distinct, short truncated cone on a cylindrical body w/ sharp shoulders

What type of bullet is displayed?

semi-wadcutter

Frangible Bullet

a projectile designed to disintegrate upon impact w/ a hard surface in order to minimize ricochet

Truncated-Nose Bullet

a design of flat-nosed projectile having a conical rather than rounded profile

What type of bullet is displayed?

truncated-nose

Heel

the rear portion of a bullet, or its base

Concave Base

hollow-based bullet, rear end of projectile is recessed or “hollowed out”

Boattail Bullet

a specific design of projectile having a tapered or truncated conical base

What type of bullet is displayed?

boattail

Spitzer Bullet

a projectile design having a sharp pointed nose, a long ogive & sometimes a boattail base

What type of bullet is displayed?

spitzer

What is the ratio of copper:zinc for gilding metal?

95:5

What is the ratio of copper:zinc in commerical bronze?

90:10

What are the two prevalent copper alloys used for bullet jackets?

gilding metal & commercial bronze

What is the ratio of copper:zinc for brass used for cartridge cases?

70:30

What is the ratio of copper:zinc for “Red Brass”?

85:15

What are the essential components of priming mixtures in modern cartridges?

Explosive, oxidizer, & fuel

What part of modern cartridges are responsible for initiating the propellant that moves the projectile down the barrel of a FA?

Primer

What is the most common formula of components for priming mixtures?

Lead styphnate, barium nitrate, & antimony sulfide

Which component in modern priming mixtures serves as the shock-sensitive compound that results in detonation when struck?

Explosive

Which component in modern priming mixtures is the chemical that provides the needed oxygen for the explosive & fuels the burn?

Oxidizer

Which component in modern priming mixtures burns when ignited?

Fuel

Steel Core Ammunition

ammo w/ steel core or that has steel in core

Steel Case Ammunition

ammo which the cartridges contain steel casing rather than the traditional brass casing