Understanding Ammunition Types and Definitions

Definition of Ammunition

• Ammunition encompasses loaded shells for various firearms including rifles, shotguns, and pistols, utilizing gunpowder or other explosives to propel projectiles.
• It includes air rifle ammunition, defined as complete unfired units comprising a bullet, gunpowder, cartridge case, and primer.

Technical Definition and Types

• A cartridge is a complete unfired unit including bullet (ball), primer, cartridge case, and gunpowder.
• Dummy Ammunition: Replica cartridges made for training and inspection purposes.
• Drill Ammo: Inert cartridges used for firearms training without explosive propellant.
• Blank Ammunition: Cartridges without bullets, producing sound and recoil, often used in training and theatrical performances.
• Live Ammunition: Real cartridges that are fully functional and unfired.

Classification by Effects

• Penetrators: Utilize a single bullet to pierce targets.
• High Explosives: Detonate before reaching targets, scattering fragments or creating jets of molten metal.
• Carrier Projectiles: Designed to disperse submunitions or materials upon nearing the target.

Riot Control Ammunition

• Employed by law enforcement to manage riots while minimizing serious injuries.
• Includes hard rubber bullets and soft rubber rings containing tear gas, designed to inflict less harm than conventional bullets.

Etymology of "Cartridge"

• The term originates from the Latin "charta" meaning paper, evolving through the French "cartouche", indicating historical use of paper in early cartridges.

Classification of Cartridges by Primer Location

• Pin-Fire: Obsolete self-exploding cartridges from around 1896 with concealed ignition caps.
• Rim Fire: Simple modern cartridges where priming mixture is located in the rim, ignited by striking the rim.
• Developed in 1845 by Flobert, marking the first rim cartridge.

Classification by Rim Diameter

• Rimmed Type: Has a diameter exceeding the cylindrical portion, commonly used in revolvers.
• Semi-Rimmed Type: Slightly wider rim than the body diameter.
• Rimless Cartridge: Diameters of the base and body are equal.
• Rebated Type: Smaller rim than the body.
• Belted Type: Cartridges attached in series for automatic firing.

Caliber and Corresponding Measurements

• .22 caliber approximately equals 5.59 mm; used in revolvers, pistols, and rifles.
• .25 caliber approximately equals 6.35 mm; applicable for pistols and rifles.
• .30 caliber, also at 7.63 mm, used for Mauser and Luger rifles.
• Various calibers range from .32 (7.65 mm) to .60, with a note on conversions (Caliber to millimeter: multiply by 25.4).

Shotgun Cartridges

• Consist of pellets, primer, case, wads, and gunpowder; essential for shotgun operation.

Gauge of Shotgun

• Gauges range from 10 (0.775 inch) to .410 (0.410 inch), with specific measurements noted.

Types of Shots

• Soft or Drop Shots: Made primarily from lead with added arsenic for shape retention.