Basic Components of Ammunition

• cartridge is a single unit of ammunition
• cartridge = bullet, propellant, primer and case
• A Round = a loaded cartridge
• Case
  Container that holds the other ammunition components. Ammunition Cases are usually made of brass, steel, or copper and have been paper or foil
• Primer
  Explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the base of the case (centerfire).
• Gunpowder
  Chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to expanding gas
• Projectile
  Object pushed from the barrel
  Bullet is a projectile, usually containing lead, fired through a handgun barrel
• Centerfire ammunition
  Used in rifles, shotguns, and handgun
  Primer is located in the center of the case base
  Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable
• Rimfire Ammunition
  Primer compound contained in the rim of the ammunition case
  Rimfire ammunition are low-pressure loads
  Rimfire cartridges are not reloadable.

The Basics of Ammunition

• How does ammo fire?
• What is the Best Self Defense Round?
• Is old ammunition safe to shoot?
• How Should You Store your Ammo?

Handgun Cartridges

Caliber

How does ammo fire?

•  guns firing pin hits the primer
• This causes a spark
• primer to ignite the gunpowder
• Gas is converted from the burning powder
• Expanding gas creates pressure
• Pressure forces the projectile out of the case
• projectile forced down the barrel of the gun