22.

the projectiles with their fuses, propelling charges, or primers fired from guns

22.1 The basic components of ammunition are the case, primer, powder, and projectile(s). Shotshells
have an additional component called wad.

22.2

23. The cartridge case is the envelope (container) of a cartridge. For rifles and handguns it is usually a
metal cylindrical tube, normally made of brass but sometimes of steel. It holds the bullet at the neck, the
propellant charge inside, and the primer in its base.

23.1 The modern cartridge case serves several important functions: Contains the other components
(projectile, primer, propellant) in a single unit for convenience of handling and loading. Resists the firing-
pin blow during ignition. Forms a gas seal (obturation).

23.2

24. a metal projectile for firing from a rifle, revolver, or other small firearm, typically cylindrical and
pointed, and sometimes containing an explosive.
24.1 The term is from Middle French and originated as the diminutive of the word boulle (boullet),
which means "small ball". Bullets are made of a variety of materials such as copper, lead, steel, polymer,
rubber and even wax.

24.2 The first bullets were simple cast-lead balls. With the advent of rifling in barrels, spin stabilization
made elongated bullets possible. The field of bullet shapes then expanded enormously. Today, we
recognize the following shapes of elongated bullets: round nose, semi-round nose, flat nose, wadcutter,
semiwadcutter, pointed or spitzer-tangent ogive. Additionally, modern bullets are offered with several
base configurations.

25 Primers are made of a copper or brass alloy cup with a brass anvil and are filled with an impact-
sensitive lead styphnate igniter. The metal parts of the primer are usually nickel-plated to resist
corrosion. Propellants can vary from black gunpowder to a more modern smokeless powder which
contains nitrocellulose.

25.1 Bullets are made of a lead alloy, often containing tin and antimony. Some bullets have a thick jacket
of copper over the out-side for improved performance.

Cases are made of brass, steel, or aluminum. Brass is the most common. Shotgun shells are often made
with a polypropylene

Many handgun and rifle bullets used for competition shooting are cost using conventional costing
methods. The molten lead is poured into the bullet mold cavity, cooled quickly, and then extracted from
the mold. The typical brass case is formed from annealed sheet by drawing with a multiple punch and
die set.

Many handgun and rifle bullets used for competition shooting are cost using conventional costing
methods. The molten lead is poured into the bullet mold cavity, cooled quickly, and then extracted from
the mold. The typical brass case is formed from annealed sheet by drawing with a multiple punch and
die set.

plastic case attached to a metal base. A few handgun cartridge cases have been made of plastic, but
have not received wide acceptance.

Primers are made of a copper or brass alloy cup with a brass anvil and are filled with an impact-sensitive
lead styphnate igniter. The metal parts of the primer are usually nickel-plated to resist corrosion.

Propellants can vary from black gunpowder to a more modern smokeless powder which contains
nitrocellulose. Propellants are carefully formulated to ignite and create an expanding gas that
accelerates the bullet down the barrel. The expansion rate, physical size and shape of the powder
particles, and the stability of the propellant are all important factors in the chemical formula used to
produce it.

25.2 There are two basic types of modern centerfire primers: Boxer and Berdan. Ammunition made in
the U.S. generally uses Boxer primers. Boxer primer cups have a small bit of primary explosive material
inside the base. Directly above that is an internal anvil. When the firing pin hits the base of the primer
cup, the unstable stuff is driven into the anvil portion of the primer, thereby igniting the primer
compound. A flame shoots through the flash hole of the cartridge case and ignites the propellant
charge.
Berdan primers rely on an anvil that’s built into the primer cup area of the cartridge case itself. For lack
of a better word, you’ll see a little “nub” that protrudes into the primer pocket area of the case. Since
the nub is in the middle, the flash holes have to be elsewhere. For that reason, Berdan cases have two
flash holes on either side of the anvil. The primer itself has no internal anvil, so the compound is pushed
against the anvil part of the case to cause ignition.

Both types are technically reloadable, but Berdan is a royal pain in the butt. Fortunately, most (really all)
of what most reloaders deal with is Boxer cases and primers. Those are easy to remove from fired cases.
As the flash hole is in the center, a pin in the resizing die simply pushes the spent primer out the bottom
of the case. Easy peasy.