AMMUNITION

for moderns small arms

by CDK /DBGD Jan2007

Definition of AMMUNITION

 Ammunition is the generic military

term referring to the assembly of a
projectile, propellant, casing, and
primer.
 The alternative term for ammunition
is CARTRIDGE.
Definition of CARTRIDGE

 ‘Cartridge’ is used to describe a

complete unfired unit consisting
of bullet, cartridge case,
propellant, & primer.
 ‘Cartridge’ may have been
derived from the Latin word
charta (paper) or from the French
cartouche (a roll of paper).
Take note that …

✓ Ammunition for rifles and handguns

are usually called CARTRIDGES.
✓ Ammunition for large caliber guns
(such as artillery) are called
SHELLS.
✓ Ammunition for shotguns are called
SHOTS.
Legal definition of AMMUNITION
Ammunition refers to any loaded shell for
rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers,
and pistols from which bullets, balls, shots,
shells, or other missiles maybe fired by
means of gunpowder or other explosives.
The term also includes ammunition for air rifles
that are not used as toys.
Ammo for modern small arms
 The standard ammo being
discussed in this module refers to
cartridges loaded in modern small
arms.
 Most modern small arms are
loaded with ammunition classified
as center-fire cartridges.
Classification of CARTRIDGES

Ammo for modern small arms can

be classified according to -
1. common types of firearms
2. location of primer
3. rim
4. power
Types of ammunition according to
common types of firearms

1. Revolver cartridge
2. Pistol cartridge
3. Cartridge for assault & hunting
rifle
4. Shotgun cartridge
5. Caseless cartridge
Types of Handgun Ammo

Revolver Cartridges
- cartridges with straight
rimmed-case
Types of Handgun Ammo

Pistol Cartridges

- cartridges with
straight rimless
casing
Rifle Cartridges

- cartridges that have

bottleneck case

- some rifle
cartridges have
tapered and
rimmed case
Rifle cartridge
Shotgun shell

- cartridge with
straight rimmed
shell
Shotgun shell components
Caseless Cartridge

-no metallic
case
- bullet is either
protruding or
enclosed with
hard paper
together with
the gunpowder
Types according to location of primer

1. Needle-fire cartridge
2. Tit-fire cartridge
3. Tail-fire cartridge
4. Pin-fire cartridge
5. Rim-fire cartridge
6. Center-fire cartridge
Rim-fire Cartridge
Center-fire Pistol Cartridge
Center-fire Rifle Cartridge
Types according to rim

1. Rimmed cartridge
2. Semi-rimmed cartridge
3. Rimless cartridge
4. Rebated cartridge
5. Belted cartridge
Rimmed Rifle Cartridge
Rimmed Cartridges for Handguns

- with straight-shaped case

Rimless Cartridges
Rebated Cartridge
Belted Cartridge
Types according to power
1. Low-power Cartridge
– with MV of less than 1,850 fps
2. High-power Cartridge
– with MV of 1,900 fps to 2,500 fps
3. High-intensity Cartridge
– with MV of more than 2,500 fps
Common Handgun Ammo
Cartridge MV (fps) Wt (Gr.)

.22 Rim-fire STD 1,090 36

.32 AUTO (7.65 AUTO) 905 71

.380 AUTO (9mm Short, .380 ACP) 870 95

.355 cartridge 1,000 90

9mm AUTO (Luger or Parabellum) 1,155 124

cal .38 SPL (.38 S&W Special) 900 140

Common Handgun Ammo
Cartridge MV (fps) Weight (Gr.)
.40 AUTO (Smith&Wesson) 1,200 155

.44 Magnum (Remington) 1,375 240

.45 AUTO (.45 ACP) 880 230

.454 Magnum (Casull) 1,625 300

.475 Magnum (Linebaugh) 1,500 370

.50 Magnum (Action Express) 1,400 325

Common Rifle Ammo
Cartridge MV (fps) Wt (Gr.)
4.73mm Caseless 3,200 52
5.56 mm Military (.233 Remington) 3,020 64
.270 Rifle (Winchester) 3,060 130
.30-30 Rifle (7.62x51 mm) 2,390 150
7mm Magnum (Remington) 2,860 175
7.62mm Soviet (AK47) 2,350 125
7.62mm Military (.308 Winchester) 2,625 180
.300 Magnum (Winchester) 2,825 200
.416 Magnum (Remington) 2,370 410
.50 Military (.50 BMG) 2,810 720
Anatomy of AMMUNITION
Cased center-fire ammunitions have 4 major
components, which are as follows:

1. Bullet – or slug
2. Cartridge case – or shell
3. Gunpowder – or propellant
4. Primer – or percussion
Bullet
– also called slug
– the projectile propelled from the firearm
by means of the expansive force of
gases coming from burning gunpowder
Cartridge case

– also called shell

– tubular metallic container for
gunpowder, primer & projectile
Gunpowder
- the propellant inside the cartridge
intended to be burned to generate
pressure that propel the bullet
Primer
- also called percussion
- composed of the metal cup and priming
mixture
Other parts of modern cartridge

 Head stamp  Brass case

 Primer cup  Shoulder
 Priming mixture  Neck Crimp
 Anvil  Cannelure
 Flash hole or vent  Metal jacket
 Rim  Lead core
 Extractor groove  Nose or tip
Cut-away views of different
cartridges

from firearmsID.com
 Go to the website of
firearmsID.com for more
illustrations

Simply type http://www.firearmsid.com

at the address bar then click go.
Regular Ammo vs. Magnum Ammo

.38 .357
SPL MAGNUM
Regular Ammo vs. Magnum Ammo

If we take .38 SPL cartridge as

example of regular ammo, a good
counterpart should be .357 magnum.
Although these 2 ammo have almost
the same caliber, .357 magnum is
more powerful than .38 SPL.
.38 SPL vs .357 Magnum

✓Magnum ammo has more gunpowder

than a regular ammo
✓.375 magnum ammo has 1.290 inch
case length, .38 SPL has only 1.155
inch case length
✓Thus, a bullet from .357 magnum
travels much faster and has greater
impact than the bullet of .38 SPL
Regular Ammo vs Magnum Revolver Ammo

.22 std .22 Magnum

Regular vs Magnum Pistol Ammo

.45 ACP .44 Magnum