Chapter 4

AMMUNITION

EXAMPLE OF AMMUNITION
 center fire

pin fire rim fire

 LEGAL
DEFINITION
Ammunition refers to loaded shell
for rifles, muskets, carbine, shotgun,
revolvers and pistols from which a ball,
shot shell or other missiles maybe fired
by means of gun powder or other
explosive. The term also includes
ammunition for air rifles as mentioned
elsewhere in the code. (Chapter VII, Sec.
290 of NIRC as well as Sec 877 RAC)
TECHNICAL
DEFINITION
Ammunition refers to a group of
cartridge or to a single cartridge.
Cartridge is a complete unfired unit
consisting of bullet (ball), primer
(cap), cartridge case (shell) and
gunpowder (propellant).
 ORIGIN:

The word cartridge was derived from the Latin word '' Charta ''
meaning - a "paper" and also from the French word "Cartouche"
meaning - a rolled paper. This only indicates that the first type of cartridge
was made up of a rolled paper. It was about the turn of the 16th century
that the term "cartridge" came to use.
1. Dummy (fake) model = a type of an ammunition which merely
resembles the genuine one. It is a carefully made replica of a
cartridge, usually of tool steel and dimensioned, to be used by
weapons instructor, inspector and repairman when checking the
functioning of the weapon.
2. Drill Ammunition (w/o gun powder) = It is a type of an
ammunition that is completely inert, without an explosive and are
use in mill training to practice loading and manipulation of the
gun. It is sometimes called "dummy" although in the strict sense
there is a difference.
3 . Blank Ammunition (w/o bullet)
= an ammunition without a bullet, containing gunpowder that is
designed to generate a loud noise to indicate firing. This type of
ammunition is used for theatrical performances or film making,
training dogs and military training.

4. Live Ammunition
= is the term applied for complete unit of unfired cartridge.
B. Classification of Cartridges
1. According to the location of the primer
a. Pin-fire = is a type of a cartridge in which the ignition cap (primer) is concealed
inside the cartridge case and has a pin resting upon it. The pin protrudes radially
through the side and the gun chamber has a notch for the pin to stand when
loaded and it will be struck by a falling hammer. This type of cartridge is said to
have been use by the French in the 1830's in shotgun ammunition and later in
revolver and pistol ammunition. At present, there are still some traces of this kind
although it is no longer being used nor manufactured
b. Rim-fire is a type of cartridge in which the priming mixture is located at the hallow rim
of the case and can be fired if the cartridge is tuck by the firing pin on the rim of the case
(cavity rim). It may be identified easily by the smooth base of the cartridge and which may
or may not have a head stamp in imprinted on it (1860-1880). At present, this type of
cartridge is entirely confined to the caliber .22 short, long
or magnum.

c. Center-fire = it refers to a cartridge in which the primer cap (ignition cap) is centrally placed in
the base of the cartridge case and the priming mixture is exploded by the impact of the firing pin and
with the support of the anvil. The flame produced by the ignition of the priming mixture will pass
through the vent or flash hole and will ignite and combust the gun powder.
Head stamp are frequently used and it consists of the design or latter imprinting on the shell head. It
sometimes contains the manufacturer or maker, as well as the date of manufacture.
2. According to Rim Diameter
a. Rimmed case type = a type of cartridge in which the case has a well defined
upstanding rim around the base or simply a cartridge with rim diameter greater than the
diameter of the body of the shell. A common example of this is caliber .22 and .38 used in
revolvers.

b. Semi-rimmed type = a cartridge with a case slightly rimmed. At first glance, the cartridge is a
rimless form but with a closer look, the rim is slightly greater than the diameter of the body. This was
invented by John Browning for an automatic pistol in 1903 for greater fit to the chamber. It is
commonly seen in 6.35 mm, 7.65 mm and 9mm, and Browning long automatic pistol cartridges
c. Rimless type = a type of a cartridge with a case having a rim diameter equal
to the diameter of the body, with an "extraction groove" cut around the base.
The advantage of its use is it allows the cartridge to slide to the magazine. This
is commonly used in 9mm and caliber .45 pistols.

d. Rebated type = refers to the cartridge with a rimless pattern, but which has a rim diameter
smaller than the body of the caşe. It is seen in some Oerlikon 20 mm cannon cartridge and later on
some custom built sporting rifles of unusual calibers.

e. Belted type = a cartridge with a prominent raise belt around its body just in front of the
extraction groove. This is used for two basic purposes: (1) to position the case and the projectile
accurately in the chamber and (2) to strengthen the rear of the case for use with high powered
propelling chargers.
3. According to Caliber
Caliber designation and their interpretation is one of the difficult Vic factors to
explain to a layman for its inconsistencies and to varieties.

In English-speaking countries, the caliber of the gun or cartridge use is expressed in

one-hundredth (0.01") or one thousandths (.001") of an inch. Thus, we have caliber .22
inch, .25 cal, .38 198 cal, .45 cal, etc.
 Calibers in cartridges in inches and their appropriate equivalent in mm
and use:
Inches MM Use
Cal .22 about 5.59mm used in revolvers, pistols and rifles
Cal .25 about 6.35mm used in pistols and rifles
Cal .30 about 7.63mm used in carbines and rifles
Cal .30 about 7.63mm (luger)
Cal .32 about 7.65mm for automatic pistols and revolvers
Cal .380 about 9mm used for pistols
Cal .38 about 9mm sed for revolver
Cal .357 about 9mm used (magnum) .357 revolver
Cal .44 about 11mm used in magnum .44 revolver
Cal .45 about 11mm used in automatic pistols
Cal .50 used in .50 cal machine gun
Shotgun Cartridge
It refers to a complete unit of unfired cartridge consisting of
the pellets, primer, case, wads and gunpowder.
Parts of the Shotgun Cartridge:
1. Case or casing = usually made from plastic or paper rolled
which houses the powder, pellets and wads.

2. Primer = a battery type primer containing the igniter.

3. Pellets = a number of lead shots contained in the case.

4. Wad = a paper designed to separate the pellets from the

powder charge.

5. Powder charge = also known as the propellant or gun

powder
Gauge of Shotgun
Compared with other types of firearms, the shotgun has very unique characteristics in terms of its diameter designation both for its firearm and cartridge use. The unit of
measurement used in shotgun is expressed in Gauge. This is determined by the number of solid lead balls of pure lead, each with diameter of the barrel that can be prepared
from one pound of lead. If for instance we have 12 balls that can be made out of one pound of lead and each ball exactly fitted to the inside of the barrel of a shotgun, the gun
is called a 12-gauge or 12 bore shotgun. Each lead ball for a 12-gauge should therefore weigh 1/12 of a pound. Such is applied in almost all types of shotgun in which the
diameter is expressed in a thousandth of an inch. At present the 10-gauge shotgun is considered with the biggest diameter while the .410 as the smallest one. Listed below
are the equivalents of diameter from gauge to inch.
GAUGE INCH

10 .775 INCH

12 .729 INCH

16 .670 INCH

20 .615 INCH

28 .550 INCH

410 .410 INCH

Types of Shots
1. Soft or Drop Shots - made by pure or nearly pure lead, to which a small amount of arsenic
has been added to make it take on the form of a spherical drop as it falls down the shot tower.
This type gets easily deformed or flattened, and they lose their velocity quicker, and it has a low
penetrating power and tends to string out more.
2. Chilled or Hard Shot - is a type of shot with a small amount of antimony mixed with
lead to increase hardness. It does not deform easily, has better patterns, less string and
more uniform velocity and penetration.
3. Coated or Plated Shot - also called as a "lubaloy" shot. It is a chilled shot coated with thin copper
through electroplating design for greater strength and elasticity, great resistance to
deformation and leading and better pattern.
4. Buck Shot = a large size lead shot for use in shotguns.
 Assignment Sheet No.4

1. Discuss briefly the origin of the cartridge.

II. Differentiate Ammunition from Cartridge.

III. Enumerate and illustrate/define the
following:
a. Cartridges according to the location of their
primer
b. Cartridges according to their rim and body
diameter.
c. Parts of the cartridge.
d. Parts of the Shotgun cartridge