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The Bullet Cartridge

The method of using three separate components (projectile, powder & charge) to fire projectiles continued for hundreds of years until the late 19th century when the first firearm “cartridge” was introduced.

Diagram of a Bullet Cartridge

click to enlarge

The cartridge was a leap forward in firearm design in that, for the first time the projectile, powder and charge were all contained in one single piece. Often mistakenly referred to as a “bullet”, cartridges use metal casings (usually made of brass) to contain the projectile, the powder and the percussion cap in one weatherproof container. Thus was born the modern bullet cartridge consisting of four components:

  1. the case or shell (the exterior holding everything together)
  2. the projectile (bullet)
  3. the powder (black powder replaced later by smokeless black powder)
  4. the primer (replacing the percussion cap used to create the spark)

The modern cartridge is the most common type of ammunition used in the world today. See how it functions in a semi-auto pistol below:

Slug vs. Shot

A Bullet Slug

click to enlarge

While all cartridges are made up of the same four basic components of case, projectile, powder & charge, there are two primarily different types of cartridges used today with the projectile and case being the elements that define each. Most ammo cartridges contain a single projectile, often referred to as a “slug” or a “bullet”. However, there is a second type of cartridge that fires multiple projectiles which are referred to as “shot”. This, as you can imagine, is where a “shotgun” gets it’s name.

Typical bullet cartridges (also referred to as rounds) are designed for hitting a single target with accuracy being the primary goal. The majority of firearms including pistols, rifles and machine guns all use these types of rounds. Bullets are measured by their physical size which is referred to as “caliber”. Read more about bullet caliber here.

Buck Shot

click to enlarge

Shot cartridges are often referred to as “shells” or “shotgun shells” and typically contain multiple projectiles with the purpose of spreading the shot over a wide area. The primary purpose for this is hunting where a moving target is often difficult to hit with a single projectile. In most cases today, shotgun shells are made of plastic with a brass backing containing the primer.

Shotgun shells are measured in “gauge”, which is the weight, in fractions of a pound, of a pure lead round ball that is the same diameter as the internal diameter of the barrel. So, a shotgun is called 12 gauge because a lead sphere that just fits the inside diameter of the barrel weighs 1⁄12 of a pound.

Firing Method Evolution
Bullet Sizes
Mar 2, 2011S. Lawrence
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    I comment when I like a article on a site or if I have something to contribute to the discussion. It’s a result of the fire displayed in the article I read. And on this article. I was actually excited enough to create a thought 🙂 I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Is it just me or do a few of these remarks look like they are left by brain dead people? 😛 And, if you are posting at additional online sites, I’d like to keep up with anything fresh you have to post. Could you list every one of your public sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

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  16. Rachael
    8 years ago

    Hello. This graphic of the bullet is great and I want to license it for a television show. Can you get in touch with me asap? Thanks!

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  17. Kenny
    8 years ago

    And before anyone jumps my writing about caliber desigation there are a couple more things to consider. First of all this is a written definition of caliber. Caliber is the measured diameter of a bore on a firearm measuring from groove to groove, usually in thousandths of an inch, sometimes the measurement is metric. Also caliber is the measurement of the bullet’s diameter.

    When a verbal definition is being asked it is acceptable practice to shorten the wording. Typically only the tenths and hundredths of an inch of the bullet diameter are used when speaking of caliber. The thousandths are usually left unspoken. And in writing when the verbal shortening of the caliber or cartridge is used it is not appropriate to use a decimal point unless there is a zero in front of it. The correct written description of a 30-06 Springfield rifle does not have a decimal point in the cartridge name. It is NOT .30-06 Springfieldit’s, it is 30-06 Springfield.

    So the verbal and correctly spoken information for what caliber my 30-06 rifle is would be spoken “30 caliber” and not 0.308″. A perfect example this is the M1 Garand rifle. You will find the receiver stamped “US Rifle cal 30 M1”. No where on the rifle will be the chambering of 30-06 listed. A 40 S&W pistol is a “40 caliber” pistol. My 7.65X53 Argentine Mauser is a “31 caliber rifle”, it fires 0.311″ diameter bullets. Also notice no decimal point printed before the number when speaking of caliber. This is proper in the speaking of caliber. You don’t actually say “decimal point 31”, it’s just spoken “31 caliber”.

    As for the names of cartridges this where more confusion can occur. So I’ll put it this way. A cartridge can be named just like a child, for a lack of better explanation. The exception is that you can’t use a cartridge name that already exists. Any individual, given knowledge, resources, time, and finances, can create their own cartridge and name it whatever they wish. You’ll have to go to a tool and die maker to get the chamber reamer in addition to the loading dies being made for your “dream” cartridge. Then have a gunsmith chamber a barrel and install it on your action. There are companies that offer these services. If you want to build a “300 Sloberknocker” firing 0.308″ bullets you can do so. It’s going to be really expensive and take a long time to complete but can be done.

    This is how the firearm world is so amass with so many cartridges and there is no set standard system for how they are named. The vastly more successful cartridges end up being produced by commercial manufacturing companies.

    I hope you find this information helpful. If you wish to read more about this and other firearm/ammunition information I urge you to buy a copy of Mic McPherson’s book “Metallic Cartridge Handloading: Pursuit of the Perfect Cartridge” It is full of great information.

    ReplyCancel
    • Kurt
      7 years ago

      Hey Kenny Kurt here I was not impressed when they came out with the .17 Cal is it all it’s cracked up to be or was it just basically inventing a new caliber for all of the other things required to go with the new caliber loading equipment… Yada yada yada

      ReplyCancel
  18. Kenny
    8 years ago

    First of all there is no such thing as a “bullet cartridge”. A bullet is one of the four components that make up a cartridge. Bullets and cartridges are two totally separate things. Second of all this “bullet caliber” and “gun caliber” talk is ridiculous. The bullet diameter matches that of the groove diameter of the firearm. Unless you have a shot out barrel or are using the wrong ammunition for your firearm.

    It is a common mistake when people ask what “caliber” is a firearm that they receive an incorrect answer. The common answer is something such as 30-06, 8mm Remington Magnum, 308 Winchester, 9mm Luger. All wrong answers to the question of what “caliber” a firearm is. Those are correct answers as to what cartridge the firearm is CHAMBERED for. The correct answers for what CALIBER the guns are would be; 0.308″, 0.323″, 0.308″, 0.355″. Caliber is a measurement of bore diameter from groove to groove. The cartridge name is describing what the gun is chambered for.

    ReplyCancel
  19. Steve Mills
    9 years ago

    I just read that a SAS sniper shot 3 IS terrorists from 1 kilometre away, they were standing behind a 10 inch thick wall and they were all killed. It said that he used a 50 calibre, semiautomatic Barrel Light.

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  20. Bryan
    9 years ago

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  21. Kamarria
    10 years ago

    I found a bullet shell by my “dad’s” house, there were a couple. Is there any way I can figure out which gun they belong to?

    ReplyCancel
    • S. Lawrence
      9 years ago

      You’re best bet is to measure the smallest part or “mouth” of the shell. That will give you the best idea of what bullet caliber you’re dealing with.

      ReplyCancel
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    10 years ago

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  23. Andrew
    10 years ago

    Need definition & description of safety, dummy & wad cutter ammo. Have number of different handguns & rifles (.45, .357, .38, .22 etc.). I need to get to the range & practice much more but don’t want to go broke in the process. So are the types of ammo mentioned above the answer? My problem is that I have no knowledge about them what- so – ever. Could you help me about all aspects of the ammo mentioned &,or the place to obtain the info. requested? Thanks, Andy

    ReplyCancel
    • dseidens
      10 years ago

      hello andrew the answer to your problem is reloading and if you do not use shotguns then all you need to know to properly pick your ammo is this 22 is usually not a pick and choose your projectile wad cutter is for target practice and hollow point is used for self defense dummy and safety bullets are not to be used at the range EVER only keep them in your gun if you use it for self defense (YOU SHOULD KEEP IT IN A LOCK BOX NOT RELY ON THESE SAFETY DEVICES) as always use common sense with handling guns and always keep the safety on unless ready to fire

      ReplyCancel
    • S. Lawrence
      9 years ago

      Well, I’m not too sure about the terms you are using. “Safety” and “Dummy” ammo usually refers to practice rounds used for training. Those are not live cartridges, usually just aluminum or other metals and plastic combos for teaching you how to load and unload your firearm.

      .45, .357, and .38 are most typically handguns, Although there are a few rifles that shoot .45 caliber. .22, as mentioned in the article, is a small caliber, just 22/100s of an inch in diameter. It is used in both rifles and handguns primarily for target practice or varmine hunting. While still lethal, the .22 is one of the most common and smallest calibers available.

      ReplyCancel
  24. William Gordon
    10 years ago

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  25. Ralph Ernesti
    11 years ago

    Hi there I was wondering if you could give me a little bit of info on the cartridge shell I have got. My son was in the army and he bough me home a fully used cartridge with a projectile put back on the top of it.
    On the bottom of it there are this letter and numbers, C977 or it might be C677.
    The full length of the is 13.5 cm or 5.4 inches.
    I have had it for a while but I would just like to know the actual caliber of it as it is just a keep sake for me.
    Thank you for your time.
    PS: Just to let you know the primer has been used so I know it is a dead bullet.

    ReplyCancel
  26. LYNN DUVALL
    11 years ago

    Thanks for clarifying some important information for me!

    ReplyCancel
  27. saif
    11 years ago

    thank you,much appreciated

    ReplyCancel
  28. Larka
    11 years ago

    thank you so much!! for a beginner in ammo dealing this is so helpful!

    ReplyCancel
  29. Vijay
    11 years ago

    Its really a vry useful article. Especially for the begineers…..

    ReplyCancel
  30. Jeff
    14 years ago

    Well-written and simple to understand. Thanks for putting complex into an easy to digest format. Love the diagrams, too!

    ReplyCancel

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