At the end of the day, a firearm is just a fancy projectile launcher. It shoots a bullet (made of lead, or sometimes coated in copper) at a high velocity. But how that bullet gets fired? That’s where things get interesting. It all starts with the cartridge.
So, what’s in a cartridge? First, you have the bullet. That’s the part that leaves the barrel and hits your target. But you need more than just a bullet. You need propellant to launch it. That’s what people usually call “gunpowder,” but that’s not exactly right.
Back in the day, the Chinese invented this stuff that got refined over centuries. We call it “black powder” now. It was used for guns until the late 1800s when a new, cleaner-burning powder was created. They called it “smokeless powder,” which is what’s in most cartridges today.
Next, you need something to light that powder. Early on, a clever minister figured out that striking some mercury compounds would create a spark hot enough to ignite gunpowder. That led to the percussion cap, a little cup filled with a “priming compound.” Before cartridge guns, these caps were attached to the firearm, and a hammer hit them to start the fire. You know what? Maybe that’s where the phrase “bust a cap” came from!
Then, finally, Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson figured out the whole cartridge thing. They put a primer, powder, and a bullet all into a brass case. This “projectile delivery system” was waterproof, cheap to make, and the rest is history. The cartridge case holds it all together and, for a long time, they were made of brass. That’s why we still call them “brass” even though they might be made of steel these days.
There are two main types of cartridges: rimfire and centerfire. The difference is how the gun powder gets ignited. Most cartridges are called “rounds.”
The most popular cartridge in the world is the rimfire .22 caliber long rifle cartridge. People use it for hunting small game, getting rid of pests, target practice, and even personal protection (though it’s not super powerful). It’s hard to beat the .22 for versatility.
In a rimfire round, the priming compound is poured into the base of the empty cartridge case, around the rim. After it dries, powder goes in, and then the bullet is added. When you hit the rim of the case, it sets off the primer, which lights the powder, and boom! The case is permanently dented, so you can’t reload it.
Centerfire cartridges are the other big type. The primer is put in a recess in the center of the case. Since the primer is self-contained, you can easily remove the spent cases and reload them. That’s one reason why they’re popular with shooters.
Okay, this last bit is important because it’s easy to get confused. When you’re dealing with firearms, you’ll hear all sorts of terms tossed around, and sometimes they’re not used right. Our definition of a “cartridge” is a completely self-contained metallic device with a single bullet, gunpowder, and a primer. A “shell,” however, is a self-contained cylinder containing a primer, powder, and one or more projectiles, separated from the powder by something called a “wad.”
Shells are mostly used in shotguns. There are even some “shot shells” meant for handguns, used for things like snake and rodent control. They’re sometimes called “rat shot” or “snake shot.”
So, there you have it – a quick breakdown of bullets, cartridges, and shells. Remember, knowledge is power, especially when it comes to guns! Be safe, be smart, and enjoy your shooting.