When we speak of ammunition, the R.A.

10591, article 1, section 3, paragraph (b)

provides that ammunition refers to a complete unfixed unit consisting of bullet,
gunpowder, cartridge case and primer or loaded shell for use in any firearm.

Parts of Pistol ammunition(short barrel ammunition)

The 9mm has four main components: bullet, casing, propellant, and primer.
Altogether these components make up the cartridge.

The Full Metal Jacket(FMJ) bullet has a lead core with a thin copper casing (jacket). The
casing is commonly made out of cartridge brass, an alloy of 70% copper and 30%
zinc.
The propellant used in small pistol ammunition, including the 9mm, is double-base
smokeless powder; “double-base” refers to utilizing both nitrocellulose and
nitroglycerin as its charge.
The primer has 3 main components: anvil, cup, and chemical compound. The anvil
and cup are both made out of cartridge brass. The chemical compound varies
between manufacturers, but all small pistol primers contain Lead Styphnate,
Barium Nitrate, and Antimony Sulfide.

Case
The container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It’s usually
made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic.
Gunpowder
A chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to an expanding gas when ignited.
Modern smokeless powder will burn slowly when ignited in the open (outside of the
case). Black powder is less stable and can be explosive when impacted or ignited in
the open.
Primer
An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing
pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the
base of the case (centerfire).
Projectile
The object(s) expelled from the barrel. A bullet is a projectile, usually containing lead,
fired through a rifle or handgun barrel. A slug is a solid projectile, usually of lead, fired
through a shotgun barrel. Shot is a group of lead, steel, tungsten alloy, or bismuth
pellets fired through a shotgun barrel.

Revolver
Revolver: Handgun that has a cylinder with holes to contain the cartridges. The
cylinder revolves to bring the cartridge into position to be fired. This is “single-action”
when the hammer must be cocked before the trigger can fire the weapon. It is
“double-action” when pulling the trigger both cocks and fires the gun.
1. Bullet. This refers to a projectile propelled from a firearm by means of explosive
force of gases coming from burning powder.
2. Cartridge Case. This refers to a tubular metallic container for the gunpowder.
Sometimes called “shell”.
3. Primer. This refers to a metal cap containing a highly sensitive priming mixture
of chemical compound which when hit or struck by the firing pin, it would ignite.
4. Propellant- used to describe a substance which contains both the reaction
mass and the fuel that holds the energy used to accelerate the reaction mass.
5. Rim- which provides the extractor on the firearm a place to grip the casing to
remove it from the chamber once fired.
 6. Flash hole- serving as the passageway through which the ignition flame travels
from the primer to the propellant.
7. Crimp. This refers to a portion of a cartridge case that is bent inward to hold the
shot in place.

RIFLE
A firearm having rifling in the bore and designed to be fired from the shoulder. Also
called a long gun.

 Bullet. This refers to a projectile propelled from a firearm by means of explosive

force of gases coming from burning powder.
 Cartridge Case. This refers to a tubular metallic container for the gunpowder.
Sometimes called “shell”.
 Primer. This refers to a metal cap containing a highly sensitive priming mixture
of chemical compound which when hit or struck by the firing pin, it would ignite.
 Propellant- used to describe a substance which contains both the reaction
mass and the fuel that holds the energy used to accelerate the reaction mass.
 Crimp. This refers to a portion of a cartridge case that is bent inward to hold the
shot in place.
 Cannelure. A serrated groove or depression rolled around the body of the bullet
usually used in bottleneck cartridge. Sometimes it is called crimping, when used
in a straight cartridge.

Shotgun Cartridge/Ammunition
Cartridge for shotgun have of course a shotgun shell. It is also called shot shell
and its body may be a metal or plastic or paper with a metal head which is the subject
for examination.
It contains multiple projectiles or pellets called shots. A single projectile in a
shotgun shell is called slug. Shots and slugs are traditionally made of lead.

Parts of Shotgun Cartridge/Ammunition

[Link] Cup. This refers to a plastic cup that holds shot in pattern as or leaves from
the muzzle of the gun
2. Tube or Case. This refers to a paper tube or case with mouth closed by rolled
crimps.
3. Primer. This serves as to ignite the gun powder.
4. Powder Charge. The one that burns upon ignition by the primer.
5. Crimp. This refers to a portion of a cartridge case that is bent inward to hold the
shot in place.
6. Wad. This serves as a gas seal.
7. Shots. This refers to pellets such as: soft shot (pure lead), hard shot (lead hardened
by antimony), Plated shot, (coated with cupronickel) steel shot.

CARTRIDGE CASE
This refers to a tabular metallic or non-metallic container which hold together the
bullet, gunpowder and primer. It serves as a means whereby the bullet, gunpowder
and primer are assembled into a unit.

PARTS OF A CARTRIDGE CASE

1. RIM. It serves the purpose of limiting the forward travel of the cartridges into
their chambers and this also limit the clearance. If any between the heads and the
supporting surface of the bolt or breech block.
2. PRIMER POCKET. This performs the following functions:
a. Holding primer securely in control position
b. Providing or means to prevent the escape of jobs to the rear of the cartridges.
c. Providing a solid support from primer anvil without which the latter could not be
fired.
3. VENTS OR FLASH HOLE. This refers to the hole in the web or bottom of the
primer pocket thought which the primer “flash” impart ignition to the primer charges.
The “opening” or “canal” that connects the priming mixture with the gunpowder.
4. THE HEAD/BODY. This constitute the “cork” that plugs the breech of the barrel
against the escape of the gas.
5. NECK. That part of the cartridge case that is occupied by the bullet.
6. CANNELURES. This refers to the serrated grooves that are sometimes found
“rolled” into the neck and bodies of the cases at the location of the bullets bases to
prevent the bullet from being pushed back or loosened.
a. CRIMP. This refers to that part of the mouth of the cases that is turned in upon
the bullet. It aids in holding the bullet in place.
7. BASE. The portion of case which contains:
a. The primer which contains the priming mixture
b. The shell head which contains the head stamp caliber and the year of
manufacture.
8. SHOULDER. A portion of that cartridge which support the neck.
9. EXTRACTION GROOVE. This refers to the circular grooves near the base of the
case of shell designed for automatic withdrawal of the case after each firing.

According to base/head forms:

A. RIMMED – designed to use in revolvers, the diameter of the base of the

cartridges is very much bigger than the diameter of the body of the cartridges.
B. SEMI-RIMMED – designed to be used in automatic weapons like pistols and
sub-inactive gums such as super .38 uz1, 9mm.
C. RIMLESS – case within the diameter of the body of the cartridges is the same
as the diameter of the cartridges case.
D. REBATED – this cartridge case was designed to provide the ability of having a
larger diameter case but with an existing smaller bolt face. The rebated rimmed
cartridge case was made to allow large diameter cartridge case.
E. BELTED – this belted cartridge case attempted to combine the smooth feeding
characteristics of the rimless with the consistent headspacing of the rimmed. Most
common usage of this cartridge case is in magnum rifle. The belted case was
designed to provide positive headspacing and allow magazine feeding.

Chemical Compositions of Primers

a. Formula of a Typical Mercuric Primer
Potassium Chlorate (initiator & fuel) --------------------------------------- 45%
Antimony Sulfide (element & fuel) ----------------------------------------- 23%
Fulminate of Mercury (initiator) --------------------------------------------- 32%
b. Standard Mixture used by Frankford Arsenal, known as FH-42
Sulfur--------------------------------------------------------------------------21.97%
Potassium Chloride----------------------------------------------------------47.20%
Antimony Sulfide------------------------------------------------------------30.83%
c. Winchester Repeating Arms Primer Company Formula, the 35-NF
Potassium Chloride----------------------------------------------------------52%
Antimony Sulfide------------------------------------------------------------18%
Lead Sulpho Cyanide--------------------------------------------------------25%
Tri-Nitro Toluene------------------------------------------------------------- 5%
 d. Typical Rim-Fire Priming Compound, Used in Caliber .22 cartridge
Potassium Chlorate--------------------------------------------------------- 41.43%
Antimony Sulfide----------------------------------------------------------- 9.54%
Copper Sulpho-Cyanide--------------------------------------------------- 4.70%
Ground Glass--------------------------------------------------------------- 44.23%
e. German Formula on Priming Compound (Barium Nitrate Replaced Potassium
chlorate)
Fulminate of Mercury-------------------------------------------------------39%
Barium Nitrate---------------------------------------------------------------41%
Antimony Sulfide-------------------------------------------------------------9%
Picric Acid---------------------------------------------------------------------5%
Ground Glass------------------------------------------------------------------6%
f. Formula of the Swiss Inventor Karl Ziegler (Non-Corrosive Priming Compound)
Fulminate of Mercury-------------------------------------------------------- 40%
Barium Nitrate----------------------------------------------------------------- 25%
Antimony Sulfide------------------------------------------------------------- 25%
Barium Carbonate------------------------------------------------------------- 6%
Ground Glass------------------------------------------------------------------- 4%

Major Components Inside the Primer

1. The Initiator. It contains Lead styphnate (Pb) which is set off with a sharp low,
as when firing pin strikes the primer cup.

2. The Oxidizer. It contains Barium Nitrate (Ba) which gives up its oxygen readily;
the oxygen is needed to burn the fuel.

3. The Fuel. It contains Antimony Sulfide (Sb) which burns at a very high rate; the
purpose of this initial burn, is to ignite the gunpowder, which propels the bullet.

Types/parts of bullet
Bullet is a part of a cartridge consisting of lead or jacketed projectile propelled from a
firearm by means of heated gas coming from the burning powder charge.

Parts of a Bullet
1. Base. The portion of a bullet that receives the thrust and heat from the burning
powder. Sometimes gas check is place on the base to prevent melting of bullet.
2. Bearing Surface. The body of the bullet that contacts the lands and grooves
in the barrel. The body of the bullet should fit the bore of the barrel enough, to
prevent the exit of the heated gas ahead of the bullet.
3. Cannelure. A serrated groove or depression rolled around the body of the bullet
usually used in bottleneck cartridge. Sometimes it is called crimping, when used
in a straight cartridge.
4. Core. A mass of lead in a bullet covered with jacket. This lead component
sometimes, contains other metals for special purposes, such as, for better
penetration.
5. Head Height. The length in the portion of the bullet from the shoulder to the
tip.
6. Heel. The portion the bullet where the heel is measured towards the beginning
of bearing surface.
7. Jacket. Part of the bullet, different from the lead that covers the entire lead
core. The usual materials used include copper, brass, steel, and aluminum.
 8. Meplat. This refers to a French term meaning – flat surface. The technical term
for the flat or open tip on the nose of a bullet. The diameter of the flat or blunt
end of the nose or ogive of a bullet.
9. Ogive. This refers to the tapered or curved part of the bullet, beyond the
bearing surface, towards the tip of the bullet.
10. Point. The forward portion of the ogive or tip of the bullet.
11. Shoulder. Refers to the end portion of the body of the bullet, where the
parallel side is inserted in the cartridge case.

Classification according to shape

Boat Tail. This refers to a bullet with a base tapering to smaller diameter.
Hollow Point Bullet. Refers to a bullet with an open ogive or nose, designed to
increase an expansion when it hits the target.
Spitzer. A type of bullet having a sharply pointed nose. This is more effective than
the round ball of the same weight because, there is less surface presented to the air
and the speed of the bullet encountered less air resistance thus, it moves with
unhampered speed.

According to purpose
Soft Point. Having an exposed lead on the tip of the bullet and broader point
diameter, provides controlled expansion of the jacket on the bullet at the lower
velocity.
Lead Full – Wad Cutter. The full wad cutter profile cuts clean in paper targets for
precise scoring.
Lead Semi-Wad Cutter. Use for clean hole punching in paper targets.
Lead Round Nose. Solid lead bullet with rounded ogive for down-range accuracy.
Full Metal Jacket. The lead-core of this bullet is covered with a jacket, except the
base, which results in little expansion, but with deep penetration. This also called ball
ammunition.

Prominent Persons behind the Invention and Development of Firearms

[Link]. Calvin H. Goddard. Known to be the Father of Modern Ballistics.

2. Horace Smith. Founder of Smith and Wesson and pioneered the making of Breech
loading rifles.
3. Daniel B. Wesson. An associate of Horace Smith in revolver making.
4. John M. Browning. Wizard of modern firearms and pioneered the breech loading
single shot rifle.
5. John Thompson. The one who pioneered the making of Thompson Sub-Machine
Gun.
6. David “Carbine” Williams. The maker of the first firearm known carbine.
7. Alexander John Forsyth. The father of percussion ignition.
8. Elisha King Root. The one who designed the machinery for making Colt Firearms.
9. Elephalet Remington. Pioneered for the making of rifle.
10. John Mahlon Marlin. The founder of Marlin Firearms Company.
11. James Wolfe Ripley. Stimulated the development of the Model 1855 rifle
musket.
12. Samuel Colt. Known of becoming a gun maker.
13. Henry Derringer. Known of his name to whole class of firearms, rifles and pistols.
14. John C. Garand. He designed and invented the semi-automatic US Rifle, Cal. .30,
M1.
15. Oliver F. Winchester. One of the earliest rifles and pistols makers.
16. Charles Dorchester and George Sullivan. Engage in Armalite business in
1950.
17. Richard Gatling. He developed the hand crank machine gun.
18. Oscar Mossberge. The maker of high quality cal. .22 rifle, sporting rifle and
pump action shotgun.
19. Fedor Tokarev. He designed a service pistol for soviet forces.
20. Sergei Mossin. A Russian Army Colonel and designed the Russian service rifle.
21. Carl Walter. He developed a reliable small caliber automatic pistol in 1866.
22. George Luger. He designed 9mm Parabellum and Cartridge.