MIDTERM:

Ammunition and its parts, .

3
Ammunition and its parts.

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OUTCOMES
LO3 – Classify and distinguish firearm and ammunition and its parts.

OBJECTIVES

1. Examine and differentiate the different type of Ammunition

2. Classify and contrast the parts of Ammunition

Course Direct Instruction

Ammunition
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 explosives. 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 cartridges 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 indicates
that the first type of cartridge was made up from a rolled paper. It was about the
turn of the 16th century that the term “cartridge” came to use.
General type of Ammunition
1. Dummy (fake) model – a type of ammunition which merely resembles the
genuine one. It is, carefully, a replica of a cartridge, usually of tool steel
dimensioned to be used by weapons instructor, inspector and repairman
when checking the functioning of the weapon. (see figure 3.9)

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2. Drill Ammunition (without gunpowder) – it is a type of ammunition that
is completely inert, without an explosive and are used in military training to
practice loading and manipulation of the gun. (see figure 4.0)
3. Blank Ammunition (without 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. (see figure 4.1)
4. Live Ammunition – is the term applied for complete unit unfired cartridge.

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 Figure 3.9 Figure 4.0 Figure 4.1
Parts of Ammunition/Cartridge
Generally speaking, a cartridge is complete round ammunition for firearm.
However, technically, a cartridge has only four parts: the bullet, cartridge case, gun
powder and primer.
1. Bullet/Projectile – the projectile
propelled through the barrel of firearm
by means of the expansive force of gas
coming from burning gunpowder
2. Cartridge case – the tubular metallic
container for the gunpowder.
Sometimes called “shell” or “casing”.
3. Gunpowder – the power charge which,
when ignited by the primer flash, is
converted to heated gas under high
pressure and propels the bullet of shots
charge to the barrel and to the target.
Sometimes called “propellant” or
“powder charge”.
4. Primer – the metal cup containing the
highly sensitive priming mixture of
chemical compound, which when hit or
struck by firing pin would ignite. Such as
called “percussion”. (see figure 4.2).

Classification of Cartridges

A. According to the location of the primer

1. 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 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 the
kind although it is no longer being
used nor manufactured. (see figure
4.3)

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 Figure 4.3
2. Rim-fire – it refers to a 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 have a head stamp
in imprinted on it (1860-1880). (see
figure 4.4)
3. Center fire – it refers to cartridge 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 produce 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 consist of design or latter
imprinting on the shell head. It
sometimes contains the manufacturer or makers, as well as the date of
manufacturer. (see figure 4.4)
B. According to rim diameter
1. Rimmed case type – a type of
cartridge in which a case has as
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
2. Semi-rimmed type – cartridge
with case slightly rimmed. At first
glance, the cartridge is a rimless
from but with a closer look, the rim
is slightly greater than the
diameter of the body. This was invented by John Browning for automatic
pistol in 1903 for greater fit to the chamber. It is commonly seen in 6.35 mm,
7.65 mm and 9 mm, and browning long automatic pistol cartridges.
3. 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

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 the base. The advantage of its use is it allows the cartridge 9 mm and
caliber .45 pistols.
4. Rebated type – refers to the cartridge with a rimless pattern, but which has
a rim diameter smaller than the body of the case. It is seen is some
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon cartridge and later on some custom-built sporting
rifles of unusual calibers.
5. 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.
Note: Please see (figure 4.5) for better understanding of each meaning.

C. According to Caliber
Caliber and their interpretation is one of the difficult factors to explain to a
layman for its inconsistencies and verities.
In English-speaking countries, the caliber of the gun or cartridge use in
expressed in one-hundredth (0.01”) or on thousandths (.001”) of an inch. Thus,
we have caliber .22 inch, .25 cal, .38 cal, .45 cal, etc. (American system of
measurement)
In countries using metric system of measurements, the caliber is expressed
in millimeters, thus we have 6.35mm, 7.62mm, 9mm and 11mm. in cartridges
the caliber is general referred to the base diameter of the bullet. This is
measured with the use of a caliber. (continental or European system of
measurement)
The following are the 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 Use in pistol and rifles
Cal .30 About 7.63mm Used in carbines and rifles
Cal .30 About 7.63mm (luger) Used in carbines and rifles
Cal .32 About 7.65mm For automatic pistols and revolvers
Cal .380 About 9mm Used for pistols
Cal .38 About 9mm Used for revolvers
Cal .357 About 9mm Used for (magnum) .357 revolver
Cal .44 About 11mm Used for (magnum) .44 revolver
Cal .45 About 11mm Used for automatic pistols

Shotgun Cartridge
Shotgun Cartridge
It refers to a complete unit of unfired cartridge consisting of the pellets,
primers, case, wads and gunpowder

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Parts of the Shotgun Cartridge:
1. Case or Casing – usually made from
plastic or paper rolled which houses the
powder, pellets or wads.
2. Primer – a battery type primer containing
the igniter
3. Pellets – a number of leads shots
containing in the case
4. Wad – a paper designed to separate the
pellets from the powder charge.
5. Powder – also known as a propellant or
gun powder.

Figure 4.6

Note: see figure 4.6 for clearer understanding

Another type of Shotgun Cartridge

(Flechette)
A “Flechette” is a sharp, metal dart or
spike – generally, it will have a set of stabilizing
fins on the back, much like the dart at your local
pub. Flechettes have seen in tanks as anti-
personnel weapons, and in specialized shotgun
shells for a century or more. (see figure 4.7)

Death by Flechette takes a long time.

Unlike a traditional round, which does most of its
damage by transferring kinetic energy in an
expanding” bubble” inside the target, flechette
needles simply puncture lungs, heart and vital
organ, then pass through the other side.

A “Sabot” are used to fire the Flechettes that form anti-armor kinetic energy
penetrators. This round consists of the outer cup (sabot) which holds numerous sub
caliber darts. The sabot cup holds the individual flechettes together tightly until the
sabot case separates after leaving the barrel. For reasons why a smaller why a
smaller diameter projectile can be desirable.

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 found 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-gauges should therefore weigh 1/12 of a pound. Such is applied in
almost all types of shotgun in which the diameter is expressed in thousandths of
inch. At present the 10-gauge shotgun is considered with the biggest diameter while

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the .410 as the smallest one. Listed below are 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

Projectile
Definition
The word projectile is a generic term used when referring to any metallic or
non-metallic ball that is projectile from a firearm. It may also be referred to as
bullet, slug, shot, or missiles. (see figure 4.2)
The word “bullet” was derived from the French word “boullette” which
means small ball. This term is generally used when we are referring to a projectile
fired from any small arms, which has a variety of form, especially during the earlier
history. In a more technical sense, bullet refers to metallic or non-metallic
cylindrical ball propelled from a firearm. And it is sometimes called as shots or
slugs.
General types of Bullets
Bullets have various types depending upon their specific nature and purpose.
In general, bullet can be classified as either Lead or Jacketed.
1. Lead type – is a type of a bullet that is basically composed of lead metal.
It is primarily for its density; having a good weight in a small size and easy
for casting. (see figure 4.8)
2. Jacketed type – is a type of bullet consisting of the regular lead core,
coated with copper alloy in order to prevent lead fouling of the barrel and
is generally used in pistols and other high-powered guns. (see figure 4.9).

Figure 4.8 Figure 4.9

Types of Bullets According Use and Effect on their targets
1. Ball type – this is a type of bullet that is intended for anti-personnel and
general use.
2. Armor Piercing type – it is a type of military bullet designed to penetrate
light steel armor. Its mechanical construction makes it capable of penetrating
through some light vehicles. It is formed by a hard metal steel core covered
with a jacket, thus, giving its core the optimum shape for accurate flight. It
was first patented in about 1903 by Roth of Vienna; although, it was largely

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 introduced for snipers countering the small armor shields in the First World
War in 1914-1918. (see figure 5.0)
3. Explosive Bullet – it is a small bullet containing a charge of explosives that
detonates on impact once hit the target. (see figure 5.1)
4. Incendiary Bullet – types of military bullet used to cause fire in a target,
generally designed for use by aircraft armament in order for the fuel tanks to
ignite.
5. Tracer Bullet – a type of military bullet capable of leaving visible marks or
tracers while in flight giving the gunner the chance to observe the strike of
the shot or make adjustments in the event of miss. It resembles a ball type,
although the rare portion of the core is removed and the space is filled with a
mixture of magnesium powder, barium nitrate and metallic salts to give the
desired color of the flame or smoke (red-tip). (see figure 5.2)
6. Baton round – is the proper used when referring to a “rubber bullet”. This
type of bullet was first developed for the Hong Kong Police and was made of
wood, due to its ability to split on impact with the ground thus, possible of
inflicting wounds. It was later replaced by rubber. This is generally a plain
cylindrical rubber or plastic used in 12 bore, 26mm or 37mm riot gun and
fired by a low powered charge. (see figure 5.3)
7. Hallow point –is a type of bullet in which the nose is drilled out of the
certain depth leaving a hole, the purpose is to be able for the bullet to deform
upon impact making a “mushroom bullet”. (see figure 5.4)
8. Dum-dum bullet – a type of bullet that was designed in India in the 1980’s
by Capt. Bertie Clay. It consists of a service ball that has an exposed nose
due to a trimmed jacket at the back. At present, the term is loosely used in
describing any expanding bullet. (see figure 5.5)

Figure 5.1 Figure 5.1 Figure 5.2

Figure 5.3 Figure 5.4 Figure 5.5

Note: In figure 5.2 of a machine gun bullet, a tracer bullet is arranged every after
four (4) rounds of armor piercing and the tracer bullet comes next, in order to know
the sight of the gunner is needed to adjust or not.

Cartridge Case

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Definition
Cartridge Case is the metallic or non-metallic tabular container usually
made of brass (70% copper and 30%zinc); it is designed to unite the bullet, primer
and the gunpowder into one unit, it also known as a shell or casing.

Traditionally, a cartridge case is made of brass although there are many

present day cartridges that are made of plastic, varnish steel, zinc-coated or even
chemically coated are use.

Functions of the Cartridge Case

1. It holds the bullet, gunpowder and a primer assembled into one unit.
2. It serves as waterproof container for the gunpowder.
3. It prevents the escape of the gases to the rear as the sidewalls of the
cartridge case are forced against the walls of the chamber by the pressure. It
serves as a “gas seal” at the breech end of the barrel.

Parts of the Cartridge Case

1. Base – the bottom portion of the cartridge case which contains the head
stamp marking on the base of the shell containing the caliber, manufacturer
and in some cases including the date, trade name, and batch number.
2. Rim – is that part of the
cartridge case designed to
limit the forward movement
of the cartridge to the
chamber.
3. Extracting Grooves – is
the circular groove near the
rim of the shell designed for
automatic withdrawal of the
case from the chamber.
4. Primer Pocket – is that
part of the shell which
provides the means for the
primer to be put in the
central position. Its function
is extended to (a) hold the
primer in place; (b) to
provide means to prevent
the escape of the gas; (c) to
provide solid support for
primer anvil.
Figure 5.6
5. Body – is the cylindrical part of the shell which houses the gunpowder.
6. Shoulder – that part of the cartridge case which supports the neck of the
cartridge which is evident in a bottleneck type.
7. Cannelure – is the cylindrical groove in the outer surface of the cartridge
case designed to secure the shell to the chamber as well as to prevent the
bullet from being pushed down to the powder charge. In some instance it is
even being utilized for identification.

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 8. Neck – is that part of the shell which is actually occupied by the bullet. This is
obvious in a bottleneck type of shell but not with the straight type.
9. Crimp – is the cylindrical groove in the mouth of the shell designed for two
purposes: one (1) is to hold the bullet and prevent it from being pulled out
from the shell and two (2) to offer resistance to the bullet out of the neck to
ensure the burning of the gunpowder.
10. Vent or Flash hole – is the hole at the bottom of the primer pocket
that serves as the passage way for the priming mixture to impart an ignition
to the propellant charge.

Note: Please see figure 5.6 for better understanding of each meaning.

Types of Cartridge Case

1. Straight type – a type of a cartridge case or
shell which has a straight shell body usually
found on cartridge used in an automatic
weapon.
2. Tapered Type – a type of a cartridge case
similar to a flower base. It is found in
caliber .22 magnum-jet.
3. Bottle-neck Type – a type of cartridge
commonly found in ammunitions for rifles. An example of this is (figure 5.7).

Primer

Definition
Primer (also called CAP) is the ignition system of the cartridge used in a
center fire type, containing a highly sensitive chemical compound that would easily
ignite or bust into flame when struck by the firing pin. It may either be Berdan,
Boxer type or Battery type. These are the two kinds of primer according to
construction. It is also known as the percussion cup.

The Berdan is a type of primer construction, which was signed in the 1860s
by Colonel Hiram S. Berdan of the U.S. army ordinance Department. Its
distinction over the boxer is that, its anvil forms part forms part of the cartridge
case and a number of flash holes to serves as the passage of ignition usually two
(2). This is common an almost all military ammunition.

The Boxer on the other hand, was developed by Col. Edward M. Boxer of the
Royal Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal in the year 1866. This type of anvil was
formed separately from the shell and became a part of the ignition cap making a
single flash hole to serve as the passage of ignition. Despite of the difficulty in
manufacturing, it has become popular because of its adaptability for reloading. (see
figure 5.8)

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 Figure 5.8
Parts of the Primer
1. Primer Cup – is the brass gilding metal cup which
contains the priming mixture, the disc and the
anvil.
2. Priming Mixture – is the highly sensitive chemical
compound which ignites by the mechanical blow of
the firing pin. It is also called as percussion powder.
3. Anvil – is the portion of the primer which provides
solid support and absorbs the blow of the firing pin
causing friction that would initiates ignition.
4. Disc – is a thin paper of foil which is pressed over
the priming mixture in order to protect it from
moisture attack. (see figure 5.9)
Figure 5.9

Types of Priming Mixture Compound

1. Corrosive – one containing potassium chlorate which when ignited produce
moisture causing the formation of rust in the bore of the firearm. Other
components are antimony sulfide and mercury fulminate.
2. Non-corrosive – one which is designed for less chances of rusting by
replacing the potassium chlorate with barium nitrate.

Propellant (Gun Powder)

Definition
Gunpowder (also called as propellant or Power Charge) is the mixture of
chemicals of various compositions designed to propel the projectile by means of its
expansive force of gas when burned.

Development of Gunpowder
If there is much of literary works on firearm identification, the History of
Gunpowder is the most controversial of all topics incorporated in their study.
Powders, explosives are at most credited to the Chinese and the Arabs; they have
had pyrotechnic composition of sorts --- fireworks long before anything of the kind
was known in Europe, but there is no warrant for considering that they had invented
gun and powder. On the other hand, according to Prof. J.K. Partington, a British
Chemist, at about 1000 A.D., the Chinese Knew about saltpeter-based gun powder.

A question of where it was discovered, who first used it for gun and who
invented it is still a mystery. Maybe this is caused by lack of proof beyond doubt as
to the claim of various writers as to who invented the gun powder and realized its
capabilities. Two (2) of the most popular individual whose name is always attached
to gun powder discovery were Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz. Let’s take a
short description of how their names are always mentioned in the history.

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 Rodger Bacon, (1242 A.D.) a Franciscan monk, who wrote the ---“De Mirabili
Potestate Artis et Naturae” (On the Marvelous Power of Art and Nature), including
an anagram. This anagram was only re-arranged and properly punctuated by a
British Artillery officer named Colonel Hime, and it read – “but of salpetre takes
seven part, five of young hazel twig and five of sulfur, and so thou will call up
thunder and destruction of thou know the art”. This is practically a working
gunpowder formula.

Bacon did not make any claim of its discovery but suggest that by 1266 the
gunpowder was already common knowledge and he was merely reporting it as a
fact. Maybe another reason why he never made any claim is due to the prohibition
existing should be made. If he was to directly print the same it might even cause
him his life.

Berthold Schawartz (whose real was Constantin Anklitzen), a mysterious

monk of Freiburg, who according to legend that is supported by an engraving dated
1643, while experimenting on some powder in a cast iron vessel he ignited a charge
and thus blew off the lid, and from this deduced the principle of containing a charge
in a tube and propelling a shot. The engraver dated the scene 1380, and it was
evident that well before that date cannons were already in use.
Classification and Composition
1. Black Powder – the oldest known explosives, was initially made from
potassium nitrate (75%), charcoal (15%) and sulfur (10%). This formula
varies in percentage and even in composition in different countries
throughout the world. This mixture is being ground into fine dust, called
“Serpentine” which was said to have been used until middle of the 16 th
century. After such form, a “corned powder was used to replace serpentine,
for being more stable. But due its high sensitivity leading to accidents
modification had been made to develop other forms. Some used potassium
nitrate while the other used sodium nitrate. But whatever forms or
composition of black powder there is generally great disadvantage of this
powder. It creates a problem not only to the gunner but also to the gun itself.
2. Smokeless – the term smokeless powder nor smokeless. The powder is said
to be smokeless only because this does not give off a huge cloud of white
smoke like the black powder. This is the type of powder commonly used now
in modern small arms ammunition. It is the most powerful propellants. All
propellants currently used have a nitrocellulose base and are commonly
known as smokeless powder. Various organic or inorganic substances are
added to the nitrocellulose base during manufacture to give improved
qualities for special purposes.

There are two main classes of smokeless powder, they are as follows:
1. Single-base – powder contains only pure nitroglycerine
gelatinized with nitrocellulose. Almost all smokeless powder
grains have a perfectly definite shape, such as small squares,
discs, flakes, strips, pellets or perforated cylindrical grains.
2. Double-base –propellants are those having nitrocellulose
and nitroglycerine as their major ingredient, mixed with one or
more ingredients such as centralite, Vaseline phthalate esters

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 and inorganic salts, etc. the minor ingredients are used for
various purposes, such as to ensure stability, reduce flash or
flame temperature (or both) and improve ignitability. Double-
base propellants are grayish green to black in color, and the
grains are similar in size and shape to the single-base
propellants.
Note:
 Nitroglycerine is a high explosive substance used in industrial explosives. It
has been the main component of many dynamites. It is an oily liquid made of
nitric acid, sulfuric acid and glycerin.
 Trinitrotoluene is the most widely used explosives usually used in military
explosives.
 Nitrocellulose or cellulose nitrate or nitro-cotton, is the nitrate ester of
cellulose that serves as the main ingredient of many smokeless powders.

Learning Activity

Activity 1: Reflection

1. Elucidate the phrase “ A book lying on a shelf is a wasted ammunition”.

2. Discuss what is ammunition and classify its parts.

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