Ammunition

FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
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DARIO F GUINAYEN
AMMUNITION/CARTRIDGES
Ammunition (Legal Definition)
Refers to a “loaded shell” for rifles,
muskets, carbines, shotguns,
revolvers and pistols from which a
ball, bullet, shot, shell or other
missile may be fired by means of
gunpowder or other explosives.
◦ National Internal Revenue Code, Chapter VII, Sec. 290
◦ Revised Administrative Code, Sec. 877)
Ammunition (R.A. 10591)
Refers to a complete unfired
unit consisting of a bullet,
gunpowder, cartridge case
and primer or loaded shell for
use in any firearm.
Technical Definition
The term ammunition refers
to a group of cartridges or to a
single unit cartridge.
Note:
 Ammunition for large caliber

guns (such as artillery) is
called shell, ammunition for
rifles and handguns is usually
called cartridge.
Fixed ammunition
Self-contained
ammunition, in which
the propellant,
projectile, and
primer are held
together by a
cartridge case.
Semi fixed ammunition - Artillery
ammunition with separate components.
ORIGIN:
16th Century – cartridge was

discovered.
The earliest small arms
cartridge consisted of a pre-
measured charge of powder
wrapped in paper.
Cartridge
Derived from Latin word
“charta” means paper. The
French word “cartouche”
meaning a roll of paper.
General Types of
Ammunition
1. DUMMY AMMUNITION
A carefully made replica of

a cartridge, usually made of
steel and discreetly
dimensioned to be used by
weapons instructors,
inspectors and repairmen when
checking if weapons are
functional.
2. BLANK CARTRIDGE
a type of cartridge
for a firearm that
contains
gunpowder but no
bullet or shot.
Yugoslavian 7.9 mm (7.92 x 57 mm or 8 x 57 Mauser) blank

cartridges
Uses
Blanks are commonly used when
the sound and flash of gunfire is
needed, such as in:
1. military training maneuvers
2. In movies that require gun fights
3. starter’s pistols
4. launching rifles grenades
3. Live Cartridge
it is composed
of a complete unit
of unfired
cartridge.
4. Drill ammo
completely inert
and without
propellant; used in
military training to
practice loading
and manipulation
of firearms
Parts of an
Ammunition/Cartridge
Cut away view of a cartridge
1. Bullet
2. Gunpowder
3. Cartridge Case
4. Primer
CLASSIFICATION OF
CARTRIDGES
I.
According to the
Type of FAs
Wherein Used
a. Revolver cartridges – used in
revolvers
b. Pistol cartridges – used in
pistols
c. Rifles cartridges – used in
rifles
d. Shotgun cartridges – used in
shotguns
II.
According to
Location of
Primer
1. Pin fire (obsolete)
Any point the
pin hit will
explode.
Pin
2. Center-fire
Priming powder
is located at the
center of the
base of the case.
Primer
3. Rim-fire
The primer
is located at
the rim at the
base point.
Firing pin hitting the rim
III.
According to
Rim
1. Rimmed Type
The diameter of the rim is
greater than the diameter of the
body of the cartridge case.
 Common to revolver
cartridges
2. Semi-Rimmed type
slightly greater than the
diameter of the body of the
cartridge case.
E.g. cal. .25, .32 auto, super .38

3. Rimless type
equal with the diameter of the
body of the cartridge case.
(E.g. cal. 5.56, .30, 9mm, .45)
4. Rebated type
smaller than the body of the
cartridge case. (E.g. cal.
8mm x 59)
5. Belted type
There is a
protruding metal
around the body
of the cartridge
case near the rim.
Classification of cartridge
according to Rim or Head Base
IV.
Classification of
Cartridges
According to Power
(Based on Velocity)
1. Low-power cartridge
Fires a projectile with a
muzzle velocity of less than
1,850 fps
2. High-power cartridge
Fires a projectile with a
muzzle velocity between
1,925 & 2,500 fps.
3. High-intensity cartridge
Has muzzle velocity of
more than 2,500 fps.
Terms related to cartridge
malfunctions
Misfire – total failure of a
cartridge to discharge.
Hangfire – delayed explosion
of the cartridge.
SHOTGUN SHELL
consist of a brass head with which
is fixed a stout paper tube which
constitute the walls of the case.
All shotgun cartridges have a
rim of larger diameter round the
extreme edge of the base.
Shotgun Ammunition
Shots are
spherical
pellets loaded
in a shotshell.
Size shot
range from
0.08 inches to
.36 inches in
diameter.
Shot Wads
At a distance of 5 to
8 yards or more from
the place of firing in
the approximate
direction of fire, one
can sometimes find
wads.
END

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FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

 Ammunition for large caliber

16th Century – cartridge was

A carefully made replica of

Yugoslavian 7.9 mm (7.92 x 57 mm or 8 x 57 Mauser) blank

E.g. cal. .25, .32 auto, super .38

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