A Cartridge Collector's Glossary
This alphabetical list of terms and definitions has been assembled from the comments and contributions of cartridge collectors over a five-year inquiry period. It is hoped that the terms used herein will be accepted on a universal basis to aid in our understanding and communication of cartridge lore.
(To recommend additions or corrections click here)
You can search for any term using your browser's search engine (press [Ctrl]+[F] in page)
ANIMAL GUT CARTRIDGE - A primitive combustible cartridge consisting
of a tubular sheath or sack filled with black powder which is attached to the
base of a conical bullet. The sheath is made from thin, treated animal gut and
is reasonably moisture proof. See William Mont Storm patent #33,611 and Hotchkiss
patent #34,364. Most were made by D.C.Sage and found in .36, .44, and .56 Colt
caliber as well as a few others.
ALLEN, ETHAN - A gunmaker in the mid- 1800s who produced a distinctive
series of cartridges along with his guns. A series of rimfires from .22 short
to .56-56 Spencer were made. Most are readily identified by the distinctive
bullet design. See also LIPFIRE.
ANNIVERSARY ROUND - A special commemorative cartridge, usually
with a special headstamp which is issued to mark a particular event. A
popular example is the .30-06 round issued to mark the 50th anniversary
of that cartridge.
ANVIL - A portion of the primer pocket or primer which provides resistance
to the crushing action of the firing pin which causes the printing mixture to
detonate.
ANNULAR RING - A circumferential crimp or indentation around the primer.
In some military rounds, a dye was used in this ring for waterproofing and often
to identify some characteristic of the cartridge.
ASSAULT RIFLE CARTRIDGE - Any one of a growing family of small-caliber,
short-case-length cartridges which are designed for modern high rate-of-fire
assault weapons. These were developed to reduce recoil, to make automatic fire
more controlled and to enable personnel to carry more ammunition to support
the high rate of consumption with those weapons.
ATTACHED HEAD - Relatively early centerfire cartridges which were designed
to have the head of the cartridge attached to the body by riveting or other
means. Rounds of this design can be attributed to the late 1860s and several
decades beyond. A typical example is the .577 Snider.
AUXILIARY CARTRIDGE or CHAMBER - An adaptive device which may superficially
resemble a cartridge but which, in reality, is a "chamber space filler" enabling
a smaller round to be used in a gun chambered for a larger cartridge. Thus a
.32 short centerfire pistol cartridge can be fired in a WWII German Mauser which
normally would chamber a 7.92 x 57 round.
BALL ROUND - Originally referring to round balls as opposed to shot or shell in early muskets or artillery. Now used in military parlance to denote the basic nonspecialized bullet type, as opposed to armor-piercing, tracer, etc.
BALLOON RIVET - A large hemispherical-headed rivet sometimes used to
secure an attached head to a cartridge case. The head of the rivet is visible
when looking into the mouth of an empty case having this feature. Usually ap-plied
to thin-rim Maynard separate-primed cases.
BAR ANVIL-PRIMED – An early type of inside-primed cartridge (patented
by E.H.Martin, evolved from #48,820, 7-1-1865) in which a short bar of iron
is transverse to the base of the cartridge and secured by distinctive crimps.
This bar serves as an anvil, against which the firing pin can impact to cause
ignition.
BARTHOLOW PATENT - An early combustible cartridge (patent #32,345. 5-21-1861)
in which the powder was compressed and semi-solidified, and adhered to the base
of the bullet. There is a visible outer linen wrap to assist in holding the
powder to the bullet firmly and to provide moisture protection.
BATTERY CUP - A flanged metallic cup used in shotshell primer assemblies
that provides a rigid support for the primer cup and anvil.
BELTED CASE - A case with a distinct raised ring around the head just
forward of the extractor groove, used to headspace the cartridge. Found on many
high velocity rifle cartridges.
BENET-PRIMED - A common style of inside-primed car-tridge developed
by Col. S.V Benet commander of Frankford Arsenal in the late 1860s. It was used
extensively in early U.S. military ammunition. A copper or iron cup was secured
inside the head of the case by characteristic crimps. This cup served as an
anvil to enable the firing pin to activate the priming mixture and also to reinforce
the head of the case.
BERDAN-PRIMED - A centerfire cartridge design by Hiram Berdan (patent
#82,587, 9-29-1868). A primer consisting of a metal cup filled with priming
mixture and sealed with foil or shellac was inserted into the primer pocket
of the cartridge case. The anvil is part of the cartridge case, i.e. a raised
portion of the primer pocket which was perforated to permit the ignition to
set off the powder charge. Starting in the early 1870s this type of printing
system was widely used for both military and sporting ammunition.
BEVELED HEAD - Describes a style of cartridge case in which a bevel
is machined or formed around the outer portion of the rim of the cartridge case.
BLACK POWDER - The first type of gunpowder consisting of a mixture of
charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate. It is characteristically graded by grain
size such as Fg (coarse) or FFFFG (fine). It generates low pressures in gun
chambers.
BOARD DUMMY - Usually an inert specimen cartridge which was prepared
by the factory for mounting on a promotional or educational display board. These
usually have holes drilled or punched through case walls for mounting wires
and often have wooden rods internally. Original specimens usually bring a premium
over regular equivalents.
BOAT-TAILED BULLET - A bullet whose base is tapered similar in profile
to a boat's stern. The purpose is to reduce ballistic drag. This has also been
referred to as a taper-heel bullet.
BORE - The bore diameter of a weapon. For rifled weapons it is usually
the land or minimum diameter. This is expressed in either inches or millimeters.
Some early rifled weapons and both early and present shotguns bores use the
"GAUGE" terminology, defined elsewhere.
BOTTLENECKED CASE - A cartridge case having abrupt reduction in its
diameter toward its open or mouth end. This permits large case capacity without
making the case overly long.
BOXER PRIMER - A priming system developed in the late 1860s by Col.
E.M. Boxer of England. (U.S. Patent #91,81 of 6-29-1889) as an improvement to
Daw's Patent. The primer contained both the priming mixture and an anvil. This
system is used in most modern U.S. centerfire cartridges.
BRONZE POINT (BULLET) - A separate bronze wedge was fitted to the point
of the bullet of various big-game cartridges. It provided both aerodynamic streamlining
and served to initiate expansion on impact.
BUCK AND BALL - A loading wherein a combination of a single ball and
several smaller balls were loaded into a single cartridge to improve firepower.
In larger calibers, sometimes called CANISTER rounds.
BUCKSHOT - Generally any cartridge loaded with a number of large round
balls. Originally the term related to deer hunting. The term has been applied
to both old and modern cartridges.
CANNELURE(S) - The circumferential swaged, machined or milled groove(s)
around a bullet (for sealing; also often for identification) or cartridge case.
Often used to provide visual or tactile identification of special loadings of
military ammunition. They are also used to hold lead bullet lubricant.
CARTOUCHE - The French language equivalent of the word "cartridge" but also meaning "box" or enclosure, such as an "inspector's cartouche" referring to the boxed inspectors stamp appearing on some guns and headstamps.
CASE LENGTH - The longest measurement of a cartridge case.
CASELESS CARTRIDGE - Usually refers to relatively modern cartridges
wherein the "case" is molded solid propellant with an attached projectile and
primer. The "case" is consumed in firing. These are basically experimental types
designed to save weight and cost.
CENTENNIAL ROUND - A special-headstamped commemorative cartridge referring
to special .45-70 cases and rounds made up at the U.S. Centennial Exposition
in 1876. Headstamp is an entwined USC (U.S. Carbine) with the dates 1776-1876.
CENTERFIRE - A cartridge case whose peimer is located at the geometric
center of its circular base. Such rounds are usually reloadable.
COAL-DUST DUMMY - A type of inert cartridge made in Britain in which
coal dust has been substituted for gun powder to approximate the weight and
feel of a loaded round. These are highly collectable and usually have an affixed
paper label reading "COAL-DUST.”
COLLODION - A cellulose treatment applied to certain 1850-60-period combustible cartridges to help render them moisture-resistant (see Bartholow's and Hazard's Patents)
COMBUSTIBLE CARTRIDGE - A term applied to certain early ammunition
which contained propellant in a sometimes nitrated paper casing which was
affixed to or enclosed the projectile. The entire envelope was consumed
in the firing of the round
COPPER WASH -A copper coating which was applied to a steel cartridge case for the purpose of corrosion resistance.
COPPER-TUBED BULLET - A lead hollow-pointed bullet into which
is inserted a thin, closed-ended copper tube. Its purpose was to preserve
the bullet's aerodynamic shape. Sometimes the tube was charged with fulminate
to create an explosive bullet. Also called "Express Bullet".
CORDITE - A type of smokeless nitrocellulose powder which was used widely
in British military and sporting cartridges. Cordite grains usually resemble
very thin strands of spaghetti but sometimes have other forms.
CORRUGATED CASE - Cartridges whose cases have been subjected to dies
which form deep, usually longitudinal grooves in the case. These provide both
visual and tactile identification, mostly for dummy rounds. Short corrugations
at the shoulder were also used on early .30-06 guard cartridges.
CREEDMOOR - The Creedmoor Range was a famous long range shooting site on Long Island, NY, in the late 1880s. The term has come to be applied to cartridges of .44 or .45 caliber of the type used in Creedmore Rules rifles.
CRISPIN CARTRIDGE - A distinctive type of rimfire cartridge where
the fulminate is contained in an annular ring nearly midway between the
base and mouth of the cartridge. The most common type is the .50 caliber
version intended for use in converted Civil War Smith Patent carbines.
It is also known in .44 and .31 calibers. Patent #49,237, 8-08-1865.
CUPFIRE CARTRIDGE - A front-loading rimfire cartridge used in early
pistols which were designed to circumvent the Rollin White bored-through cylinder
design. The fulminate was distributed around the concave base of the cartridge.
Known in .28, .30 and .42 calibers. Probably made by Phoenix or American Cartridge
Companies. Some have raised A or P headstamps.
CUTAWAY CARTRIDGE - Any cartridge which has been sectioned to display its interior construction. Some are factory-made but most have been sectioned by collectors.
DARDICK CARTRIDGE - One of a family of experimental cartridges
called "trounds" (Triangular ROUND) made for a family of patented guns
and tools, starting in the mid 1950s. These are usually encased in plastic
but occasionally have metallic cases.
DRAPER CARTRIDGE - Actually a misnomer, these are really Wills Patent
(#45,292 of 11-29-1864). A screw-off base reveals a percussion nipple. Several
dozen variations are known in various calibers, lengths and base styles. A few
(rare) rifle rounds are
also known. The bases are marked "Patented Nov. 29, 1864 F.D. & Co
.
DRAW SET - A series of manufacturing stages of a cartridge case, bullet or primer.
DWM NUMBER - A caliber-identifying number or nurnber/letter combination
which was used by the Deutsch Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) of Germany.
Additional information such as date codes were sometimes included in these
headstamps.
EMBOSSED HEAD - A solid or formed-head cartridge whose base exhibits
a raised circular portion of lesser diameter than the rim. Also called "Ring
Base".
EXPRESS BULLET - See "COPPER-TUBED BULLET"
EXTRACTOR CORD CARTRIDGE - A rare Maynard experimental cartridge
which utilizes a short length of cord to assist in extracting a fired case.
EXTRACTOR GROOVE - An annular groove machined into the cartridge case,
usually just above the rim which provides a grip for the gun's extractor to
pull the fired or unfired case from the chamber.
EXTRACTOR WIRE CARTRIDGE - A rare Maynard experimental round using a
short loop of wire attached to the cartridge's base to facilitate extraction.
FARRINGTON PRIMER - A distinctive style of primer, used primarily by
the U.S. Cartridge Company in the late 1880s. Appearance is a very flat, nearly
concave copper disc, flush with the cartridge base.
FIXED AMMUNITION - Ammunition containing at least propellant and projectile as opposed to semi-fixed and separate-loaded ammunition wherein the propellant and projectiles are loaded separately. Modern usage applies to artillery ammunition.
FLASH HOLE OR VENT - One or more holes through the bottom of the primer
pocket to trans-mit the primer flame to the powder charge.
FLASH TUBE - A tube from the flash hole extended into the powder chamber,
for more uniform ignition.
FLECHETTE CARTRIDGE - A cartridge loaded with one or multiple finned
steel dartlike projectiles. Many experimental varieties were made in the 1960s
to increase firepower.
FLOBERT - A small-caliber (9mm or smaller) rimfire cartridge, usually
used for indoor shooting in Europe. Shot versions were used for collecting bird
specimens. They often have elaborate raised headstarnps and many contained only
primer compound.
FOLDED HEAD - An early method of case construction in which the base
is folded to form the rim and primer pocket.
FRANGIBLE BULLET - A bullet made of various powdered and compressed
materials which was designed to break up on impact rather than penetrate. During
World War II, .30-06 frangible bullets were used for firing practice against
specially armored aircraft. This type of bullet is made currently in various
calibers.
FUNCTIONING DUMMY - Usually a factory-produced inert round intended
to demonstrate or test the action of a weapon without risk to the parties involved.
They were often constructed more ruggedly than were conventional rounds and
normally have visible identifying characteristics such as holes or cannelures
in the case or the coloring of the case.
GAUGE - A method of describing bore diameter of shotguns (usually), the number of balls of bore diameter which can be cast from a pound of lead. Thus a 12 Gauge" bore.
GERLICH - Hermann Thorismund Gerlich was a German experimenter
in the late 1920s and early'30s whose investigations were largely oriented
toward producing high velocities resulting from tapering the diameter of
the bore from larger at the breech to smaller at the muzzle, thus giving
a greater initial surface area and maintaining high pressure through a
more efficient gas seal. Cartridges thus designed were distinctive and
although success was sparse, the concept continued into recent times and
examples are highly sought-after.
GILDING METAL - A metal alloy of 90 or 95 per cent copper and the remainder zinc.
GR NUMBER - A case type identification system used by the Austrian
manufacturer, Georg Roth for their cartridges. These numerical designations
were often incorporated into the cartridge's headstarnp.
GRAVITY-FEED CARTRIDGE - Lead, self-contained cartridges used by the
Loron, Gaupillat and other gravity-feed weapons. They are of the "volcanic"
type, consisting of a pointed, hollow-based lead slug with priming compound
located in the base. As they were strictly indoor "salon" guns, there is no
propellant other than that in the priming mixture.
GREASE GROOVE - The circumferential groove(s) cut or cast around the
body of a bullet to contain grease or other bore lubricant. These grooves are
sometimes visible and sometimes located beneath the mouth of the case.
GUNCOTTON - A cellulose material which has been treated with appropriate
chemicals to produce nitrocellulose, an extremely combustible material. Used
as a bullet propellant.
GYROJET CARTRIDGE - One of a series of relatively modern "rocket projectiles"
developed and produced by the firm of M.B. Associates of San Ramon, CA, for
use in their specialized guns. Consisting of a hollow metallic case which is
filled with a propellant and with a percussion primer in the center of a base
which contains slightly angled discharge orifices. Once fired the angled orifices
cause the cartridge/projectile to rotate and accelerate. Although never particularly
successful, a great variety of cartridge variations exist in various calibers
and include flare rounds.
HALGER - A brief partnership formed by GERlich and his bother-in-law,
HALbe to com-mercialize high velocity weapons. A series of special HALGER cartridges
resulted from this partnership. All were produced in the 1920s and early'30s
time frame.
HART'S PATENT(S) - Metallic shotshells produced under Hart's various
patents. Involved mainly in variations of head construction (#142,924 of 9-16-73;
#151,121 of 5-19-74 (with Logan); 169,806 and 807 of 11-09-75).
HAYES' PATENT - British-made combustible cartridges for Colt, Tranter,
Adams and other percussion revolvers. A delicate colloid-encased powder charge
was attached to the base of the bullet and the whole encased in a paper tube
for durability. A cloth tear tab assisted removal. Paper cases are often printed
with Hayes' name and various legends.
HAZARD PATENT - See Collodion
HEAD - The base portion of the case, including that part next
to the rim or extractor groove.
HEADSTAMP - The markings imprinted on the base of the cartridge case,
usually containing information on the caliber and manufacturer or his logo;
on military ammunition, the date of manufacture.
HEEL-TYPE BULLET - A bullet with rear section of reduced diameter; so
when loaded, the front portion is flush with the case.
HIGH BRASS - Refers to the shotshells where the brass head extends 3/4 of an inch, more or less, up the case measured from the base of the head. Contrast to LOW BRASS or MEDIUM BRASS.
HOLLOW DUMMY - Inert cartridge consisting of empty case and bullet jacket. Often one-piece construction. Can be identified by its unexpectedly low weight. See FUNCTIONINGDUMMY.
HOLLOW-POINT BULLET - Bullet with a recessed open cavity at its
tip. The intention is to assist in expansion and shocking power when impacting
on flesh.
HORIZONTAL PINFIRE - Cartridge using a horizontal internal pin to impact upon the primer which is usually located at the base of the bullet. In such an instance, ignition starts at the bullet and progresses rearward, unlike most conventional cartridges. This was perceived to be an improvement in design at the time of development.
HOXIE BULLET - Produced by the Hoxie Ammunition Company of Chicago
from 1907 to the '30s. Their bullets were characterized by a small steel
ball embedded in the tip to aid in expansion on contact Mostly used for
centerfire rifle calibers, they were also used in .22 Winchester Automatic
rimfires, and often require a magnet to detect.
HUNT ROCKET BALL - Walter Hunt, on August 10, 1848 secured a patent
(# 5,70 1) for... "a ball for firearms, with a cavity to contain the charge
of powder for propelling said ball, in which cavity the powder is secured by
means of a cap enclos-ing the back end."
INSIDE-LUBRICATED BULLET - A patented bullet manufactured by UMC which
was hollow and filled with grease. Upon firing, a piston was driven for- ward
which forced the grease through tiny holes in the side of the bullet, greasing
the bore. Identified by (usually) four tiny holes in the lead bullet.
INSIDE PINFIRE - A few types of extremely rare cartridges were ignited
by the impact of the weapon's hammer on the wall of the cartridge case, causing
ignition because of an internal mechanism including a rod or pin and priming
compound. The classic Schubarth "egg" is an example of this type.
INSIDE-PRIMED CARTRIDGE - A generic term relating to a large family
of non-reloadable, mostly centerfire cartridges where the primer was more or
less integral with the case. The act of firing usually deformed the case to
cause ignition. Many examples exist, most common of which are the BENET, MARTIN
and BAR ANVIL rounds found in.50-70 Govt and.45-70 Govt.
LACQUERED CASE - Usually a steel case which has been coated with lacquer for corrosion protection. Most frequently found with German WWII or Soviet bloc military rounds. Also found in shotshells to improve waterproofing.
LAWS PATENT - Albert Law's patent shotshell #131,104 of 9-3-1872
has a series of circumferential corrugations near the mouth of the brass
case to retain the cardboard wad.
LESMOK POWDER - Developed by duPont in 1911 and used by WRA, Rem-UMC and USC. It was a type of semismokeless powder and was used until the 1930s.
LINEN CARTRIDGE - Combustible cartridges, usually for Civil War
breechloading longarms such as the Sharps and Starr carbines and rifles.
The powder was contained in a starched linen sack with a nitrated paper
base, which was fastened to me bottom of the lead bullet.
LIPFIRE CARTRIDGE - A form of rimfire cartridge patented by Ethan Allen
(#30,109 9-25-1860) for use in his line of guns. A small fulminate-filled lip
projects from the base rather than a full circumferential rim as found on common
rimfires These were made in .25,32,36 and .44 calibers. The contention was that
they were safer than conventional rimfires
LOOSE PACK - Cartridges provided loosely packaged in cartons rather than being tightly and neatly organized. Usually found in small, difficult-to-package calibers such as .22 BB Caps.
LOW BRASS - Shotshells whose brass head extends only 1/4 inch
or less up the case from the base.
MAGNUM - A family of high-powered or high-velocity cartridges which
often have larger cases than usual for their caliber. They often use a belted
case.
MARTIN PRIMER - A patented U.S. inside-primed cartridge (patents #88,191,
3-23-1869; #111,856,2-14-1871) with a relatively complex folded case design.
Its principal identifying feature is a large, circular primer-like disc in its
head. Mostly found in copper-cased.50-70 cartridges, .44,.45 and .50 caliber
pistol cartridges. Rarely found in brass, or other calibers.
MAUSER "A-BASE" - A case whose base has a raised central portion; an
early Euro-pean design. Often found with raised headstamps
MEIGS CARTRIDGE - A series of unique and mostly experimental cartridges
by J.V. Meigs (patents #87,352, 4-021869; #175,293, 3-28-1876). They took a
wide variety of forms and are Sometimes found in partial stages of completion.
Those few types which were produced in quantity were probably made by the U.S.
Cartridge Company. The most common is for a.50-cali-ber magazine rifle.
MILBANK-PRIMED CARTRIDGE - A scarce centerfire cartridge primed with
a unique-appearing primer - one which looks like a struck primer. It functions
like a rimfire cartridge. These were the subject of one of thirteen cartridge
patents awarded to Isaac Milbank. Found in a variety of calibers, most commonly
in .58 Musket, .42 Russian, .43 Spanish and .45-75. Rarely in a few other calibers
such as .50-70.
MORSE CARTRIDGE - Early self-contained cartridges by George Morse (patents # 15,996, 10-28-1856; #20,214, 511-1858;#20,727,6-29-1858). Considering the state-of-theart at the time, these metallic, self-contained, reloadable cartridges were remarkably far sighted. Several types were produced in a variety of calibers. The best known variety used a rubber base ring to retain a percussion-cap primer and to provide a gas seal. Much later, a type was introduced in .45-70 to facilitate reloading of cases.
MOUTH - The open end of the cartridge case into which the bullet
is seated. The "mouth diameter" is the internal measurement of this feature.
MULE EAR CARTRIDGE - The projecting extractor "ear" is similar in purpose
to the Maynard
"Flop Ear" case except this term is usually applied to .36-caliber cartridges
for the Sharps droppings block pistol and pistol-carbine.
NECK - The front portion of the cartridge case into which the bullet
is seated. The "neck diameter" is the external measure of this feature.
NEEDLEFIRE - A type of cartridge designed for use in a gun whose firing
pin is a long needlelike device which penetrates the base of the cartridge and
impacts upon a primer at the base of the bullet.
NICKEL-PLATED - Cartridge cases, bullets or primers which have been electroplated with nickel and which have a characteristic bright silvery appearance.
OGIVE - The curved forward part of a bullet.
ONE-PIECE BOX - Cartridge boxes formed from one piece of cardboard with
flap ends Usually refers to collectible .22caliber rimfire or shotshell boxes.
ORCUTT PRIMER - A patented type of primer used for a short time by UMC.
They are unusually long and require a deep primer pocket.
OUTSIDE-LUBRICATED BULLET- Bullets with exposed annular grease grooves,
or other applied lubricants, often heel-type.
PAPER CARTRIDGE - An early class of cartridge usually consisting of
a bullet and measured powder charge wrapped in a tubular paper envelope. In
use, the container was torn open, the powder poured down the muzzle of the weapon
and the paper used as a wad or discarded. Other types, using treated paper envelopes,
are sometimes termed "paper cartridges" but these are more properly classified
as "combustible cartridges."
PAPER-CASED SHOT CARTRIDGES –
1. Metallic cartridges which have a paper-encased shot load instead of the metallic
projectile.
2. Shotshells where the major material of the case is paper, usually with a
brass, steel or zinc head.
PAPER-PATCHED BULLET - Bullets which have their bearing surface and
base wrapped with paper. The paper is intended to engage the bore's rifling
and strip off as the bullet exits. The purpose is to minimize distortion of
the bullet and reduce wear on the bore. Most often used with target rifles and
European military rifles in the late 1800s.
PATENT IGNITION - Any cartridge with an unusual patented ignition system. Usually refers to early, developmental types. Common primer types such as Berdan or Boxer, although patented, are not included in this category. See, for example, Martin, Benet, Morse, etc.
PEABODY CARTRIDGE - A family of cartridges designed for use in guns
of the Peabody-Martini design. Peabody cartridges include the distinctive "What
Cheer" series and a variety of rare rimfires as well as some more common centerfires.
PEGGED BULLET - Usually a lead, hollow-point bullet into which a wooden
peg has been inserted to assist expansion or preserve the shape of the cavity.
PERCUSSION CARTRIDGE - Although most cartridges are technically percussion cartridges since detonation is a result of a percussive blow to the primer, percussion cartridges are usually thought of as separate-primed cartridges used in early breechloading guns where ignition is the result of use of a percussion cap on a nipple which is a part of the gun.
PINFIRE - A cartridge having a protruding pin, usually at right
angles to the base of the cartridge and projecting through the side of
the case. Impact of the ham-mer on this pin causes internal ignition. Mostly
made by European firms except for a few made by E. Allen, UMC and C.D.
Leet. See also Horizontal Pinfire and Inside Pinfire.
PRIMER - The ignition component of a cartridge.
PRIMER ANNULUS - The circular joint around the primers. Colored lacquer is sometimes introduced into this area to provide a visual seal and often to indicate type of loading.
REDUCED (or "REBATED") RIM - A centerfire cartridge case whose rim diameter
is smaller than the diameter of the body of the case.
RIMFIRE - A major class of metal-cased cartridges which have the priming
compound distributed in a ring, usually at the base of the case. The firing
pin crushes the rim, igniting the primer.
RIMLESS CARTRIDGE - Cartridges with extractor grooves, whose rims are
approximately the same diameter as the rest of the head. In a very few cases,
true rimless cartridges such as certain of the Bergmann series, have no extractor
groove whatsoever.
RIMMED CARTRIDGE - Cartridges with rims which are larger in diameter
than the rest of the head.
ROLL CRIMP - A type of crimp whereby the entire mouth end of the case is turned in to secure the bullet in place. This is the standard method used for many modern cartridges.
SABOT - A lightweight carrier in which a sub-caliber projectile(s) is centered to permit firing. An enclosure to facilitate the firing of shot usually in a rifled barrel.
SEMI-RIMMED (OR SEMI-RIMLESS CARTRIDGE) - Cartridges with extractor
grooves whose rims are larger in diameter than the rest of the head.
SEMI-SMOKELESS GUNPOWDER - A transitional relatively low-pressure propellant which bridged the gap between black and smokeless powder. "LESMOK" was a typical brand name.
SEPARATE-PRIMED - Early cartridges where only the bullet and
propellant were contained within the cartridge case. The priming system
was typically a percussion cap on a nipple with the flame conducted to
the base of the cartridge by internal channeling within the gun.
SHOULDER - That part of a bottlenecked case which connects the body
and the neck.
SINTERED BULLET - A solid bullet formed by the high-pressure consolidation
of powdered metal into a bullet form. Such bullets were made experimentally
and loaded into .30-06 cases just prior to WWII also adopted by Germany in 9mm
during the war.
SKIN CARTRIDGE - A combustible cartridge whose case was formed by nitrating
natural animal gut or a substitute material.
SMOKELESS POWDER - Any of a vast variety of modern nitrocellulose, or
other composition, high-pressure propellants used in cartridges.
SOFT-NOSED BULLET – A jacketed bullet with exposed lead tip, usually
intended for hunting, whose purpose was to expand upon impact with flesh.
SOLID-DRAWN CASE - A cartridge case formed from a metallic disc which
has been subjected to an alternating series of progressive draws and anneals,
resulting in a finished cartridge case. (see Draw Set)
SOLID HEAD - The modern type of case construction where the head is
formed from comparatively thick metal for reinforcement, to withstand the higher
pressures of modern loads. Nearly all modern cartridges are made in this manner.
SOLID DUMMY - A dummy or exercise cartridge of solid turned or cast
construction.
SPITZER BULLET - A pointed bullet; from the German word "'Spitz" meaning
pointed. Most modern military bullets are of this type.
STAKE CRIMP - A rectangular crimp on the case neck or primer pocket.
STAB CRIMP - A crimp on the case neck which appears as a point or dot. Also called "Point Crimp".
STAR CRIMP - A crimp used for blank or shot cartridges whereby
the mouth of the case is closed by starlike folds. Also called "Rose Crimp".
STRAIGHT CASE - A cartridge case having little or no taper along its
length and no abrupt change in diameter as would a "Bottlenecked" case.
STURTEVANT PATENT - A type of shotshell (patent #54,038, 4-17-1866)
having a combination depriming pin and anvil built into the primer pocket, serving
dual purposes.
SUB-CALIBER CARTRIDGE or CHAMBER - A hollow device of cartridge dimensions,
often rifled , to enable the use of a smaller caliber bullet
SWAGE CRIMP - A type of crimp whereby the entire mouth end of the case is reduced in diameter by a swaging die to secure the bullet in place. Swage crimping is the standard method of manufacturing many modern cartridges.
TAPER BORE - A experimental design of gun whereby the bore tapers to smaller diameter at the muzzle end. The objective is to create higher velocities (see Gerlich).
TAPERED CASE - Cartridges with cases tapered in diameter from
base to mouth or base to shoulder. The purpose is to assist extraction.
TEATFIRE CARTRIDGE - Cartridges designed for use in front-loading revolvers
(Williamson Patent #41,183, 1-051864) as a circumvention of the Rollin White
patent owned by Smith and Wesson. They are characterized by a small round or
flat teat in the base containing the fulminate and are known in.32 and.45 caliber.
TEFLON-COATED - Refers to cartridge cases or bullets which have been coated with Teflon to reduce friction.
THUER'S CARTRIDGE - An early type of centerfire cartridge designed
for use in Thuer Conversions of the Colt percussion revolvers. They taper
from the mouth to a smaller base and were front-loaded into the cylinders.
They are found in .3 1, .3 6 and .44 caliber and an extremely rare version
is known in inside-primed (Benetlike) .44 caliber.
TIE-BASE CARTRIDGES - Usually Shaips combustible paper cartridges where
the paper powder-carrying envelope is tied to a projection on the base of the
bullet.
TINNED/NICKEL CASE - Cartridge cases which have been tin or nickel plated for corrosion reduction, or identification.
TOP WAD - The paper closure at the mouth of a shotshell. It often contains
data about the loading, propellant or loader.
TWO-PIECE BOX - A relatively early type of cartridge box where the upper
and lower sections were made to nest together. Two types are noted - the liftoff
cover and the match box types.
VOLCANIC CARTRIDGE - Cartridges designed for early Smith and Wesson
(later Volcanic Arms) guns. They are deeply concave-based lead cartridges containing
powder and primer within their bases. They are an evolution of the Hunt Rocket
Ball.
WESSON CARTRIDGES - An enigmatic family of car-tridges, many of which
are rare and/or difficult to identify, designed for use in Wesson tip-up and
other Wesson arms. A .55-caliber shotshell is also known.
WHAT CHEER CARTRIDGES - A series of distinctive long-range sporting
cartridges for the Peabody-Martini target rifles. The name "What Cheer" refers
to a famous shooting range in Rhode Island. The term goes back to early R.I.
settlers who used it as a greeting, equivalent to "how goes it". Three calibers
are known: .40-70, .40-90 and .44-95.
WILDCAT CARTRIDGE - A nonstandard cartridge usually made by a private experimenter and often based upon modifications of an existing commercial cartridge case.
WILLS PATENT - See Draper. The so-called Drapers are, in fact, made to the Wills Patent (#45,292, 11-29-1864)
WINDOW SHELL - A manufacturer's sample cartridge, cut away and
provided with a transparent window in the side to show interior construction.
WOOD-CASED SHOT CARTRIDGE - A cartridge which has a hollow wooden shot-filled
projectile. Usually found in calibers not ordinarily associated with shot cartridges,
E.g.: .45-70.
