A 'PRIMER' ON CARTRIDGES

[mundaire]

A 'PRIMER' ON CARTRIDGES
By Anthony G Williams

The purpose of this article is to answer some of the questions which are always asked by people as they become interested in cartridges and want to learn about them. It consists of a basic guide to cartridges including their design, naming conventions and projectile types. The emphasis is on military cartridges, but some civilian terms and examples are included.

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Cartridges.htm

[badshah0522]

Thanks,Very good information available.

[msandhu]

Explanation of different calibers

A really good explanation of different calibers

http://www.corneredcat.com/Ammunition/caliber.aspx

[msandhu]

Another link for MM to Cal and cal to mm conversion

http://www.unitconversion.org/length/mi ... rsion.html

[nagarifle]

thanks its a nice calculator, does come in handy to confuses babus.

[Olly]

Good find, Abhijeet. Thanks for sharing...

[nagarifle]

one more for ammo marking

http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

[hornet]

almost evey thing is good info for a layman . iwould say more than that has been described.thanks alot forrr the info. hornet.

[kedarmarkale]

Here are the pics for any body who ever wondered how a primer cap looks like ....

[nitrosingh]

are primers available in indian market

[Vikram]

You can get shotgun primers in gun shops.

[nitrosingh]

thx bro can they be used in large rifle rounds

[chandramohan]

Is not it surprising that IOF manufacture 30-06 cal Rifle but as on today does not manufacturer Ammunition for same. Does Govt wants one should use only Imported Ammunition. What has happened to Make In India.

[timmy]

thx bro can they be used in large rifle rounds

No, shotgun primers do not fit the primer pockets of rifle rounds, nor are they designed to work under the pressures that are generated in rifle rounds.

Primers consist of a small cup, inside of which the compound that detonates when it is struck is retained in a tiny foil package inside. In one design of primer, the Berdan style, this foil package is crushed against a protrusion inside of the cartridge case's primer pocket. In the Boxer style of primer, the cartridge case does not have this protrusion. Rather, a small piece of metal is contained inside of the small primer cup and the primer foil packet containing the compound is crushed against that.

Berdan primers come in various sizes. To remove them requires special tools and or processes.

Boxer primers can be pressed out using a primer punch, which enters the cartridge through the mouth, goes through the flash hole in the bottom of the cartridge, enters the primer pocket flash hole, and pushes the spent primer out.

Boxer primers are much easier for a reloader to use.

Interestingly, Boxer primers were invented by an Englishman, Col. Boxer, but are mainly used in the USA.

Berdan primers were invented by Hiram Berdan, the leader of a group of Union sharpshooters in the USA Civil War. They are almost never used in the USA, but are commonly used everywhere else in the world.

Boxer primers come in a large size and a small size, and Rifle primers are different from those used in Handgun cartridges.

The handgun, or pistol primer, is softer and more easier set off by lighter blows, and are not designed to take the higher pressure of rifle primers, which are harder, requiring the harder strike of a rifle firing pin to set them off.

Shotgun primers resemble a Boxer primer, but are also contained in a larger cup, which is then pressed into the base of the shotgun shell hull.