Cartridge

Three rifle cartridges. The shell casing is normally made of brass with a recess at the head to accept the detonating primer. The bullet, normally with a core of lead, may be jacketed with copper, steel or other material.

Two shotgun cartridges. On the left, with a paper case; on the right with a plastic case. And a  traditional fibre over-powder wad.    Cut-away of modern shotgun cartridge with plastic compression shot-cup wad.

Cartridge - In its definition valid from circa 1870 to the present:  a small, usually cylindrical package, containing a detonating primer, a powder charge, a load---either a single projectile for a rifle or a quantity of small pellets for a shotgun---and possibly some attendant wadding. The cartridge is placed into the breech of a firearm, comprising all required consumables for the firing of the weapon. Also, less specifically: Round or Shell.

The Hallowell & Co. Illustrated Firearms Dictionary is for informational purposes only. We do not necessarily offer the items described above for sale. Please click on any of the links below to see what we actually do have available for purchase.

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