ammunition

Rimfire and Centerfire Cartridges parts

*main difference is the location of primer* -- (casing base in centerfire and rim of casing base in rimfire) 1. Projectile-- in rifles and handguns the bullet serves as the projectile. Sits on the top of the cartridge case and fired through the barrel. Typically made out of lead and may have a copper jacket. The most common types are *pointed soft point, round soft point and polymer tip* 2. Case -- a metal container that holds all of the components together, usually made of brass, aluminum or steel. 3. Gunpowder -- high energy propellant of a specific quantity (charge) that, when ignited, creates a high pressure inside the case. This pressure sends the bullet or projectile down the barrel of the firearm to exit at the muzzle. 4. Primer-- an explosive component used to ignite the gunpowder charge

Centerfire ammunition for shotguns

1. Hull/Casing Also known as a shot shell, the casing is a plastic tube shaped container that holds all of the shell components together. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. 2. Projectile(s) (Shot Pellets or Slug) Most shotshells are loaded with multiple shot or pellets as the projectiles. Most cartridges loaded with shot or pellets are used for hunting upland game birds or waterfowl, as well as for target shooting. There are a variety of different shot types available, such as; Lead, Steel, Bismuth, Tungsten-Iron, and Tungsten-Matrix. Lead shot is not permitted for hunting waterfowl in North America, because lead is a toxic substance that contaminates soils as well as surface and ground waters, and can cause lead poisoning in different species as well as damage to the habitat. Please check your local regulations to ensure you are using the proper type of shot for the animal you will be hunting. Shotshells loaded with slugs are used for big game. 3. Wad Column Placed between the powder and the projectiles, it is made of plastic or paper and provides a seal so that the gases from the burning powder do not escape past the shot. 4. Powder A high-energy propellant of a specific quantity that, when ignited, creates a high pressure gas inside the cartridge case. This pressure forces the bullet or projectile down the barrel of the firearm to exit at the muzzle. 5. Primer An explosive compound used to ignite the gunpowder charge.

Magazine plug

A magazine plug is usually made of wood and is found in a tubular magazine. It is used to limit the number of shot shells a shotgun can hold. In California, if you hunt with a shotgun it cannot be capable of holding more than three shells at a time.

Slugs

To increase the accuracy of slugs in a shotgun, purchase shotgun barrels or chokes that are rifled - these are becoming increasingly popular and do an excellent job in harvesting game at reasonable ranges. A saboted slug is designed to be fired from rifled barreled shotguns or shotguns with a rifled choke tube. As the saboted slug exits the shotgun muzzle, the sabot is separated from the slug and falls away, allowing the slug to continue down range unimpeded. This type of shotgun ammunition is very accurate and provides plenty of knockdown power for most big game at ranges up to 150 yds. The foster slug is used for hunting targets at shorter distances. The hollow rear on this slug pushes its center of gravity toward the front, which in turn gives it greater stability, up to a distance of 75 yards. Most will feature small fins toward the rear, called "rifling". Shotgun slugs are generally required to be used when hunting in built-up or semi-rural areas. In these areas, it would be unsafe to discharge center fire high power rifle cartridges that are capable of firing bullets that can travel distances greater than 2.5 miles.

Choke

helps hold the "shot string" (pellets) together. You can change the choke to accommodate what you want to shoot.

Gauge

shotguns measured in gauge rather than caliber (expect .410) Gauge is determined by the number of lead ball of size equal to the exact diameter of the bore that it takes to weigh one pound. Larger the gauge number the larger the bore diameter

caliber

the distance between opposite lands (ridges between grooves) inside the barrel of a rifle or handgun