Firearm Ammunition: Components and Types
Definition of Bullet
A bullet refers to a spherical or cylindrical, pointed shell, usually made of lead or iron. As a projectile, bullets are part of the ammunition, that is, the supplies needed to operate a firearm.
Description of Bullets
A 9mm Parabellum caliber bullet for firearms has an armored, ogival-cylindrical structure. Its body is composed of a shell, powder, and a percussion cap.
Shell
A cylindrical, metallic container or receptacle that serves as a carrier of the propellant charge (powder). It is the part that brings together the other elements that make up the bullet.
Shell Description
A shell is made of metal and forms part of the structure of firearm bullets. For a 9mm Parabellum caliber, central fire, its body is composed of a mantle cylinder, throat, lip, shorts, and an explosive capsule.
Classification of Shells by Manufacturing Method
- Metallic
- Semimetallic
- Plastic
Percussion by System
- Central Fire
- Rimfire
Geometric Shape
- Cylindrical
- Notched Cylindrical
- Cylindrical Neck
- Tapered
- Conical
External Form as Head
- Tab
- Slot
- Reinforced
- Tab and Slot
- Cut Slot and Tab
Percussion Cap
A cylindrical metallic receptacle inserted concentrically in the base of the bullet, which contains the explosive charge. When struck, it ignites, initiating the explosion of gunpowder.
Explosive Mixture
The explosive mixture consists of the following chemical elements:
- Antimony (Sb)
- Barium (Ba)
- Lead (Pb)
Types of Percussion Caps
- Boxer
- Berdan
- Pinfire
- Rimfire
Powder
The propellant or driving charge contained in the bullet aims to boost the projectile with a specified force outside the firearm. It is believed to have been invented in China in the eighth century. It is classified into black powder and modern powder, the latter discovered in the nineteenth century.
Classes of Powder
- Single-base: Nitrocellulose
- Double-base: Nitroglycerin
- Triple-base: Integrated composition with nitrocellulose
Projectile
The active and dynamic component of the bullet, the item that is shot or expelled into the air by the driving force of the gases. It is the active and devastating agent, the projected object that causes damage and effect on the intended target.
Projectile Types
Common: Those that do not have any special conditions so that during their course or at the time of impact, they have an unusual behavior.
Special: Those that have been constructed so that while moving in the atmosphere or when they hit the target, they produce a particular effect or increase the effect obtained with the common ones. These are grouped into:
- For rifled barrel firearms
- For smooth-bore firearms
Rifle
A portable firearm, with one or two barrels from 70 to 80 inches long, mounted on a piece of wood. It is commonly used for hunting.
Parts of a Shotgun
Barrels: Located in the front of the gun, usually built with carbon steel to withstand the great pressures that occur when gunpowder deflagrates inside. It has a gradual contraction from the chamber to the muzzle, known as the choke bore. Sizes include 4, 8, 24, and 32.
Action: Along with the barrels, it is considered the fundamental part of the shotgun because it is the most important set of mechanisms: firing, percussion, safety, and part of the closure.
Stock: The back of the gun, usually made of wood, although plastic is becoming more common. It allows you to push, aim, and support the gun over your shoulder when shouldering and shooting.
Shotgun Shells
The body is composed of a shell made from metal and synthetic red satin, with multiple lead rounds (spherical), wad, powder, and explosive.
Shotgun Cartridge Components
Birdshot: Spherical projectiles less than 5 mm.
Buckshot: Spherical projectiles larger than 5 mm.
Wad: Part of the shotgun cartridge, flush with the lead, with very pronounced helical grooves on its perimeter to cause rotation for aerodynamic effect.