Four bullets | Four cases | ...Only two cartridges

The image here shows four bullets. Can you pick them out? It also shows four cases. See them? There's only two cartridges though.

Today I thought I'd burst a little misconception that many have when it comes to ammunition. For most who don't shoot their beliefs usually come from television shows or movies which most often get it monumentally wrong. So, here goes...It's not a difficult concept.

A bullet is the little thingy that exits the firearm at the muzzle after travelling along the barrel. It's the bit that flies through the air and hits the target. I actually prefer to call this thing a projectile. It's a good practice to do so as it makes you sound like you know what you're talking about. No one really says bullets much...Except Elmer Fudd.

A cartridge is the complete assembly which is loaded into the firearm prior to being fired. I normally call these things rounds or ammunition but cartridge is also correct.

That's it. Not much else to it to be honest.

Left to right above - Projectile | Case | Cartridge/round

Right to left above - Cartridge/round | Case | Projectile

A closer look at some projectiles, primers and powder above and he other image is all of the components together (including an empty case) that make up complete rounds to the right with two finished rounds to right of shot. I made these components into 100 rounds a couple days ago.

How it works in a firearm
Pulling the trigger on a loaded firearm simply releases the firing pin which strikes the primer sitting in the base of the case. The impact ignites the small charge which explodes into the case igniting the gun powder which also explodes. This explosion and the resulting expanding gases propel the projectile out of the case and along the barrel of the firearm until it exits at the muzzle and makes its way to the target. The barrel imparts some twist to stabilise the projectile/bullet in flight making it fly true. Simple physics, chemistry, mechanics and engineering, but a complex process in truth.

So, the next time you are watching a movie and a couple of dudes are in a gunfight and one says to the other, "pass me some bullets," you can scoff and say, "you wanker!"

I've been shooting guns for 28 years, so for 54 percent of my life and I know only a small amount about the multitude of concepts involved. Sure, I know a lot but it's a complex thing and there's always more to learn. I'll not go into it all here of course however when I blog about guns it's done to help clear away some of the misconceptions many have and to demonstrate that firearms are not just tools that mass murderers have. Far from it in fact.

I don't get involved in for and against debates because quite frankly I don't care if other's like guns or not. I am yet to find an anti-gun person who can logically discuss the matter with me...They can never seem to get past the guns kill people thing. And so I gave up discussing it many years ago. Still, I'm always happy to promote my hobby and sport as a safe, responsible past time and to share some of my knowledge.

If you're interested you can see just a few of my older gun-related posts here. (Some video's may not work)
Making ammo
Ballistic solution
Through the rifle scope
Scope levelling
Environmental effect of shooting
Me shooting - GoPro videos
Pre-competition

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