Ammunition

Legal Definition of Ammunition

 refers to loaded shell for riffles, muskets, carbine, shotgun, revolvers and pistols
form which a ball, shot shell or other missiles maybe fired by means of gun
powder or other explosive.
 the term also includes ammunition for air rifles as mentioned elsewhere in the
code. (Chapter VII, Sec. 290 of NIRC as well as Sec. 877 RAC)

Technical Definition of Ammunition

 refers to a group of cartridge or to a single cartridge.

 Cartridge os a complete unfired unit consisting of bullet (ball), primer (cap),
cartridge case (shell) and gunpowder (propellant)

Origin

 the word cartridge was derived form the latin word "Charta' meaning- a "paper"
and also form French word "Cartouche" meaning a rolled paper.
 this only indicates that the first type of cartridge was made up of a rolled paper.
 It was about the turn of the 16th century that the term "cartridge" comes to use
 BULLET

 The word "Bullet" was derived from French word "Boullette" which means a small
ball.
 This term is generally used when we are referring to projectile fired from small arms,
which has a variety or form, especially during the earlier history.
 In a more technical sense, bullet refers to a metallic or non-metallic cylindrical ball
propelled from a firearm it is sometimes called as shots or slugs.
 Bullets have various types depending upon their specific nature and purpose. In general
bullet can be classified as either Lead or Jacketed

GENERAL TYPES OF BULLETS

1. Lead Type
- Is a type of a bullet that I basically composed of lead metal
- It’s used was due to its density; having a good weight is a small size and
easy for casting.
- At present it is being mixed with a small amount percentage of antimony or
zinc in order to add harness and prevent "lead fouling.
2. Jacketed Type
- is a type of bullet consisting of the regular lead core, coated with a copper
alloy in order to prevent lead fouling of the barrel and is generally used in
pistols and other high-power guns.

According to their Maximum Effect to their Targets (See Fig.12)

1. Ball Type
 Is a type of bullet, which is intended for anti- personnel and general use.
2. Armor Piercing
 Is a type of military bullet designed to penetrate light steel armor.
  Its mechanical construction makes it capable of penetrating through some
light vehicles.
 it formed by a hard steel core covered with a jacket thus, giving its core the
optimum power of piercing while its shape has the optimum shape for
accurate fight.
 it was first patented in about 1903 by Roth of Vienna, although, it was
largely introduced for snipers countering the small armor shields in the year
1914-1918.
3. Explosive Bullet
 Is a small bullet containing a charge of explosive, which will detonate on
impact.
4. Incendiary Bullet
 Type of military bullet used to cause fire in a target, generally designed to
use by aircraft armament in order for the fuel tanks to ignite.
 it is constructed by having front of the bullet be filled with while
phosphorous, a chemical capable of spontaneous ignition when comes into
contact with air.
5. Tracer Bullet
 A type of military bullet capable of leaving visible marks or traces while in
flight giving the gunner the chance to observe the strike of the shot or make
adjustments in the event of miss.
 It resembles a ball type, although the rare portion of the core removed and
the space filled with mixture of magnesium powder, barium nitrate and
metallic salts to give the desired color of the flame or smoke.
MISCELLENEOUS TYPES OF BULLETS

 Baton Round
 Is the proper name used when referring to a "rubber bullet".
 This type of bullet was first developed for the Hong Kong Police and was of
wood, due to its ability to split on impact with the ground thus, possible of
inflicting wounds it was later replaced by a rubber.
 this is generally a plain cylindrical rubber or plastic used in 12-bore, 26mm or
37 mm riot gun and fired by a less powered charge.
 Compound Bullet
 A type of bullet having its core of dense metal covered with jacket of lighter
metal which does not bring lead into contact with the rifling on the weapon
and which was designed by Major Rubin of the Swiss Army in the year
1880's.

 Discarding Sabot
 is special type of bullet in which a solid ball place in a case which separates
when the bullet was fired giving an extra velocity to the bullet.
 A bullet of this type was manufactured by Remington, and it was given the
name “Accelerator Bullet”.
 Dum- Dum Bullet
 It is a type of bullet designed in India in the year 1890s by Captain Bertie
Clay.
 It consisted of service ball having its nose expose due to a trimmed jacket to
the back. Now the term is loosely used in describing any expanding bullet.
 Frangible Ball Type
 Is a type of bullet designed for training purposes especially for aerial targets.
 It does not cause any damage to the target rather leaving a paint mark for
the purpose of assessing the gunners.
 Plechette
 A dark — like solid projectile, stabilized in flight by fins.
 It was in used as early as 1914 and at present the cartridge for 12 gauges is
loaded with 20 steel flechettes
 Heel Bullet
 Is a type of bullet commonly used in pistol having its rear portion reduced in
diameter in order to fit into mouth of the shell, thus making the rest of its
part appears flush with the mouth of the shell.
 Hallow Point
 Is a type of bullet in which the nose is drilled out to the certain depth leaving
a hole.
  The purpose is to be able for the bullet to deform upon impact making a
"mushroom".
 Lethal Ball
 British term used when referring to a single shot used to issue to the
members of the home guard anti personal use during World War Two.
 Multiple Bullet
 is the term applied to a number or two (duplex) or three (triplex) bullet
formed a cartridge it was patented to the early 1990s by Gorge Luger.
 Soft Point
 Refers to any of bullet having its jacket short that have nose in exposed thus
capable deforming upon the impact and it is common for hurting purpose.
 Spitzer Bullet
 Is the term to use by the American AND British sportsmen when referring to
a pointed bullet.
 Streamlined Bullet
 is a type of bullet that has front section tapered to a point and its rear
section tapered to as smaller diameter thus reducing the Base Drag.

 Cartridge Case maker is traditional of brass although there are some at present, which
are either plastic varnish steel, zinc-coated or even chemically coated are at use:

Functions of the Cartridge Case

1. It locates the bullet properly relative to the bore of the firearm.

 2. It is used to carry the means of ignition.

3. It provides gas seals at the breech against an unwanted escape of propellant gas
upon firing.

4. Serve as a waterproof container for the propellant or powder charge.

5. Acts as the insulator between the propellant and the hot walls of the chamber in a
rapid firing firearms.

Part of the Cartridge Case

1. Base = the bottom of the cartridge case which contain the head stamp marking on the
base of the shell containing the caliber, manufacturer and in some cases including the
data, trade name, and batch number.
2. Rim = is the part of the cartridge designed to limit he forward movement of the
cartridge to chamber.
3. Exacting grooves = is the circular
grooves near the rim of the shell
designed for automatic withdrawal of
the case the chamber.

4. Primer Pocket = is that part of the

shell which provides the mean for the
primer to be put in the central
position. Its function I extended to
a. Hold the primer in place
b. To provide means to prevent the
escape of gas.
c. To provide solid support to primer anvil.
5. Body = is the cylindrical part of the shell which house the gunpowder.
6. Shoulder = that part of the cartridge case which support the neck of the cartridge
which is evident in a bottleneck type.
7. Cannelure = is the cylindrical groove in the outer surface of the cartridge case designed
to secure the shell to the chamber as well as prevent bullet from being push down to the
powder charge. In some instance it is even being utilized for identification.
8. Neck = is that part of the hell which is actually occupied by the bullet. This is obvious in
a bottleneck type of shell but not with the straight type.
9. Crimp = is the cylindrical groove on the mouth of the hell designed for two purposes:
1. Is to hold the bullet and prevent it from being pull out from the shell
 2. to offers resistance to the bullet out of the neck to ensure burning of the gun
powder.
10.Vent or Flash hole= is the hole at the bottom of the primer pocket as the passage way
for the priming mixture to impart an ignition to the propellant charge.