Centerfire ammunition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A centerfire cartridge is a cartridge in which the primer is located in the center of the cartridge case head. Unlike rimfire cartridges, the primer is a separate and replaceable component.
The centerfire cartridge has replaced the rimfire in all but the smallest cartridge sizes. Except for low-powered .22 and .17 caliber cartridges, and a handful of antiques, all modern pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition is centerfire.
[edit] Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantage of most centerfire cartridges is that they can be reused after replacing the primer, gunpowder and projectile. This is an advantage for rifles using cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield or .338 Lapua for which ammunition can be quite expensive. Centerfires also are generally larger and capable of higher powered loads. The chief disadvantage is cost. For target shooting purposes, centerfire cartridges are more expensive. Centerfires rule the market in all larger calibers, having replaced earlier large-bore rimfire cartridges.
[edit] Shotgun Shells
All shotgun shells (apart from specialized .22 cartridges which hold a very small amount of shot) are center fire. Most are made from plastic. Shotgun shells, like all centerfire cartridges, can be reloaded and used again.
