FSC Ammunition Flashcards

What are the four main components of a cartridge?

Answer: Case, primer, powder, projectile

A complete cartridge consists of the case (brass or steel), primer, gunpowder propellant, and the projectile (bullet).

What is the purpose of the primer in a cartridge?

Answer: It ignites the powder charge when struck by the firing pin

The primer is a small explosive compound that ignites when struck by the firing pin, in turn igniting the main powder charge.

Which caliber designation refers to the bullet diameter measured in hundredths of an inch?

Answer: .38 Special

.38 Special uses the American convention of expressing diameter in hundredths of an inch, meaning the bullet is approximately 0.38 inches in diameter.

What does 'FMJ' stand for in ammunition terminology?

Answer: Full Metal Jacket

FMJ stands for Full Metal Jacket, meaning the lead core is fully enclosed in a harder metal (typically copper) jacket.

Hollow point (HP) ammunition is designed primarily to:

Answer: Expand on impact to increase stopping power and reduce over-penetration

Hollow point bullets are engineered to expand upon impact, which transfers energy more efficiently and reduces the risk of the bullet passing through a target.

What is 'headspace' in the context of firearm ammunition?

Answer: The distance from the bolt face to the point in the chamber that stops forward cartridge movement

Headspace is the critical distance in a firearm chamber that positions the cartridge correctly; improper headspace can cause dangerous malfunctions.

Which of the following is an example of rimfire ammunition?

Answer: .22 LR

.22 LR (Long Rifle) is the most common rimfire cartridge; the primer compound is distributed around the rim of the case base.