FITT LESSON 3

• Ammunition


  Also known as cartridges, the complete package of components used in firearms. It typically consists of a casing, primer, propellant, and projectile.

  
• Cartridge case


  • The container that holds all the other components of a round of ammunition together. It is typically made from brass, but can also be made from steel, aluminum, or even plastic for certain applications.
  • When a firearm's trigger is pulled, the firing pin strikes the primer, igniting the propellant. The cartridge case expands to seal the chamber, ensuring that gases are directed forward to propel the bullet out of the barrel.
  • For enthusiasts who reload their ammunition, the cartridge case is a reusable element. Its durability allows it to be reloaded with a new primer, propellant, and projectile multiple times, offering cost savings and the ability to customize loads for specific purposes.
• Primer


  • A small, but vital, component of ammunition. Located at the center of the base of a cartridge case (centerfire ammunition) or distributed around the rim (rimfire ammunition), the primer contains a small amount of impact-sensitive chemical compound.
  • When struck by the firing pin, the primer detonates and ignites the propellant within the cartridge case. This small explosion is the catalyst for the main event, which is the burning of the propellant that ultimately propels the bullet forward.
• Propellant


  • The chemical mixture that burns rapidly when ignited by the primer. Modern ammunition uses smokeless powder, which produces less smoke and residue than the black powder used in older ammunition.
  • Upon ignition, the propellant converts from a solid or gel state into a rapidly expanding gas. This expansion creates high pressure within the cartridge case, which then forces the bullet down the barrel and towards the target.
• Projectile


  • The component that is expelled from the barrel to engage the target. Bullets come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, each designed for specific tasks, such as hunting, target shooting, or self-defense.

  
• Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)


  A bullet that has a "soft" core surrounded by a casing of a harder metal, typically copper. It was invented in 1882 by Swiss Colonel Eduard Rubin while he was working for the Swiss Federal Ammunition Factory and Research Center.
• Types of Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)


  • Truncated Cone
  • Flat Nose
  • Boat Tail
• Full Metal Jacket Advantages


  • Less Fouling
  • Dependable Feeding
• Full Metal Jacket Disadvantages


  • The jacket prohibits the bullet from expanding, increasing the chance of over-penetration and collateral damage.
  • Have a "smaller wound channel" compared to jacketed hollow points.
• The manufacturing process of ammunition

  1. Design Phase

  2. Production of Components

  3. Assembly

  4. Quality Control
• Basic Ammunition Types


  • Shotgun Ammo
  • Rifle Ammo
  • Handgun Ammo
• Shotshells


  Used when shooting a shotgun

  
• Cartridges (or rounds)


  Used when shooting a rifle or handgun
• Types of shotshells


  • Birdshot
  • Buckshot
  • Slugs
• Shotgun gauge


  A measurement that indicates the diameter of the bore or the inside diameter of the barrel
• Types of rifle or handgun cartridges

  • Rimfire
  • Centerfire

  
• Most popular ammunition types

  • 9mm Luger
  • .223 Remington
  • .308 Winchester
  • 12 Gauge
  • .22 Long Rifle

  
• Caliber


  Refers to the diameter of the barrel of a firearm and consequently the diameter of the ammunition that can travel through it. Calibers are typically measured in millimeters, hundredths of an inch or thousandths of an inch but may not be exact measurements.

  
• .30 Carbine


  Manageable recoil and compatibility with compact firearms

  
• .223 Remington


  Widely used in sports shooting and hunting, known for accuracy, civilian equivalent of 5.56x45mm NATO

  
• .308 Winchester


  Popular choice for hunting and long-range shooting, offering excellent power and accuracy at extended distances
• 12 Gauge


  Extremely versatile shotgun shell, used for hunting game birds, deer, competitive shooting, and home defense

  
• .22 Long Rifle


  Known for low cost, minimal recoil, and quiet report, used extensively for training, recreational shooting, and small game hunting
• Caliber


  Refers to the diameter of the barrel of a firearm and consequently the diameter of the ammunition that can travel through it

  
• Calibers are typically measured in millimeters, hundredths of an inch or thousandths of an inch but may not be exact measurements
• Most firearms have the caliber for rifles and handguns or gauge for shotguns clearly marked on the barrel or side of the receiver

  
• Bullet


  The projectile that shoots out of a gun, not the entire piece of ammunition (the entire piece is called a round or cartridge)

  
• Plated Bullets


  A middle ground between lead and jacketed bullets, cheaper than FMJs and cleaner than lead, ideal for indoor ranges
• Full Metal Jacket Bullets


  Consist of a hard outer shell and a soft metal inner, ideal for creating maximum damage and increased accuracy, cost-efficient for training and practicing
• Lead Bullets


  Available for most shooting applications, common at gun ranges, for target shooting or practicing, often cheaper
• Round Nose Bullets


  Have 1/2 the diameter of the bullet, rounded tip, provide more damage and deeper penetration, good for target practice, pest control, and self-defense
• Hollow-Point Bullets


  Useful when control of damage and penetration is important, used in tactical situations where the bullet's trajectory cannot leave the target, also welcomed as ammo for target practice due to accuracy
• Boat Tail Bullets


  FMJ Boat Tail bullets are useful anytime precision is a must, the tapered tip adds stability to the trajectory, ideal for target practice, sniping, and long-distance shooting
• Rifle Bullet Types


  • Semi-Jacketed
  • Full Metal Jacket
  • Jacketed Hollow Points
  • Lead or Lead Round Nose
  • Special - Bullets designed for limited application or guns
• Armor-Piercing Bullets


  Used against targets wearing ballistic armor, also useful against ballistic shields
• Soft Point Bullets


  Replacement bullet for hunting in situations where an expanding bullet is needed, also common in metal-plate target shooting, available in metal jacket variations
• Hunting Bullet Categories


  • Impact extruded
  • Single-piece
  • Cup-draw

  
• Heavy Bullets


  Slower than light-weight bullets, good match for big game hunting, especially at close range, deeper penetrating ammo due to heavier weight
• .38 Special Ammo


  Popular for home and self-defense situations, slightly larger than 9mm, fits into most .38 special guns
• Open Tip Bullets


  Also known as match bullets, prized for competitions due to increased accuracy, have a small indentation at the tip