Cartridge Compendium
An exhaustive exploration of rimmed firearm cartridges, from historical handguns to modern artillery, detailing their classifications and types.
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Overview
Defining Rimmed Cartridges
Rimmed cartridges represent a fundamental classification within firearm ammunition, characterized by a distinct rim protruding from the base of the cartridge case. This rim serves critical functions, including providing a positive stop for headspacing within the firearm's chamber and offering a surface for the extractor mechanism to engage for reliable ejection of spent casings. Unlike rimfire cartridges, where the priming compound is integrated into the rim and ignited by crushing the rim itself, rimmed cartridges employ a centerfire primer located centrally in the case head. Ignition is achieved when the firearm's firing pin strikes this central primer.
Distinction from Rimfire
It is imperative to distinguish rimmed cartridges from rimfire cartridges. While both feature a rim, their ignition systems and typical applications diverge significantly. Rimfire cartridges, exemplified by the widely recognized .22 Long Rifle, are generally lower-powered and commonly found in smaller firearms. Rimmed cartridges, conversely, encompass a broad spectrum of ammunition, ranging from modest handgun rounds to formidable artillery shells, all relying on a central primer for ignition. Understanding this distinction is paramount for ensuring firearm and ammunition compatibility and safe operation.
Handgun and Carbine Cartridges
.22 Hornet
A compact, rimmed cartridge often utilized in varmint hunting rifles and certain pistol designs, valued for its accuracy and flat trajectory.
.22 Remington Jet
A high-velocity rimmed cartridge engineered for handguns, providing enhanced power and range compared to standard .22 caliber rounds.
.32 S&W Long
A classic rimmed cartridge renowned for its precision and manageable recoil, frequently chambered in revolvers for target shooting and self-defense.
.38 S&W
An older rimmed cartridge, historically associated with revolvers and once widely adopted by law enforcement agencies.
.38 Special
One of the most prevalent and versatile rimmed handgun cartridges, extensively employed in revolvers for defensive applications and competitive shooting.
.357 Magnum
A powerful magnum rimmed cartridge derived from the .38 Special, delivering substantially increased velocity and energy for greater effectiveness.
.38-40 Winchester
A historically significant rimmed cartridge, popular in the late 19th century for both revolvers and lever-action carbines.
.41 Short Colt
An early rimmed cartridge, now largely obsolete, which saw use in Colt revolvers of its era.
.41 Long Colt
An evolution of the .41 Short Colt, this rimmed cartridge was also employed in revolvers during the period of its development.
.41 Special
A modern rimmed cartridge conceived as a more potent alternative to the .38 Special, utilizing a .41 caliber projectile.
.41 Magnum
A potent magnum rimmed cartridge, developed as a counterpart to the .357 Magnum, offering enhanced stopping power.
.44 Remington Centerfire
An early rimmed centerfire cartridge designed for revolvers, predating the widespread adoption of the .44 Special.
.44 Russian
A historically important rimmed cartridge, recognized for its accuracy and mild recoil, commonly used in Smith & Wesson revolvers.
.44 S&W American
Another early rimmed cartridge in the .44 caliber, specifically developed for Smith & Wesson revolvers.
.44 Special
A versatile and accurate rimmed cartridge, favored for self-defense and target practice in revolvers.
.44 Magnum
A formidable magnum rimmed cartridge, celebrated for its immense power and utilized in revolvers and carbines for hunting and defense.
.44-40 Winchester
A highly influential rimmed cartridge from the late 19th century, widely adopted for both revolvers and lever-action rifles, often termed the "Gunfighter's Cartridge".
.45 Colt
A legendary rimmed cartridge, originally developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, esteemed for its significant stopping power.
.45 Auto Rim
A specialized rimmed variant of the .45 ACP, engineered for use in revolvers chambered for .45 ACP ammunition.
.45 Schofield
A rimmed cartridge developed for the Schofield revolver, closely related to the .45 Colt but featuring a distinct rim profile.
.454 Casull
An exceptionally powerful magnum rimmed cartridge, delivering substantial energy suitable for hunting large and dangerous game.
.455 Webley
A rimmed cartridge historically adopted as a standard service round by the British military, primarily used in Webley revolvers.
.475 Linebaugh
A custom-developed, high-performance magnum rimmed cartridge designed for powerful handgun applications.
.500 Linebaugh
Another custom rimmed magnum cartridge, offering immense power for specialized handgun use.
.500 S&W Special
A potent rimmed cartridge developed for revolvers, providing substantial power within a .500 caliber designation.
.500 S&W Magnum
Considered one of the most powerful production handgun cartridges, this rimmed round is engineered for extreme stopping power.
7.62×38mmR
A rimmed cartridge utilized in revolvers, most notably the Russian Nagant M1895.
8mm Gasser
A rimmed cartridge employed in Austrian Gasser revolvers.
9mm Japanese revolver
A rimmed cartridge specific to Japanese revolvers, distinct from modern 9mm Parabellum rounds.
10.4mm Swiss Centerfire
A historical rimmed cartridge used in Swiss military revolvers.
10.6×25mmR
A rimmed cartridge found in various European revolvers.
11.3×36mmR
A rimmed cartridge, likely of European origin, used in historical firearms.
Shotgun Shells
2 Bore
An exceptionally large-bore shotgun cartridge, historically employed for hunting large and dangerous game.
4 Bore
Another very large-bore shotgun cartridge, utilized for large game hunting and some anti-materiel applications.
6 Bore
A large-bore shotgun cartridge, less common than the 4 or 2 bore, used for specialized heavy game.
8 Bore
A large-bore shotgun cartridge, often selected for specific hunting scenarios or specialized applications.
10 Bore
A powerful shotgun gauge, larger than the 12 gauge, commonly used for waterfowl and large game hunting.
12 Bore
The most ubiquitous shotgun gauge globally, employed across hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense contexts.
16 Bore
A lighter shotgun gauge than the 12, offering a balance between effective power and manageable recoil.
20 Bore
A highly popular shotgun gauge, particularly favored by smaller-framed shooters and for hunting small game.
24 Bore
A less common shotgun gauge, smaller than the 20 bore, used for specific applications.
28 Bore
A smaller gauge shotgun shell, appreciated for its light recoil and suitability for bird hunting.
32 Bore
A small gauge shotgun shell, frequently used for hunting small game.
.410 Bore
While technically a shotgun gauge, the .410 bore is often categorized with rimmed cartridges due to its small, rimmed case design.
.360 Bore
A rimmed cartridge, sometimes referred to as a bore, utilized in specific types of firearms.
Intermediate Cartridges
.22 Winchester Centerfire
A rimmed cartridge developed for Winchester rifles, offering superior power compared to typical .22 rimfire ammunition.
.222 Rimmed
A rimmed variant of the .222 cartridge, specifically designed for bolt-action rifles.
.25-20 Winchester
A historically popular rimmed cartridge for small game and varmint hunting during the early 20th century.
.32-20 Winchester
A significant rimmed cartridge that saw widespread use in both lever-action rifles and revolvers.
.45-60 Winchester
A powerful rimmed cartridge developed for Winchester rifles in the late 19th century, suitable for large game.
.45-75 Winchester
Another large-caliber rimmed cartridge designed for Winchester rifles, providing substantial ballistic performance.
.50-70 Government
A historical rimmed cartridge used by the US military, representing one of the early successful centerfire designs.
10.4×47mmR
A rimmed cartridge, likely of European origin, employed in historical firearms.
11x42mmR Albini-Comblain
A rimmed cartridge associated with the Albini-Comblain rifle system.
11×50mmR Comblain
A rimmed cartridge potentially used as a successor or variant for the Comblain rifle.
12x46mmR Musket Spain XPL
A rimmed musket cartridge, possibly originating from Spain.
Fully Powered Rifle Cartridges
5.6×57mmR
A rimmed cartridge typically chambered in hunting rifles.
6.5×53mmR
A rimmed cartridge notably used in Dutch Mannlicher rifles.
7-30 Waters
A rimmed cartridge developed by Ken Waters, based on the .30-30 Winchester case, for lever-action rifles.
7.62×53mmR
A rimmed cartridge utilized in Finnish variants of the Mosin-Nagant rifle.
7.62×54mmR
A widely adopted Russian rimmed cartridge, found in Mosin-Nagant rifles and PK machine guns.
8×50mmR Lebel
The original rimmed French service cartridge for the Lebel rifle.
8×50mmR Mannlicher
A rimmed cartridge used in Austrian Mannlicher rifles.
8×52mmR Mannlicher
Another rimmed cartridge variant for Mannlicher rifles.
8×56mmR
A rimmed cartridge employed in Austrian and Hungarian military rifles.
8×58mmR Danish Krag
The rimmed cartridge designated for the Danish Krag-Jørgensen rifle.
9.3×74mmR
A powerful rimmed cartridge, highly regarded for European big game hunting.
9×53mmR
A rimmed cartridge used in certain Russian hunting rifles.
10.15×61mmR
A large-caliber rimmed cartridge, likely intended for hunting applications.
11×59mmR Gras
A French military rimmed cartridge for the Gras rifle.
11×58mmR
A rimmed cartridge, potentially a variant of the Gras or a similar military round.
.22 Savage Hi-Power
A high-velocity rimmed cartridge developed by Savage Arms for their rifle platforms.
.30-30 Winchester
An iconic American rimmed cartridge, extensively used in lever-action rifles for hunting medium game.
.30-40 Krag
The standard rimmed US military rifle cartridge from 1892 to 1903, used in the Krag-Jørgensen rifle.
.30 R Blaser
A modern rimmed cartridge designed for contemporary hunting rifles.
.32 Winchester Special
A rimmed cartridge closely related to the .30-30 Winchester, offering slightly different ballistic characteristics.
.32-40 Ballard
A historical rimmed cartridge popular in the late 19th century for target shooting and hunting.
.38-55 Winchester
A powerful rimmed cartridge developed for the Winchester Model 1886 rifle, favored for hunting.
.38-72 Winchester
A large-caliber rimmed cartridge designed for Winchester rifles.
.40-72 Winchester
Another large-caliber rimmed cartridge intended for Winchester rifles.
.45-70
A legendary and powerful rimmed US military cartridge, still widely used for hunting large game.
.50-110 Winchester
An exceptionally powerful rimmed cartridge for the Winchester Model 1886 rifle, designed for hunting the largest game.
.219 Zipper
A fast and flat-shooting rimmed cartridge, popular for varmint hunting applications.
.303 British
The standard rimmed British military rifle cartridge from 1888 through the mid-20th century.
.303 Savage
A rimmed cartridge developed by Savage Arms for their rifle models.
.307 Winchester
A rimmed cartridge based on the .308 Winchester case, engineered for lever-action rifles.
.348 Winchester
A powerful rimmed cartridge designed for the Winchester Model 71 rifle.
.375 Winchester
A rimmed cartridge offering increased power over the .30-30 Winchester.
.405 Winchester
A very powerful rimmed cartridge for the Winchester Model 1895 rifle, famously known as "The Teddy Roosevelt".
.600 Nitro Express
An extremely powerful rimmed double-rifle cartridge designed for hunting the largest and most dangerous game animals.
Autocannon Rounds
20×99mmR
A rimmed cartridge utilized in autocannon systems.
20.3×95mmR
A rimmed cartridge designed for autocannon applications.
20×145mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
20×180mmR
A rimmed cartridge for autocannon use.
25×193.5mmR
A large-caliber rimmed cartridge employed in autocannons.
25x205mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
25x187mmR
A rimmed cartridge for autocannon applications.
37×57mmR
A rimmed cartridge used in early autocannon designs.
37×94mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
37×145mmR
A significant rimmed cartridge utilized in autocannons.
37×190mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
37×223mmR
A rimmed cartridge for autocannon use.
37×249mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
37×250mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
37×254mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
37×258mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
37x380mmR
A rimmed autocannon round.
40×158mmR
A rimmed cartridge used in autocannons.
Artillery Shells
40×304mmR
A rimmed cartridge designed for artillery pieces.
40×311mmR
A rimmed artillery shell.
47x351mmR
A rimmed artillery cartridge.
57×441mmR
A rimmed artillery shell.
57×464mmR
A rimmed artillery shell.
75×272mmR
A rimmed artillery cartridge.
75×350mmR
A rimmed artillery shell.
76.2×420mmR
A rimmed artillery cartridge.
76.2×583mmR
A large-caliber rimmed artillery shell.
84×295mmR
A rimmed artillery cartridge.
88×292mmR
A rimmed artillery shell.
94×92mmR
A rimmed artillery cartridge.
94×206mmR
A rimmed artillery shell.
94×675mmR
A large-caliber rimmed artillery shell.
94×857mmR
A very large-caliber rimmed artillery shell.
113×640–645mmR
A rimmed artillery cartridge with a specified range of case lengths.
114×73-86mmR
A rimmed artillery shell featuring variable case lengths.
114×695mmR
A large-caliber rimmed artillery shell.
133×782mmR
A very large-caliber rimmed artillery shell.
Flare and Riot Cartridges
37 mm flare
A rimmed cartridge designed to deploy signaling flares.
37 mm riot gun
A rimmed cartridge used in riot control firearms, typically firing non-lethal projectiles.
Blank Cartridges
.50-120 Federal FireStick
A rimmed blank cartridge, potentially for specialized firearm applications.
5-in-1 blank cartridge
A versatile rimmed blank cartridge designed for multiple signaling or training purposes.
9mm x 17 / .380 R
A rimmed variant of the .380 ACP, possibly used as a blank or in specific firearms requiring a rimmed case.
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Disclaimer
Important Notice Regarding Ammunition Data
This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from a single source and may not be exhaustive or entirely up-to-date. Ammunition specifications can be complex and vary significantly.
This is not professional advice. The information provided is not a substitute for consulting official firearm and ammunition manuals, expert advice from qualified professionals (such as gunsmiths or ballisticians), or adhering to all local, state, and federal regulations regarding firearms and ammunition. Misinformation or misuse of ammunition data can lead to dangerous situations.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. Always exercise extreme caution and prioritize safety when handling firearms and ammunition.