centre-fire cartridge

A center-fire cartridge is a unit of small-arms ammunition that includes a metal case, a propellant charge, a bullet, and a primer. The primer is located at the center of the cartridge's base and is ignited by the hammer or firing pin of a firearm. This contrasts with rimfire cartridges, where the primer is in the rim of the case.

Early cartridges, dating back to the 16th century, were often just powder wrapped in paper, with the ball loaded separately. Over time, innovations led to cartridges that contained all components and could be fired by the gun's hammer. The development of the center-fire primer in the 19th century became predominant for larger caliber firearms, while rimfire cartridges remain popular for smaller calibers. Modern cartridges typically use smokeless powder as the propellant.12