Firearms 101: What's a Bullet?
Be educated in order to better understand reporting on the issue
Weclome! This is a the 3rd in a series of firearms articles designed to advance civil debate on the topic. (See Part 1 & Part 2)
We hope that these posts will contribute in some small way to more knowledgeable debate and more accurate reporting.
Firearms are a technical subject. As is the case with other technical topics, reporting on firearms is often muddled.
Our next few articles will cover some equipment basics, like bullets and magazines, so you can confidently understand these terms.
If you're like I was, you may be under a misconception about bullets and how they work.
Look at the image below. Is that a bullet?
Most people would say "yes." But only a small part of what you see is the actual bullet.
Look again. This is a "cartridge." Only the tip is the bullet. (The tip may be silver, copper, or gold-colored.)
The brass part (which may also be silver-colored), i.e., the cartridge case, contains the gunpowder that propels the solid metal bullet forward, out of the front of the gun barrel.
“Brass”: The cartridge case (more commonly called "brass" or "brass casings") is either ejected sidewise from the firearm, (and falls on the ground) or stays inside the firearm and has to be manually removed (as in revolvers and old-fashioned cowboy guns.)
Some private target ranges require that users “clean up their brass.” That means sweeping up the empty cartridges when they are done with target practice.
“Primer”: In the image above, at far right, is a small, circular metal piece called the “primer.” This piece, which contains material that ignites the gunpowder, sits flush with the bottom of the cartridge.
You can compare the functioning of a bullet this to a NASA space rocket. Most of the rocket is made up of fuel.
The rocket "stages" fall away, leaving the relatively tiny capsule to soar to its destination.
Why Cartridges are Called “Bullets”
Cartridges are often referred to by firearm owners as "bullets" (or "rounds") -- this is just shorthand for "cartridge."
Ammunition comes in different sizes, or "calibers" to fit various types of firearms.
Here are some common handgun calibers: from left to right: .380, 9mm, and .38 Special.
The larger the cartridge, the more recoil a user will feel when firing.