ammunition

Ammunition, or ammo, refers to the consumable components used by firearms and artillery to deliver a payload to a target. A typical modern cartridge comprises a case that holds propellant, a primer that ignites the propellant, and a projectile or shot that is propelled forward. When a weapon is fired, the primer ignites the propellant, generating expanding gases that drive the projectile down the barrel.

Small arms ammunition is usually described by caliber and cartridge design, such as 9mm, .45 ACP, or .22 Long Rifle. Shotgun ammunition uses shells that contain multiple projectiles (shot) or a single slug, with gauges like 12 gauge. Artillery ammunition refers to much larger projectiles fired from cannons or howitzers and may include high-explosive, fragmentation, incendiary, or other warheads, often with fuzes and delay mechanisms.

Bullet design varies by intended effect: full metal jacket, soft point, hollow point, tracer, armor-piercing, incendiary, and frangible rounds are selected for penetration, expansion, visibility, or reduced over-penetration. The term round can refer to the complete cartridge or the individual projectile; rimfire means the priming compound is in the rim of the case, while centerfire uses a primer in the center of the case head.

Storage and safety: ammunition should be kept away from heat and moisture, stored separately from firearms, and handled according to manufacturer and legal guidelines. In many jurisdictions, production, sale, and possession of ammunition are regulated activities.