centersfire

Centersfire is a term often used as a variant spelling of center-fire, describing a type of firearm cartridge ignition system in which the primer is located at the center of the cartridge base. In standard usage, center-fire is the preferred term, and centersfire is generally considered a misspelling or less common variant.

History and development: Center-fire cartridges were developed in the 19th century and became widely adopted by the late 1800s. They supplanted rimfire designs for most practical and military applications because they allow higher pressures and more robust, reloadable cases. Over time, center-fire ammunition established itself as the dominant ignition system for a broad range of rifles and handguns.

Design and operation: A primer sits in a central pocket in the base of the cartridge. When the firing pin strikes the primer, the primer is ignited, sending a small flame through a flash hole to ignite the main propellant charge. The rapidly expanding gas propels the bullet from the barrel. The center-location primer enables more uniform ignition and supports larger case capacities than rimfire designs.

Advantages and applications: Center-fire ammunition supports larger calibers, higher pressures, and durable, reloadable cases. It is used across most modern firearms, including civilian sporting firearms, law enforcement, and military weapons.

Relation to rimfire: Rimfire cartridges ignite the primer from the rim of the base, a design still used in some small-caliber rounds. Center-fire remains the standard for the vast majority of contemporary ammunition.

See also: Rimfire, Ammunition, Firing mechanism.