hylsystä

Hylsy (hylsy) refers to the cartridge case of a firearm ammunition. The form hylsystä is the elative case in Finnish, used to express origin or source, meaning “from the cartridge case.” In firearm terminology, hylsy is the container that holds the primer, propellant, and bullet, and it remains after the bullet is fired.

A typical cartridge consists of a metal case, a primer at the base, gunpowder as the propellant, and a bullet seated at the mouth of the case. The hylsy serves to seal the ignition and contain the pressure generated when the powder burns. Most modern hylsyt are made of brass or steel, with brass being common for handgun and rifle ammunition. They vary in dimensions to fit different firearm calibers and may be rimmed or rimless, as well as have different primer pockets and systems.

After firing, the spent hylsy is ejected from the firearm. Spent casings may be collected for recycling or reloading. In shooting sports and military contexts, handling and disposal of hylsyt is a routine part of safety and maintenance. Reuse through reloading is common for numerous calibers, requiring proper equipment, components, and adherence to safety standards.

From a linguistic perspective, hylsystä appears as part of Finnish syntax when describing origin, extraction, or evidence found in relation to a cartridge case. The term is primarily used in firearm-related writing, manuals, and discussions. See also ammunition, cartridge, and reloading.