Cartridge (firearm)

A cartridge is an assembled package that contains the components that constitute a firearm's ammunition, mostly for small arms. These are one or more projectiles (bullet or shots), a propellant (typically black powder, Pyrodex, cordite or smokeless powder) and a primer all assembled into a unifying case, which nowadays is typically made of metallic materials such as brass or occasionally steel and aluminium. The cartridge is designed in concert with a firearm manufacturer to allow its safe operation in a suitable firearm. When a loaded cartridge is properly inserted into a firearm's chamber, it is ready to be fired using the necessary operation of that firearm (cocking, pulling the trigger, etc).

The paper cartridge was first invented as early as the late 14th century, and remained in use until the mid/late 19th century. The metallic cartridge was developed in the late 19th century during a time of great expansion of industrial capability, and it became an immediate success rendering all previous loading methods obsolete.

The first integrated cartridge was developed in Paris in 1808 by the Swiss gunsmith Jean Samuel Pauly in association with French gunsmith François Prélat. Pauly created the first fully self-contained cartridges: the cartridges incorporated a copper base with integrated mercury fulminate primer powder (the major innovation of Pauly), a round bullet and either brass or paper casing. The cartridge was loaded through the breech and fired with a needle. The needle-activated centerfire breech-loading gun would become a major feature of firearms thereafter. Pauly made an improved version, protected by a patent, on 29 September 1812.

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