This document summarizes the key components of ammunition. It defines ammunition as containing projectiles, fuses, propelling charges or primers according to the Arms Act of 1959. The main components are then described in more detail: the cartridge case holds all other components, the primer contains an explosive mixture to ignite the powder, and powder/propellant provides kinetic energy to propel projectiles. Projectiles can be bullets or shotgun pellets. Wads are used in shotguns to separate components. Lubricants reduce friction. Modern ammunition includes center fire and rim fire cartridges. Metallic and shotgun ammunition are also summarized.

1. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Institute of Forensic
Science & Criminology
Bundelkhand University, Jhansi(U.P.)
Submitted by :-
Shatrughan
Dwivedi
M.Sc. 1st Semester
Submitted to :-
Murli Manohar Yadav

2. AMMUNITION

3.  What is Ammunition?
 Components of Ammunition.
Modern Ammunition.

4. What is
Ammunition?
According to sec.2(1)-(b) of Arms
Act 1959 “AMMUNITION” mean
ammunition for ant firearms and
includes:-
 The projectiles with their
fuses propelling charges, or
primers fired from guns.
 The means of Ignition or
exploding such material, as
primers, fuses, and
gunpowder.
(i) rockets, bombs, grenades, shells [and other missiles,]
(ii) articles designed for torpedo service and submarine
mining,
(iii) other articles containing, or designed or adapted to
contain, explosive, fulminating or fissionable
material or noxious liquid, gas or other such
thing, whether capable of use with firearms or
not,
(iv) charges for firearms and accessories for such
charges,
(v) fuses and friction tubes,
(vi) parts of, and machinery for manufacturing,
ammunition, and
(vii) such ingredients of ammunition as the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, specify in this behalf

5. 1.Cartridge case
2.Primer
3.Powder/Propellant
4.Projectile
5.Wads
6.Lubricants
Components
of
Ammunitions

6. Cartridge
Case
• The container that holds
all the other ammunition
components together.
• It’s usually made up of
brass, steel, copper,
cardboard or plastic.

7. Primer
• Primer is in the primer
cap which contain the
primer mixture, which get
sandwiched between the
anvil and the firing pin.
• In 1807, James Forsyth,
discover a shock sensitive
explosive called Mercury
Fulminate Hg(CNO)2 this type of
explosive will detonate if it is
struck or by shock.
• The new primer composition
have come up by replacing
Mercury Fulminate:-
Lead Styphate - 40%
Antimony Sulphide -
17%
Barium Nitrate - 37%
PETN - 6%
Tetracene - 5%
Aluminum - 8%

8. Powder/Propellant
• The propellant is the
component of the
ammunition that is
activated inside the
weapon and provides the
kinetic energy required to
move the projectile from
the weapon to the target.
Three types of powder
used are :-
 Black Powder
 Smokeless Powder
 Semi – Smokeless
Powder

9. Black Powder
• Oldest recorded propellant is black powder.
• This was Invented by Chinese around 10th century.
• It is mixture of :-
Charcoal (C) :- 15%
Sulphur(S) :- 10%
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) :-
75%
2 KNO3 + S + 3 C → K2S + N2 + 3 CO2.
Chemical equation for the combustion of
gunpowder is:

10. Smokeless Powder
• Developed in the late 19th century to replace black powder
as a propellant in weapons.
• Black powder produces lots of smoke that could easily
revals the position of the shooter. Smokeless powder emits
much less smoke.
Basic components :-
Nitroglycerine
Nitrocellulose(Guncott
on)

11. Semi-Smokeless Powder
• Mixture of Nitrocellulose & black powder in ratio of
80:20.
Nitrated wood Cellulose : -
20%
Potassium Nitrate : - 60%
Carbon : - 12%
Sulphur : - 8%
• The powder produce less smoke then the
gunpowder but mixing process is quite
dangerous.
(This aspect has prevented its extensive
production & use

12. Projectiles
• The projectile is that
part of the ammunition
which gets propelled
from firearms to the
target.
• Small balls of lead
known as pellets, are
projectile as the
propelled by shotgun
towards target. They
are also called Shots
• Elongated projectiles are called
Bullets.
• Bullets are used
as projectiles in
metallic cartridges
used in rifled arms
ex. 0.303” rifle
• Bullets may be made of lead or lead
alloy.

13. Wads
• Found in shot gun
ammunition.
• They seal the barrel to
prevent escape of gases
and consequently, their
respective reduction
velocity.
• Wads are used in cartridge
primarily to keep the propellant &
shot charge in their respective
positions.
• Made up of paper or plastic
Internal
wad(over powder
wad)
Cushion wad(air
cushion)
External
wad(overshot wad)

14. Lubricants
• Bullets are lubricated to reduce friction and prevent oxidation
of the cases or projectile.
• The purpose was formerly achieved either by external
lubrication or internal lubrication.
• Bullets Covered with a layer of Beeswax.

15. Modern Ammunition
• Modern ammunition varies depending on type of
firearm. Rifles and Handguns use a cartridge containing a
single projectile(bullet).
• Shotguns use a shotshell containing containing either a
single slug or a large number of small projectiles(shots).
• The basic components of cartridges and shotshells are
very similar.
Two types of Modern
ammunition :-
Centre fire
Rim fire

16. Center fire
• Ammunition used for
riles, shotguns, and
handguns.
• Primer is located in
center of casing base.
Rim fire
• Ammunition has
primer contained in
rim of ammunition
casing.
• Rimfire ammunition
not reloadable

17. Small arms
ammunitions
Are of two types : -
Metallic Ammunition(Rifle
ammunition)
Shotgun Ammunition

18. Metallic Ammunition
(Rifle Ammunition)
Components of metallic
ammunition are :-
Metallic cartridge
case(shell).
Percussion cap or
Primer.
Propellant(gunpowd
er).
Bullet.
Shotgun
Ammunition
Components of shotgun
ammunition are :-
Paper
cartridge(shell).
Percussion cap
or Primer.
Lead
Pellets(spherical).
 Wads.

19. HEARD BRIAN J., EDITION 2ND 2008; HANDBOOK OF FIREARM
& BALLISTICS, PUBLISHED BY WILEY-BLACKWELL 2008.
HTTPS://WWW.ATF.GOV/FIREARMS/GUIDES-OF-NFA-
FIREARMS.HTML

20. Thanks!!!!