Centerfire vs. Rimfire?

evermore

March 15, 2003 19:27

What is the difference between a centerfire rifle and a rimfire rifle?

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  mark christian

  March 15, 2003 19:43

  In centerfire ammunition such as 30-06, 9mm, and .45 ACP, the primer is located in the center of the cartridge base. If you look at the bottom a brass cased cartridge you will see the small round (usually a silver color) primer. This primer basically is a small self contained "explosive charge" which ignites the powder when struck by the guns firing pin. The firing pin itself is centerally located to strike the base of the cartridge more or less dead center. In the case of rimfires, like the .22LR, the priming compund is located all along the inside rim of the cartridge. When the round is chambered the firing pin is actaully offset slighlty from center so as to strike the rim and fire the cartridge. Although the rimfire came along first it has been nearly eclisped by the centerfire system for everything but .22 cartridges. One major advantage of the centerfire system is that these cartridges can be reloaded many times where as rimfires are a single use item and are disposed of after firing.
  
  Mark T. Christian

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