Which components make up a cartridge?

• A. Projectile, primer, and barrel
• B. Propellant, projectile, and magazine
• C. Primer, propellant, projectile, and case
• D. Case, magazine, and bullet tip

Answer: (C)

A cartridge is a complete assembly used in firearms and includes several key components: the primer, propellant, projectile, and case.

The primer is a small explosive device that ignites the propellant when struck by the firing pin of a firearm. The propellant, typically gunpowder or another type of chemical, generates gas that propels the projectile out of the barrel when ignited. The projectile itself is the actual bullet or shot that is fired from the firearm. The case, often made of brass or other metals, contains all these components securely and also serves to seal in the gases produced when the propellant ignites.

In the context of the other options, while they mention some relevant components, they either omit essential parts or include incorrect ones that do not belong to the cartridge assembly. For instance, a barrel or magazine is crucial for the operation of a firearm but is not part of the cartridge itself, making those options less accurate. Therefore, the answer that includes all four necessary elements specific to a cartridge—primer, propellant, projectile, and case—is the most accurate representation of what constitutes a cartridge.