CA-FSC FSC Ammunition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the four main components of a cartridge?
- Case, primer, powder, projectile (Correct answer)
- Barrel, trigger, hammer, firing pin
- Bullet, casing, wad, shot
- Primer, cap, ball, propellant
Correct answer: Case, primer, powder, projectile
A complete cartridge consists of the case (brass or steel), primer, gunpowder propellant, and the projectile (bullet).
Question 2: What is the purpose of the primer in a cartridge?
- It propels the bullet out of the barrel
- It ignites the powder charge when struck by the firing pin (Correct answer)
- It seals the case mouth around the bullet
- It controls the weight of the projectile
Correct answer: It ignites the powder charge when struck by the firing pin
The primer is a small explosive compound that ignites when struck by the firing pin, in turn igniting the main powder charge.
Question 3: Which caliber designation refers to the bullet diameter measured in hundredths of an inch?
- .9mm
- .38 Special (Correct answer)
- 12 gauge
- 7.62x39
Correct answer: .38 Special
.38 Special uses the American convention of expressing diameter in hundredths of an inch, meaning the bullet is approximately 0.38 inches in diameter.
Question 4: What does 'FMJ' stand for in ammunition terminology?
- Full Metal Jacket (Correct answer)
- Federal Magnum Jacketed
- Fixed Muzzle Junction
- Final Muzzle Jolt
Correct answer: Full Metal Jacket
FMJ stands for Full Metal Jacket, meaning the lead core is fully enclosed in a harder metal (typically copper) jacket.
Question 5: Hollow point (HP) ammunition is designed primarily to:
- Penetrate body armor
- Expand on impact to increase stopping power and reduce over-penetration (Correct answer)
- Travel at a higher velocity than FMJ rounds
- Be used exclusively in revolvers
Correct answer: Expand on impact to increase stopping power and reduce over-penetration
Hollow point bullets are engineered to expand upon impact, which transfers energy more efficiently and reduces the risk of the bullet passing through a target.
Question 6: What is 'headspace' in the context of firearm ammunition?
- The gap between the rear sight and the shooter's eye
- The distance from the bolt face to the point in the chamber that stops forward cartridge movement (Correct answer)
- The space inside the magazine between cartridges
- The clearance between the bullet and the barrel rifling
Correct answer: The distance from the bolt face to the point in the chamber that stops forward cartridge movement
Headspace is the critical distance in a firearm chamber that positions the cartridge correctly; improper headspace can cause dangerous malfunctions.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of rimfire ammunition?
- .45 ACP
- 9mm Luger
- .22 LR (Correct answer)
- .357 Magnum
Correct answer: .22 LR
.22 LR (Long Rifle) is the most common rimfire cartridge; the primer compound is distributed around the rim of the case base.
CA-FSC FSC Ammunition 2
What are the four main components of a cartridge?