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Which four parts make up a rifle or pistol cartridge?

A cartridge has a case, primer, powder, and bullet.

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  1. Case, primer, powder, bullet ✔
  2. Hull, wad, shot, choke
  3. Stock, action, barrel, sight

Why: The case holds the cartridge components together. The primer starts ignition, powder produces gas, and the bullet is the projectile.

Huh, didn't know that: The whole loaded unit is a cartridge; the bullet is only its projectile.

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Why did the cartridge make a list? It wanted all four parts accounted for.
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References

Answer: Case, primer, powder, bullet. The case holds the cartridge components together. The primer starts ignition, powder produces gas, and the bullet is the projectile.

  1. IHEA-USA Education Standards: The Complete Guide www.ihea-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IHEAUSA_HunterEduStd_Comp_Digital-1.pdf
    Rifle and pistol cartridges consist of: • Case • Primer • Powder • Bullet
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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