Cartridges of the World

Cartridges of the World
Name	Cartridges of the World
Subject	Firearms ammunition, Ballistics

Cartridges of the World is a widely cited reference work cataloging small arms ammunition, offering specifications, historical context, and comparative data for rifle, pistol, and shotgun cartridges. The book is used by collectors, armory historians, designers, and forensic analysts for identification of rounds and for cross-referencing dimensions, pressures, and ballistic performance. It is frequently referenced in discussions involving hunting, competition, law enforcement, and military small arms procurement.

Overview

The work functions as a compendium of metallic and rimfire cartridges, listing dimensions, ballistic tables, and parentage across many families associated with manufacturers and designers. Entries commonly mention connections to firms like Remington Arms, Winchester Repeating Arms Company, Smith & Wesson, Colt's Manufacturing Company, and Browning Arms Company while referencing cartridges tied to nations such as United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Russia. Readers use it alongside periodicals such as American Rifleman, Shooting Times, The Rifleman, Guns & Ammo, and technical manuals from institutions like SAAMI and NATO.

History and Editions

First published during an era punctuated by developments from entities like FN Herstal, Ballistics Research Laboratory, Dillon Precision, and designers such as John Browning, the title evolved through multiple editions reflecting changes in commercial production and wildcatting. Major updates often coincided with shifts in interest spurred by events like the rise of cartridges after the World War I and innovations following World War II and conflicts such as the Vietnam War. Editions incorporated data influenced by standards from CIP and working groups within SAAMI as well as contemporary test results from facilities like NATO EPVAT labs. Successive editors expanded content to include newer rounds emerging from companies like Hornady Manufacturing Company, Federal Premium Ammunition, Nosler, Inc., and boutique makers.

Content and Organization

Entries are typically organized alphabetically, with sections grouping handgun, rifle, and shotgun cartridges and cross-references to parent cases and wildcat variants. Each listing often cites ballistic data, case dimensions, recommended uses, and historical notes referencing individuals such as Samuel Colt, Hiram Maxim, Mikhail Kalashnikov, and organizations like Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms. Illustrations and line drawings reflect measurements consistent with standards from SAAMI and CIP. Comparative tables draw on work by ballisticians linked to institutions like Ballistic Research Laboratory and testing regimes used by NATO allies.

Notable Calibers and Cartridge Families

The book covers canonical families including the .22 rimfire lineage linked to Rimfire cartridge innovations, the .30 family associated with cartridges like the .30-06 Springfield used by United States Army forces in World War I and World War II, and the 7.62×51mm NATO round standardized by NATO procurement committees. It treats prominent handgun cartridges such as the .45 ACP championed by John Browning and adopted by the United States Navy-linked forces, the 9×19mm Parabellum developed by Georg Luger and standardized in European services, and the .357 Magnum associated with companies like Smith & Wesson and events in competitive shooting. Sporting and hunting families, including the .270 Winchester promoted in American hunting literature and the .300 Winchester Magnum backed by hunting manufacturers, are profiled alongside military calibers like the 5.56×45mm NATO linked to ArmaLite designs and the AK-family 7.62×39mm associated with Kalashnikov derivatives. The compendium also addresses specialty cartridges tied to custom houses such as Dillon Precision and designs from wildcatters influenced by figures like Elmer Keith.

Author and Editorial Approach

Authorship and editorial stewardship have drawn on contributors with backgrounds in ballistics, gunsmithing, and collecting; editors referenced work from ballistics researchers at institutions like Ballistic Research Laboratory and authors affiliated with periodicals such as American Rifleman and Guns & Ammo. The editorial approach emphasizes empirical measurements, cross-referencing with industry standards from SAAMI and CIP, and contextual histories that cite designers like John Browning, Georg Luger, and Samuel Colt. Later editions incorporated contributions from specialists in forensic identification from agencies such as FBI laboratories and civilian ballistic testing facilities.

Reception and Impact

Collectors, curators, and professionals in shooting sports and law enforcement have used the book as a baseline reference when comparing headstamp data, case dimensions, and ballistic performance; it is often cited in collector catalogs, museum catalogs associated with institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, and manuals produced by manufacturers including Remington and Winchester. Scholarly and trade reviewers in publications like American Rifleman and Shooting Times have noted its utility while occasionally debating specifics against primary standards published by SAAMI and research from Ballistic Research Laboratory. The book influenced standardization discussions among hobbyists and suppliers in trade shows hosted by organizations like National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Publication and Formats

Published across multiple print editions, the work has appeared in hardback and paperback formats, with later versions offering expanded plates and updated ballistic tables. Readers often pair it with catalogs and technical sheets from makers such as Hornady, Nosler, Federal Premium Ammunition, Winchester Ammunition, and specialist boutiques. Libraries and archives maintain copies in collections alongside titles on firearms history in repositories like the Library of Congress and university libraries that collect materials on industrial and technological history.

Category:Firearm literature