What is the Difference Between Rimfire and Centerfire?

The main difference between rimfire and centerfire ammunition lies in the location of the primer and the amount of pressure they can handle. Here are the key differences:

1. Primer Location: In centerfire ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the casing base, while in rimfire ammunition, the primer is contained in the rim of the ammunition casing.
2. Pressure: Centerfire cartridges can handle higher pressures, which results in more recoil and a louder bang. However, this also allows centerfire rounds to generate considerably higher velocities, making them more suitable for long-distance shooting and hunting.
3. Power: Generally speaking, centerfire cartridges have much more power than rimfire cartridges.
4. Reloadability: Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable, meaning the cartridge casings can be reused after firing. Rimfire cartridges, on the other hand, are not typically reloadable.
5. Applications: Rimfire cartridges are commonly used for target practice, plinking, and small game hunting, while centerfire cartridges can perform those functions and also handle large game, long-range shooting duties, and self-defense roles.

Some popular centerfire cartridges include 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, 5.56x45 NATO/.223 Remington, .30-30 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 7.62x51/.308 Winchester. Rimfire cartridges are limited to low-pressure loads and are not reloadable.

Comparative Table: Rimfire vs Centerfire

The main difference between rimfire and centerfire ammunition is the location of the primer, which is responsible for igniting the gunpowder in the cartridge. Here is a table summarizing the differences between rimfire and centerfire ammunition:

Rimfire ammunition is typically used for target shooting, plinking, and small game hunting, while centerfire ammunition is suitable for self-defense, home defense, big game hunting, and long-range target practice.