- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
National Institute of Justice
The Research, Development, and Evaluation
Agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
Cartridge Naming Systems
Home > Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development > Ammunition > Cartridge Cases > Cartridge Naming Systems
40-90 Sharps Bottleneck (left) and
40-90 Sharps Straight (right)
In North America, there is no defined, universally accepted cartridge naming system. Cartridge naming has been commercially driven and naming is typically determined by the original manufacturer.
In Europe, cartridge naming systems are controlled by government agencies and the systems are adhered to by all manufacturers.
Naming systems are varied and covered extensively in Cartridges of the World.
Click here to read a summary of the development of cartridge naming systems
