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It is a difference in the placement of the priming compound. This compound is sensitive to physical impact, and, being struck by the firing pin, explodes to ignite the gunpowder in the cartridge case. In the rimfire cartridge, the case, made of soft brass, has a folded rim. Primer compound placed inside that folded rim is exploded when the rim is pinched between the firing pin and the mouth of the chamber. Centerfire ammunition has the primer in a pocket at the rear center of the cartridge case. That case has harder brass, and is capable of handling higher pressures than rimfire ammunition. Centerfire ammunition can be reloaded after firing by replacing the primer, powder and bullet. Rimfire ammo is not generally reloadable.

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Rimfire primer is in the rim of the casing.

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Q: What is the main difference between centerfire and rimfire ammunition?
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Difference between rimfire and centerfire ammo?

A centerfire cartridge has the primer in the middle on the bottom side of the shell, where as the rimfire is the whole bottom.


What is the difference between a 22 caliber and a 222 caliber?

22 is a rimfire, 222 is a centerfire.


What is the main difference of the center fire and the rim fire ammunition?

The location of the primer. In the rim, or at the rear center of the cartridge case. Most centerfire cartridges can be reloaded, most rimfire cannot be.


Does the firearm shoot rimfire cartridges or centerfire?

Some are rimfire, some are centerfire. Depends on the design of the firearm.


Can you use rimfire cartridges in a centerfire rifle?

No. The terms "rimfire" & "centerfire" should self-explain. On rimfire the priming compound is in the rim of the cartridge and on centerfire the primer with the priming compound is in the center of the cartridge.


How can you tell if ammo is rimfire or centerfire?

Centerfire ammunition has a round primer at the rear center. Looks like a circle. Rimfire ammo is made with priming material in the folded over rim of the cartridge. It will have a smooth base of the cartridge- may have letters stamped there, but no circle for the primer.


The US 32 caliber revolver is it a centerfire or rimfire?

Centerfire


Is the fn ps90 centerfire or rimfire?

Centrefire


Is a muzzelloader a centerfire firearm?

No- it is neither centerfire nor rimfire, since it does not use cartridges.


Is CCI 17hmr centerfire or rimfire?

.17 HMR is a rimfire cartridge. The HMR stands for "Hornady Magnum Rimfire"


Is the Stevens Favorite 32 long a rimfire or centerfire?

32 long is a rimfire cartridge.


Is a 22 magnum centerfire?

No, it's a rimfire round.