Atlas nábojů do ručních palných zbraní / Book of Small Arms Cartridges – Hýkel Jindřich (2016)

Since the emergence of hand firearms in the late 14th century, shooting has been quite complicated, as the weapons were muzzle-loaders, loaded from the muzzle, separately with powder and shot. The ignition of the propellant charge, made of black powder, remained complex. The introduction of cartridge ammunition and breech-loaders in the mid-19th century significantly simplified shooting. The weapon began to be loaded with a cartridge into the chamber. With a single motion, the bullet, propellant charge, and primer, connected by the cartridge case into one unit, were inserted into the chamber. The cartridge case also seals the chamber against the bolt during firing. Ammunition began to differ not only by usage but also by method of production and sale. In addition to industrially manufactured cartridges, experimental cartridges appeared, whose development was not completed for various reasons. The number of wildcats continues to expand, and proprietary cartridges are being created. The existing number of cartridge designs, technically referred to as 'calibers', is now estimated to exceed 10,000. This high number of calibers has become the subject of widespread ammunition collecting.