What is a primary difference between centerfire and rimfire cartridges?

The primary difference between centerfire and rimfire cartridges lies in the location of the primer. In centerfire cartridges, the primer is located in the center of the cartridge base. This design allows for a more robust ignition system and facilitates the use of replaceable primers, which enables reloading of spent cartridges. On the other hand, rimfire cartridges have the primer located in the rim of the cartridge case. This configuration requires the entire cartridge to be discarded once fired because the rim itself is struck to ignite the primer, making it impossible to reload.

Understanding this distinction is essential, especially for hunters and shooters since it affects the performance, reliability, and reusability of ammunition. For instance, centerfire ammunition is generally preferred for larger game hunting due to the greater power and versatility it offers, while rimfire cartridges are often used for smaller game, target shooting, or training, due to their generally lower recoil and cost-effectiveness.