Fully powered cartridge

From left to right:
9×19mm Parabellum (pistol cartridge)
7.92×33mm Kurz (intermediate-power rifle cartridge)
7.92×57mm Mauser (full-power rifle cartridge)

A fully powered cartridge, also called full-power cartridge or full-size cartridge, is an umbrella term describing any rifle cartridge that emphasizes ballistic performance and single-shot accuracy, with little or no thought to its weight or recoil. They often have a caliber comparable to or greater than 7.5 mm (0.30 in) and a maximum effective range of at least 800 m (870 yd),[1] and are intended for engaging targets (large game animals) beyond 300 m (330 yd). However, cartridges with calibers as narrow as 6.5 mm (0.26 in) have been described as being a full-power rifle cartridge.[by whom?][citation needed] The term generally refers to traditional cartridges used in machine guns and bolt action and semi-automatic service rifles and select fire battle rifles prior to, during, and immediately after the World Wars and into the early Cold War era,[2] and was a retronym originally made to differentiate from intermediate-power rifle cartridges that gained widespread adoption into military service after World War II.

Most modern full-power rifle cartridges have their origin in the late 19th century and early 20th century with the advent of smokeless powder. Examples include the 6.5×55mm Swedish, 7×57mm Mauser, 7.5×55mm Swiss, 7.5×54mm French, 7.62×51mm NATO, 7.62×54mmR, .30-06 Springfield, .303 British, 7.65×53mm Mauser, 7.7×58mm Arisaka, 7.92×57mm Mauser, and 8×50mmR Lebel.[3][4] The US military's Next Generation Squad Weapon Program selected the 6.8×51mm Common Cartridge in 2022 for testing in a new carbine, new light machine guns and possibly in converted general-purpose machine guns. This does not guarantee actual widespread future issue of the brass-steel hybrid cased 6.8×51mm Common Cartridge.

Despite the ubiquitous adoption of assault rifles and intermediate-power rifle cartridge cartridges as the standard weapon infantry weapon system, full-power rifle cartridges are still widely used today in battle rifles, designated marksman rifles (DMRs), sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns (GPMGs), and conventional hunting rifles.[5]

(Left to right)
Full-power rifle cartridges:
7.62×54mmR
7.62×51mm NATO
Intermediate-power rifle cartridges:
7.62×39mm
5.56×45mm NATO
5.45×39mm
  1. ^ Kjellgren, G. L. M. "The Practical Range of Small Arms" (PDF). The American Rifleman. pp. 40–44. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2015.
  2. ^ Williams, Anthony. "THE SEARCH FOR THE OPTIMUM MILITARY RIFLE & MACHINE GUN CARTRIDGE". Small Arms Review. SmallArmsReview.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. ^ Osborne, Robert. "Rifle cartridge selection". A Firearms Primer. self-published. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. ^ "7.62x39 (M43) History". Ballisticstudies.com. Terminal Ballistics Research. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. ^ Collins, Matthew (20 January 2020). "Best .30-06 Ammo: From WWII to Big Game". Pew Pew Tactical. Retrieved 14 May 2021.