Fully powered cartridge

A fully powered cartridge (or full-sized cartridge) is a type of rifle cartridge capable of being used interchangeably between service rifles, sniper rifles, and general purpose machine guns. It was originally a retronym for rifle cartridges used prior to, during, and immediately after World War II.[1] Examples include the 7.62×51mm NATO, .30-06 Springfield, 7.62×54mmR, .303 British, 7.92×57mm Mauser, 7×57mm Mauser or 8mm Lebel cartridges.[2][3]

(Left to right)
Fully powered cartridges:
7.62×54mmR
7.62×51mm NATO
Intermediate cartridges:
7.62×39mm
5.56×45mm NATO
5.45×39mm.

The term was made to differentiate them from intermediate cartridges that gained widespread adoption into military service after World War II. A fully powered cartridge usually has a minimum effective range of 800 m (870 yd), and most modern fully powered cartridges have their origin in the turn of the 19th century with the advent of smokeless powder. Today they are primarily used only in general purpose machine guns and marksman/sniper rifles.

See also

References
  1. Williams, Anthony. "THE SEARCH FOR THE OPTIMUM MILITARY RIFLE & MACHINE GUN CARTRIDGE". Small Arms Review. SmallArmsReview.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. Osborne, Robert. "Rifle cartridge selection". A Firearms Primer. self-published. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. "7.62x39 (M43) History". Ballisticstudies.com. Terminal Ballistics Research. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
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