Ammunition

Ammunition

Ammunition (pronounced: /ˌam(y)o͞oˈniSH(ə)n/) is a term used to describe material fired, scattered, dropped or detonated from any weapon. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other weapons that create the effect on a target (e.g., bullets and warheads).

Etymology

The word comes from the French la munition, for the material used for war. The term munition is often used synonymously with ammunition, although the meaning of the former is broader.

Types of Ammunition

• Bullet: A projectile expelled from the barrel of a firearm.
• Shell (projectile): A payload-carrying projectile that contains an explosive or other filling.
• Shot (pellet): A collection of lead or steel balls that are packed in a shotgun shell and are intended to be fired all at once to cover a wide range of area.
• Grenade: A small bomb typically thrown by hand.
• Missile: A guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor.

Related Terms

• Weapon: A device used with intent to inflict damage or harm.
• Firearm: A portable gun designed for use by a single individual.
• Explosive: A reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure.
• Warhead: The part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket, or other munition that contains either the nuclear or thermonuclear system, a high explosive system, chemical or biological agents, or inert materials intended to inflict damage.

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