About Intermediate Cartridges
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over intermediate cartridges today. These types of cartridges have been utilized by end users of all types and encompass many popular calibers. These types of cartridges are commonly employed by shooters of all types, both recreationally and purposefully. Our goal today is to provide a brief overview of this
ammo type while delving into traits, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s go over intermediate cartridges.
What is an Intermediate Cartridge?
The term “intermediate cartridge” ultimately refers to a cartridge which sits between pistol cartridges and rifle cartridges in terms of length. These types of cartridges are not as powerful as their full-sized rifle counterparts but are considerably more powerful than pistol cartridges. As far as effective range goes, these types of loadings will be superior to pistol cartridges but unable to reach out as far as full-sized cartridges can. Generally speaking, the intermediate cartridges are best utilized at distances under 600 meters. In terms of recoil, intermediate cartridges have a stouter impulse than pistol cartridges but are ultimately tamer than their full-sized counterparts.
The popularity and widespread use of intermediate cartridges grew exponentially during the second half of the 20
th century. During this period, the concept of a reliable, mass production assault rifle was becoming a reality. These types of firearms and semi-automatic carbines were becoming more favorable for militaries and end users at the time, allowing intermediate cartridges to prove themselves from the Cold War era onward. Beyond military use in various firearms such as rifles and machine guns, these types of cartridges have also become popular among civilian shooters.
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Well-Suited for Autoloaders
Intermediate cartridges are well suited for use in autoloading firearms, such as the various semi-automatic rifles one will encounter on the market. The shorter length of intermediate cartridges makes them easily stripped and loaded from magazines during the firing cycle. While intermediate cartridges are less powerful than their full-sized counterparts, they still generate sufficient impulse to cycle an autoloading mechanism. Additionally, bolts and bolt carrier groups will not need to travel as far as they do with full sized cartridges, promoting an efficient and expedient feeding cycle.
Intermediate Cartridges Offer Greater Capacity
Due to their smaller size, firearms chambered in intermediate cartridges generally boast greater
ammunition capacities than those chambered in full size rifle cartridges. This is easily demonstrated if one were to compare typical
5.56x45mm NATO rifle magazine capacities to
.308 Winchester rifle magazine capacities.
A standard capacity
5.56x45mm NATO magazine, such as a Magpul PMAG for an AR-15, will hold 30 rounds of
5.56x45mm NATO ammo. Typical magazine capacities for similar firearms, such as AR-10s, will be 20 rounds of
.308 Winchester. When comparing these two calibers and capacities, we can see that the
5.56x45mm NATO offers 10 more rounds than the
.308 Winchester.
Intermediate Cartridges Are More Universal
In military contexts, intermediate cartridges serve as more universal cartridges than their full-sized counterparts. Soviet development of the
7.62x39 was ultimately spurred by the desire to standardize on a universal round which could be used in a variety of firearms. The Soviets were able to achieve this as the RPD light machine gun, SKS carbine, and AK-47 assault rifle all utilized the
7.62x39 round.
This universality is also observable in many firearms utilized by the United States military. Many firearms employed by the military utilize the common
5.56x45mm NATO cartridge such as the M249 SAW, M4 Carbine, and Mk12 designated marksman rifle. A universal round ultimately allows for the simplification of logistics as many platforms utilize the same caliber.
What Firearms Use Intermediate Cartridges?
Intermediate cartridges are utilized by a wide range of firearms. These firearms encompass a wide range of operating mechanisms and styles. At this point in time, one can find bolt action, lever action, single shot, and semi-automatic firearms which accommodate intermediate cartridges. These types of firearms are found in many forms that are optimized for various use cases such as defense, precision shooting, and hunting to name a few.
Examples of Intermediate Cartridges
At this point in time, there are a number of intermediate cartridges one will encounter on the market. These cartridges encompass rifle cartridges with varying degrees of popularity. Additionally, some of the cartridges have been around for decades while others are more recent additions to the market.
Common intermediate cartridges include:
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Are Intermediate Cartridges Hard to Find?
Availability of intermediate cartridges ultimately comes down to the specific caliber one is looking for. Some calibers are simply more prevalent than others are. For example, a long-standing loading such as
.223 Remington ammunition is easier to find than
5.45x39 ammo is. This is mainly because
5.45x39 ammunition is impacted by sanctions and is limited in domestic supply when compared to
.223 Remington ammo.
Common
ammunition offerings can generally be found in most places where
ammunition is sold. Some of the less common and recent additions to the market can also be encountered in these spaces. Of course, if one were to
shop for ammo online, finding elusive and specific loadings gets easier. If you
buy ammo online, you are simply afforded a wider range of options than what is locally stocked.
Intermediate cartridges can be found as standard loadings and in specialized, exotic forms. Specialty offerings are generally going to be optimized for use cases such as hunting or suppressed shooting. Specialty hunting loadings will often be designed to ethically dispatch game and is potentially available in the form of lead-free
ammo.
Conclusion
All in all, intermediate cartridges are employed by many end users and are incredibly popular. A variety of shooters can effectively use these types of cartridges for things such as defense, hunting, precision shooting, and plinking. We here at True Shot Ammo have a wide range of intermediate cartridge
ammo offerings available. The range of
ammunition for sale encompasses a variety of popular intermediate cartridges such as
.223 Remington,
5.56x45mm NATO, and 5.45x39. Whether you are wanting to
buy ammo of the intermediate variety or are after
ammunition of a different kind, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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