Cartridge Case - What’s its purpose?

[Dudedog]

To help us waste time at the range picking them up,
I will pick up just a few more, just a few more .....
sometime about 45 minutes later, hhmmm, I guess that's enough.....

 

[Varminterror]

Anyone else ran the energy balance on “heat extraction” by removing the case...?

 

[Rule3]

The case is just an unnecessary new newfangled thing. No need for them, Just go back to black powder muzzle loading or percussion cap 6 shooters.

 

[entropy]

The Root rifle wasn't popular for a reason........

 

[mcb]

Anyone else ran the energy balance on “heat extraction” by removing the case...?

Have not done the math (thermodynamics is one of half of the dark-side of mechanical engineering) but the HK11 caseless gun had a serious issue with heat and cooking off especially with earlier ammo. The extra heat transferred to the chamber due to the lack of the case taking some with it and the lack of insulation from the case to protect the round that was left in the chamber contributed to a definite thermal problem.

 

[Master Blaster]

Holds all components and keeps them dry and mechanically aligned. Facilitates easy storage and loading, ensures reliable combustion, and acts as a gasket to seal in the pressure in the chamber and direct pressure down the barrel.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Cartridge Case - What’s its purpose?
It,s so reloaders can reload.

And to make me feel like a cheapskate and a fool as I search the ground for 3 cent pieces of brass.

 

[Dudedog]

I search the ground for 3 cent pieces of brass.

Think of it more like a small gold nugget

 

[Bat Rastard]

Its purpose is to matriculate the bullet down the barrel.

 

[cfullgraf]

(thermodynamics is one of half of the dark-side of mechanical engineering) .

Especially when you light a fire in a refrigerator to make cold (aka an absorption refrigerator).

The cartridge case makes rapid fire a definite possibility at least until they figure out case-less ammunition.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Because caseless ammunition isn't a reliable, repeatable thing yet.

 

[Nature Boy]

another purpose for the case is it gives rise to spirited discussions on forums, particularly related to the following subjects:

1. "what's the best case lube?"

2. "cleaning, wet or dry?"

3. and one of my favorites, particularly when F. Guffey participates, "case headspace (aka shoulder bump)"

 

[Arkansas Paul]

It has a lot of purposes.
The first successful lever guns, the Volcanic pistols and rifles, used a hollow based bullet full of powder.
There just wasn't enough of it. It was weak. So one of the reasons was to make a reliable repeater that could be loaded quickly but be powerful enough to do some good.

Also, they were made during a time when there was only black powder, which was sensitive to moisture. I'm sure smokeless is too, but probably not as bad.
It made the powder in a waterproof package, unlike paper cartridges for muzzleloaders.

There's a lot of others too, but those were the driving forces in their development I think.