Rifle cartridge

It is a retronym for rifle cartridges used prior to and during World War II.

Magnum cartridges allow for more propellant to be loaded within the casing, and thus have a higher muzzle energy.

Today they are primarily used in civilian market for big-game hunting, or as a military ammunition for some long-range sniper rifles.

[2] However, even though less powerful than traditional full-power cartridges, the external and terminal ballistics of an intermediate cartridge are still sufficient for an effective range of 300–600 m (330–660 yd), which are the typical maximum engagement ranges for ordinary infantrymen in modern combat conditions.

The first intermediate cartridge was the German 7.92×33mm Kurz for the StG 44,[1] the world's first assault rifle.