Editing Cartridge (firearms) (section)

===Specifications===
Critical cartridge specifications include neck size, bullet weight and [[caliber]], maximum pressure, [[headspace (firearms)|headspace]], overall length, case body diameter and taper, shoulder design, [[Rim (firearms)|rim type]], etc. Generally, every characteristic of a specific cartridge type is tightly controlled and few types are interchangeable in any way. Exceptions do exist but generally, these are only where a shorter cylindrical rimmed cartridge can be used in a longer chamber, (e.g., .22 Short in .22 Long Rifle chamber, .32 H&R Magnum in .327 Federal Magnum chamber, and .38 Special in a .357 Magnum chamber). [[Centerfire ammunition|Centerfire]] primer type (Boxer or Berdan, see below) is interchangeable, although not in the same case. Deviation in any of these specifications can result in firearm damage and, in some instances, injury or death. Similarly, the use of the wrong type of cartridge in any given gun can damage the gun, or cause bodily injury.

Cartridge specifications are determined by several standards organizations, including [[SAAMI]] in the United States, and [[C.I.P.]] in many European states. NATO also performs [[NATO EPVAT testing|its own tests]] for military cartridges for its member nations; due to differences in testing methods, NATO cartridges ([[headstamp]]ed with the NATO cross) may present an unsafe combination when loaded into a weapon chambered for a cartridge certified by one of the other testing bodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_211-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf |title=Unsafe Firearm-Ammunition Combinations |publisher=SAAMI |date=6 March 2012 |access-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116092917/http://saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_211-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref>

Bullet diameter is measured either as a fraction of an inch (usually in 1/100 or in 1/1000) or in millimeters. Cartridge case length can also be designated in inches or millimeters.