Editing Centerfire ammunition (section)

==Advantages==
[[File:Centerfire & rimfire ignition.gif|thumb|Comparison of centerfire and rimfire ignition]]

Centerfire cartridges are more reliable for military purposes because the thicker metal cartridge cases can withstand rougher handling without damage, and is safer to handle because explosive priming compound in a protruding rim is more likely to be triggered by impact if a rimfire cartridge is dropped or pinched. The stronger base of a centerfire cartridge is able to withstand higher chamber pressures which in turn gives bullets greater velocity and energy. While centerfire cartridge cases require a complex and expensive manufacturing process, explosive handling is simplified by avoiding the spinning process required to uniformly distribute priming explosive into the rim because of uncertainty about which angular segment of a rimfire cartridge rim will be struck by the firing pin. Larger caliber rimfire cartridges require greater volumes of priming explosive than centerfire cartridges, and the required volume may cause undesirably higher pressure spikes during the ignition process. Reducing the amount of priming explosive will greatly diminish the ignition reliability of rimfire cartridges, and increase the probability of a [[Firearm malfunction|malfunction]] such as a [[Dud|misfire]] or [[hang fire]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Treadwell |first=T.J. |title =Metallic Cartridges, (Regulation and Experimental,) as Manufactured and Tested at the Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, PA |publisher =United States Government Printing Office |date =1873 |location =Washington, DC |page =9 }}</ref>

[[Economies of scale]] are achieved through interchangeable primers for a wide variety of centerfire cartridge calibers. The expensive individual [[brass]] cases can be reused after replacing the primer, gunpowder and projectile. [[Handloading]] reuse is an advantage for rifles using obsolete or hard-to-find centerfire cartridges such as the [[6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer]], or larger calibers such as the  [[.458 Lott]], for which ammunition can be expensive. The forward portion of some empty cases can be reformed for use as obsolete or [[wildcat cartridge]]s with similar base configuration. Modern cartridges larger than [[.22 caliber]] are mainly centerfire.  Actions suitable for larger caliber rimfire cartridges declined in popularity until the demand for them no longer exceeded manufacturing costs, and they became obsolete.