Which statement correctly describes centerfire ammunition in relation to handguns?

• A. Centerfire has a primer in the center of the base; rimfire has the primer around the rim; centerfire is used for most handguns.
• B. Rimfire has a primer in the center of the base; centerfire has the primer around the rim.
• C. Centerfire is used for shotguns only; rimfire is used for handguns.
• D. Rimfire primers are more powerful than centerfire primers.

Answer: (A)

The central idea here is how primers are arranged and which type is commonly used in handguns. Centerfire cartridges have the primer in the center of the base, and the firing pin strikes that center to ignite the powder. This design is capable of handling higher pressures, is more reliable, and is easily reloaded, which is why most handguns use centerfire ammunition. Rimfire cartridges, on the other hand, place the priming compound around the rim of the base; this method is cheaper to manufacture but limited to smaller calibers and lower pressures, making it unsuitable for most handguns.

So the statement that correctly describes centerfire in relation to handguns is that the primer sits in the center of the base, rimfire primers are around the rim, and centerfire is used for most handguns. Other options either swap the primer locations, misstate what’s used for handguns, or claim false differences in primer power.