Bullets & Cartridges

Learn all about the most popular handgun and rifle cartridges in South Africa

Whether you're a hunter, a sports shooter, or just someone who has a firearm licensed for self defence, knowing the specs and details of the calibre of your weapon is a must to understanding it's performance and capability.

This is a list of modern firearm cartridges that are used in the handguns (manual and semi-automatic pistols and revolvers) and rifles (manual and self-loading / semi-automatic) most commonly found and used in South Africa.

For the purpose of licence applications and general education, Licence Me feel that it is important to know what is the most suitable calibre for your needs, as well as what the ballistic information is on your specific weapon. Not only does this help with your supporting documentation in your licence application motivation, but this general knowledge of your specific firearm ammunition is important in the safe use of any / all weapons.

ABOUT MEASUREMENTS AND APPROXIMATIONS:
Cartridge ballistics used on these pages are based on SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) empirical tests. Cartridges that are primarily used in handguns are specifically tested with handgun-length test barrels, while cartridges primarily used in rifles and carbines are tested with longer rifle-length test barrels. As such, all handgun cartridge ballistics on this page are typically listed as measured, and the listed barrel length is typically the length of the SAAMI test barrel used.

The ballistics of rifle cartridges on this page are typically approximated, as the ballistics are measured using rifle-length test barrels, and do not reflect the actual ballistics of the cartridge when fired through a shorter handgun barrel. The barrel length listed for a rifle cartridge reflects the most common handgun barrel length used by handguns in our database for that caliber.

QUICK LINK TABLE OF MOST COMMON HANDGUN AND RIFLE CARTRIDGES IN SOUTH AFRICA:

Click on the image or link below to read more about the specific cartridge ballistics, measurements and specifications:

.22 LR 22LR Long Rifle Handgun and Rifle Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 44267
.22 Short  22 Short Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 29470
.223 Rem 223 Remington 5.56x45mm NATO Rifle Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 134635
.25 Auto 25 Auto 6.35mm Browning Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 64255
.30 Super Carry 30 Super Carry Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 125000
.32 Auto 32 Auto 7.65mm Browning Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals.
 PF: 64255
.32 Mag 32 Mag .32 Harrington Richardson Magnum Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 91541
.357 Mag .357 Mag (.357 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 195130
.357 Rem Max 357 Rem Max (.357 Remington Maximum) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 195130
.380 Auto 380 Auto 9mm Browning Short Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 90000
.38 Special .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 119290
.38 Super .38 Super (.38 Super Auto Colt) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 157950
.40 S&W .40 S&W Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 180000
.41 Rem Mag .41 Rem Mag Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 285600
.44 Rem Mag .44 Rem Mag Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 312000
.44 S&W Special .44 S&W Spl (.44 Smith & Wesson Special) Handgun cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 184000
.45 Auto .45 Auto (.45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 195500
.45 Auto +P .45 Auto +P (.45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) +P) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 218500
.45 Colt .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 212500
.45 GAP .45 GAP (.45 Glock Automatic Pistol) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 202400
.45 Win Mag .45 Win Mag Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 312000
.460 S&W Mag .460 S&W Mag (.460 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 525000
.480 Ruger .480 Ruger Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 480000
.50 AE .50 AE Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 450000
.500 S&W .500 S&W (.500 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 712500
5.7x28 FN 5.7x28mm FN Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 67000
7.62x39mm 7.62x39mm Rifle Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 182715
9mm 9mm (9mm Parabellum) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 142600
9mm +P 9mm +P (9mm Parabellum +P) Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 148800
10 mm 10mm Handgun Cartridges image example used by LicenceMe for professional SAPS firearm motivations, firearm licence applications and renewals. PF: 207000

TIPS, TRICKS AND TRAINING

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Men at an outdoor shooting range practicing handgun shooting.
Get some training!
by Andre van Aarde
Man with a handgun aiming at targets at an outdoor shooting range.
Shooting your handgun out to distance
by Andre van Aarde
Men in line shooting handguns at an outdoor shooting range.
Shooting on the moove
by Andre van Aarde
Demonstration of a shot timer showing the display screen.
Draw, grip, sight picture. Dryfire training 101
by Andre van Aarde
Demonstration of bullet casing being ejected from a handgun.
Double tapping and tracking your sights
by Andre van Aarde
Man running between targets during an outdoor shooting range or training centre.
Move off the X
by Andre van Aarde