Intermediate cartridge

An intermediate cartridge is a  that is smaller than  rifle cartridges, such as 6.5x55mm NSC and 7x51mm LFN, but larger than, such as 7x25mm Song or 8x18mm, or  cartridges.

Intermediate cartridges are generally lighter in weight overall and have smaller profiles when compared to full-power rifle cartridges, allowing for larger volumes to be carried at the same carry weight. Additionally, they typically have lower recoil impulses on average when compared to full-power rifle cartridges, making weapons chambered in them easier to control in full-auto or bursts and less fatiguing, which has the ancillary benefit of improving marksmanship. They still retain some of the benefits of a rifle cartridge over a pistol cartridge, able to engage heavier targets at greater distances on average than a.

The first intermediate cartridges were adopted generally to reduce the recoil-impulse of full-power rifle cartridges or increase the range and kinetic energy of pistol cartridges. Such cartridges are integral to the modern concept of the, which are selective-fire, magazine-fed shoulder weapons chambered in an intermediate cartridge that can engage targets at distances of 300 meters or farther. They pose a number of advantages that make them desirable over either full-power rifle cartridges or pistol cartridges for certain purposes, such as in service rifles, but lacking in others (such as in, specialized sniper rifles or PDWs).