Case (a.k.a. Brass) – Cases can be called brass, empties, shells, reloading brass, spent cases or brass cases. The case is generally made of brass, steel or aluminum designed to contain the powder charge and the primer. Centerfire cases include all pistol and rifle cartridges that have primers in the center of the cartridge base. Rimfire cases have the primer located in the rim of the case. Brass- and nickel-plated brass are reloadable while rimfire, steel and aluminum cases that are not reloadable.