Black powder cartridge refers to firearms ammunition from the period after the introduction of metallic cartridge, but prior to the wide adoption of smokeless powder

Smokeless powder

Smokeless powder is the name given to a number of propellants used in firearms and artillery which produce negligible smoke when fired, unlike the older gunpowder which they replaced...

.

These cartridges (frequently but not always single-shot) had adopted the new technology of complete cartridges including a brass casing which held the powder charge, bullet, and primer

Primer

Primer may refer to:*Primer , a 1995 music album by the musical group Rockapella*Primer *Primer , a 2004 feature film written and directed by Shane Carruth...

. However, unlike almost all later firearms, these firearms used black powder as a propellant charge.