A cartridge for firearms includes a bullet connected to a casing. The casing includes a cylindrical wall that extends to an end member opposite the bullet, a hollow interior formed by the wall and the end member, and a receptacle for receiving a priming composition. Anvils or projections are provided in the casing to compress the priming composition between the end member and the projection or anvil with a firing pin engaging the end member. Propellant in the hollow interior is ignited by the compressed priming composition.