Ammunition cartridge

Ammunition cartridge for rifles and handheld firearms, comprising:

• a rigid casing including a tubular sleeve and a base closing an end of the casing,
• a projectile mounted at another end of the casing,
• a propellant charge contained inside the casing, and
• an ignition device arranged to ignite the propellant charge at a point of ignition distal from the base and proximal the projectile, the ignition device comprising a first ignition charge positioned in an ignition cap located in the base actuable by means of a firing pin or hammer impacting the ignition cap,
• wherein the ignition device further comprises a guide channel extending from the ignition cap to an ignition end proximal the projectile, the guide channel configured to channel an ignition charge under combustion to one or more nozzles at said ignition end, or to guide an ignition pin to said ignition end to ignite a second ignition charge mounted proximal the projectile, and
• wherein the guide channel comprises a movable portion configured to retract upon accidental insertion of the projectile into the casing to prevent accidental ignition of the propellant due to impact by the guide channel on the propellant upon accidental backward pushing of the projectile into the rigid casing.