But .380-caliber pistols usually use a shorter cartridge for ammunition and are lighter and more compact than 9-millimeter weapons.

The simplest conversion is one that alters the length of the cartridge used, allowing a shorter but otherwise similarly dimensioned cartridge to be fired.

Use of the centerfire to rimfire conversion requires a longer case, and so is not suitable for short cartridges such as .22 Hornet.

Chamber length sleeves are restricted cases where a short cartridge is used with a long parent cartridge.

These features are the features typical of a shotgun shell, namely a relatively short, wide cartridge, with straight walls, and operating at a relatively low pressure.

A selective-fire weapon was developed to fire this shorter cartridge, eventually resulting in the Sturmgewehr 44, later translated as "assault rifle".

Today the .350 Rem has had some improvement in acceptance, due to the shorter cartridge being able to fit in a .308 length action.

Some pens like modern Waterman pens have intentional fittings which prevent the usage of short cartridges.

A shorter cartridge producing lower recoil also enabled the weapon to be shorter and lighter, and hence easier to use.

The smaller case requires less brass and yields a shorter cartridge.