Which of the following is NOT an advantage of cartridges over early firearms?

The correct answer is that requiring complex handling is not an advantage of cartridges over early firearms. In fact, one of the significant advantages of cartridges is their ease of use compared to earlier methods of loading firearms. Cartridges combine all the necessary components—gunpowder, projectile, and primer—into a single unit, allowing for quicker and more efficient loading compared to traditional muzzle-loading methods.

In contrast, early firearms often required individual handling of powder, ball, and a separate ignition source, which could be cumbersome and complicated, especially in adverse conditions.

The other options highlight actual advantages of cartridges: they tend to be more reliable due to standardized manufacturing processes that ensure consistency; the expanding case of most cartridge designs creates a seal in the chamber to prevent gas leakage, improving efficiency and safety; and cartridges are often designed to be more weather-resistant than the components of early firearms, which could be affected by moisture or dirt.