Abstract: A combustible bayonet type primer for combustible cannon cartridge cases comprises a primer head assembly adapted to be inserted in a cartridge case, a tubular housing made of a combustible material, an igniter strand axially disposed in said housing, and a confining means for confining one end of the igniter strand so that the initial ignition rate is about 1000 m/s. The ignited strand in turn ignites a black powder charge contained within a cloth bag within the tubular housing. The housing is an unpressurized container for the igniter strand and the black powder charge and is consumed during the burn of the propellant bed along with the igniter strand and the combustible case.

Abstract: A propellant grain for improved ballistic performance of guns, the grain prising a cylinder of generally hexagonal cross-section being provided with a plurality of perforations, preferably 37, passing therethrough. The perforations are disposed such that the interstitial distance between adjacent perforations is substantially equal and the extrastitial distance between peripheral perforations and the surface of the outer wall is substantially equal to the aforesaid interstitial distance. The novel shape of the solid propellant grain improves ignition and burning characteristics such that higher average pressures are maintained during projectile acceleration without increasing the maximum pressure within the gun barrel.