Abstract: A simple to manufacture high pressure rechargeable ammunition cartridge comprising a hollow pressure casing 20 providing a gas storage space 19 to hold compressed gas therein, with a discharge passage 25 in a front part of said casing said gas storage space; an actuation passage 24 extending into said casing from the rear; a valve opening 52 at a front end of said actuation passage, and a valve member which has a normal position wherein it closes said valve opening and blocks said discharge passage, and is movable bodily forwards as shown from said normal position to open both said valve opening and said discharge passage to allow gas to escape from the pressure casing directly through both of said passages to drive a missile. The valve member may be modified so as to be dischargeable from the cartridge and may form part of a missile.

Abstract: Air gun apparatus for firing missiles 11 including a gun and a replaceable cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a casing having a detachable hollow nose, a pressure cylinder slidably located in the casing, and a valve mechanism normally biased by a valve spring in the cylinder to close a gas discharge path from the interior of the cylinder to the hollow nose via a removable hollow valve abutment member. The valve mechanism is openable by forcible movement of the cylinder towards the hollow nose. The gun includes a seating at a breech end of a barrel, a breech, and a breech block assembly. A firing spring acts on an inertia member which is releasable by a trigger mechanism.

Abstract: A round of ammunition comprising a missile 10, retaining means 11 for holding the missile, and a cartridge 12; and the cartridge 12 is an assembly comprising a hollow casing 13 within an intermediate portion of which is a gas storage space 18 disposed between a hollow discharge (front) end portion 14 and a base (rear) end portion 20 of the casing, discharge valve means 30 and actuating means 60. The actuating means generally comprises servo-piston means 61, servo actuating means 62 and discharge valve actuating means 63 arranged so that the means 62 is responsive to being struck by a firing pin 43 of a gun to allow the piston means 61 to utilize energy from compressed gas stored in the space to open the discharge valve means, and thus release the gas to expel the missile 10 from the retaining means.

Abstract: A round of ammunition in which a primer cap provides the sole means for propelling a lightweight missle from a cartridge casing shaped to fit into an existing firearms firing chamber. A removable insert in the cartridge casing 12 provides an elongate passage which moderates the force of the primer cap explosion to avoid damaging the missile. The casing is reloadable from the base to allow a fresh missile to be inserted, and in an alternative embodiment a two part insert is provided which likewise allows a missile to be inserted from the base end. In all embodiments the missile is preferable in the form of an air gun pellet, and the ammunition is preferably used with a liner assembly adapted to minimize damage to the missile.