Abstract: A shellcase body for use as part of an ammunition cartridge, which includes a base portion at one end, a middle portion having a substantially straight sidewall and joined with the base portion, and a shoulder portion joined to and extending from the middle portion. A neck portion may be joined to and extend from the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is typically annularly shaped and includes a semi-circular sidewall that extends between an aft end and a fore end. The semi-circular sidewall has a curvature that is defined by a circular arc having a predetermined radius and a center that is positioned a distance away from the shellcase body center longitudinal axis. The shoulder portion is joined with the straight sidewall at a secant point of the circular arc, i.e., the straight sidewall defines a secant line that intersects the circular arc at the aforementioned secant point.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge includes: a basewad disposed within a tube proximate the aft end of the tube; a projectile wad disposed within the tube proximate a fore end of the tube; a propellant charge disposed within a chamber formed between the projectile wad and the basewad; and a projectile disposed within the tube between a forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube. The aft end of the projectile wad has a powder cup skirt formed thereon, and a chamfer is formed around an outer perimeter of a lip of the powder cup skirt. The chamfer allows the powder cup skirt to be slidably received within a skirt of the basewad to form the chamber. The chamfer provides a clearance at the powder cup skirt lip, which helps to insure undisturbed entry into the mouth of the basewad skirt.

Abstract: A shellcase body for use as part of an ammunition cartridge, which includes a base portion at one end, a middle portion having a substantially straight sidewall and joined with the base portion, and a shoulder portion joined to and extending from the middle portion. A neck portion may be joined to and extend from the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is typically annularly shaped and includes a semi-circular sidewall that extends between an aft end and a fore end. The semi-circular sidewall has a curvature that is defined by a circular arc having a predetermined radius and a center that is positioned a distance away from the shellcase body center longitudinal axis. The shoulder portion is joined with the straight sidewall at a secant point of the circular arc, i.e., the straight sidewall defines a secant line that intersects the circular arc at the aforementioned secant point.

Abstract: A bullet includes a frontward facing aperture. Contained within the aperture is a relatively hard bullet frontal element that provides advantageous bullet impact performance. In one embodiment, the frontal element is a steel sphere that provides advantageous penetration and weight retention when the bullet impacts laminated glass, such as an automobile windshield.

Abstract: A sabot-retaining shotshell cartridge and firing assembly including a barrel or barrel insert for firing the sabot-retaining shotshell cartridge. The shotshell cartridge includes a cylindrical hull, a sub-caliber projectile, a propellant charge, and a sabot. A central pathway or thin membrane is defined within the base of the sabot between the sub-caliber projectile and propellant charge. The barrel or barrel insert for firing the cartridge includes a transitional area between chamber and sub-caliber rifled bore to retain sabot in the cartridge. Upon cartridge firing, propellant gases flow through central portion of sabot base propelling projectile out of the sabot and into sub-caliber rifled bore.

Abstract: A frangible projectile for expelling from an industrial ballistic tool may be formed by a powder metallurgy process. A preferred embodiment of slug consists essentially of compacted and optionally sintered material and comprises up to 35% ferrotungsten in particulate form, up to 3% lubricant, and the balance iron in particulate form with inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A sabot and shotshell combination includes a bullet, a shotshell hull, propellant, a shotshell primer, wadding, and a sabot comprising a molded member having a base portion and a plurality of petal portions each extending from a proximal base root to a distal tip, the base and petals defining a volume for accommodating a bullet. A reinforcement is at least partially embedded in the base, the reinforcement being more rigid than the molded member and having a plurality of apertures with the base portion extending through at least one of the apertures to retain the reinforcement within the molded member upon firing.

Abstract: A bullet includes a frontward facing aperture. Contained within the aperture is a relatively hard bullet frontal element that provides advantageous bullet impact performance. In one embodiment, the frontal element is a steel sphere that provides advantageous penetration and weight retention when the bullet impacts laminated glass., such as an automobile windshield.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: A copper alloy having an improved combination of yield strength and electrical conductivity consists essentially of, by weight, from 1% to 2.5% of nickel, from 0.5% to 2.0% of cobalt, from 0.5% to 1.5% of silicon, and the balance is copper and inevitable impurities. Further, the total nickel plus cobalt content is from 1.7% to 4.3%, the ratio of nickel to cobalt is from 1.01:1 to 2.6:1, the amount of (Ni+Co)/Si is between 3.5 and 6, the electrical conductivity is in excess of 40% IACS and the yield strength is in excess of 95 ksi. An optional inclusion is up 1% of silver. A process to manufacture the alloy includes the sequential steps of (a). casting; (b). hot working; (c). solutionizing; (d). first age annealing; (e). cold working; and (f). second age annealing wherein the second age annealing temperature is less than the first age annealing temperature.

Abstract: A plated hallow point bullet has a metallic plating which completely encapsulates a metallic core. A core precursor is formed having a nose compartment. A metallic coating is applied to the precursor to completely encapsulate the precursor. The coated precursor is mechanically deformed without breaching the coating.

Abstract: A frangible projectile for expelling from an industrial ballistic tool may be formed by a powder metallurgy process. A preferred embodiment of slug consists essentially of compacted and optionally sintered material and comprises up to 35% ferrotungsten in particulate form, up to 3% lubricant, and the balance iron in particulate form with inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A bullet includes at least a mid core and a rear core in tandem alignment. The hardness of the mid core is greater than the hardness of the rear core. A jacket envelops both the mid core and the rear core. The jacket has a generally cylindrical sidewall, which is in contact with the mid core, and a boat-tail, which is in contact with the rear core. The rear core is substantially contained within the boat-tail. The mid core and the rear core may be substantially lead-free. In one embodiment, the bullet includes a front core in tandem alignment with the rear core and in contact with a nose portion of the jacket. In another embodiment, the mid core extends from the nose portion of the bullet to the boat-tail.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge includes: a basewad disposed within a tube proximate the aft end of the tube; a projectile wad disposed within the tube proximate a fore end of the tube; a propellant charge disposed within a chamber formed between the projectile wad and the basewad; and a projectile disposed within the tube between a forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube. The aft end of the projectile wad has a powder cup skirt formed thereon, and a chamfer is formed around an outer perimeter of a lip of the powder cup skirt. The chamfer allows the powder cup skirt to be slidably received within a skirt of the basewad to form the chamber. The chamfer provides a clearance at the powder cup skirt lip, which helps to insure undisturbed entry into the mouth of the basewad skirt.

Abstract: A composite material useful for the manufacture of a circuit has a support layer, a metal foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of 15 microns or less and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the support layer, the release layer disposed between and contacting both the support layer and the metal foil layer. A reactive element containing layer, which may be the support layer, effective to react with gaseous elements or compounds to form thermally stable compounds contacts the release layer. The composite material is preferably subjected to a low temperature heat treatment. The combination of the low temperature heat treatment and the reactive element containing layer results in reduced defects including blisters in the copper foil during subsequent processing.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: A plastic, cup-shaped, multi-petal sabot housing a sub-caliber projectile for use such as in shotgun cartridges. The sabot engages the rifling of the shotgun barrel and transfers the spin to the projectile. A reinforcement disk is advantageously at least partially embedded in a sabot base and has a central aperture and a plurality of additional apertures. Sabot base material extends through the additional apertures. Advantageously, in its relaxed condition, each sabot petal includes a protrusion from its inboard surface for engaging a projectile ogive. The protrusion and its contact area with the projectile are fractions of the local petal width.

Abstract: A bullet includes a frontward facing aperture. Contained within the aperture is a relatively hard bullet frontal element that provides advantageous bullet impact performance. In one embodiment, the frontal element is a steel sphere that provides advantageous penetration and weight retention when the bullet impacts laminated glass, such as an automobile windshield.

Abstract: A plated hollow-point bullet has a metallic plating which completely encapsulates a metallic core. A core precursor is formed having a nose compartment with an inwardly extending cavity. A metallic coating is applied to the precursor to completely encapsulate the precursor. The coated precursor is mechanically deformed by grooves formed along a surface of the cavity without breaching the coating.