Abstract: A casing for use in a cartridge for a firearm comprises a sleeve portion and a base portion, where the base has cannelure comprised of curving surfaces. In a casing embodiment, a sleeve has cylindrical portion with a mouth for holding a bullet and an opposing end radially-running bulkhead. A nipple extends from the bulkhead and into a passageway of the base, thereby securing the sleeve to the base. The sleeve bulkhead preferably has at least one circumferential wave and contacts a distal end surface of the base, which may be planar or conical. The cannelure is characterized by a continuously curving groove bottom, a maximum groove depth diameter that is 60 to 80 percent of the base outside diameter, and a volume that is 20 to 43 percent of the volume of a like base which has no cannelure.

Abstract: A casing for use in a cartridge for a firearm comprises a sleeve and attached base. The sleeve has cylindrical portion with a mouth for holding a bullet and an opposing radially-running bulkhead from which extends a nipple that is secured within a passageway of the base by a lip at the nipple terminal end. There are one or more seal regions in the passageway. A sleeve is preferably made of austenitic stainless steel and there are differing hardness and magnetic properties along the sleeve length. Particularly for high pressure rounds, the bulkhead has a frusto-conical portion with one or more circumferential waves and mates with a conical depression in the surface of the base; optionally, a skirt around the periphery of the base provides support to the sleeve bulkhead. A base has a deep cannelure with a continuously curving groove bottom, enabling a base to be made of an iron alloy into which carbon is diffused to enable hardening, after machining.

Abstract: A casing for use in a cartridge for a firearm comprises a sleeve and attached base. The sleeve has cylindrical portion with a mouth for holding a bullet and an opposing bulkhead from which extends a nipple. At the terminal end of the nipple is a lip that radially decreases in thickness and has curved surface portions; the lip forms a first seal region within a passageway that runs through the base. Preferably a second seal zone around the nipple near the bulkhead. A bulkhead comprises a circumferential wave or ridge that creates a hollow on the surface facing the base. A sleeve is preferably made of austenitic stainless steel that has differential hardness and magnetic properties along the sleeve length; and the base has a hardness less than any portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: A casing for use in a cartridge for a firearm comprises a sleeve and attached base. The sleeve is formed with a mouth for holding a bullet and an opposing bulkhead from which extends a nipple. The end of the nipple is flared radially outwardly within a passageway of the base, to form a special configuration lip and first seal. The nipple is shaped to make a second seal when press fitted into the passageway. A bulkhead is formed with a circumferential wave or ridge. A sleeve is preferably made from austenitic stainless steel that is worked to have differential hardness and magnetic properties along the sleeve length, with the nipple being of lesser hardness.