Abstract: A process for loading a primer into an ammunition cartridge while concurrently forming a diffuser disk includes stamping a sheet to pre-form a diffuser disk therein. The primer, pre-formed diffuser disk and primer pocket of the cartridge are aligned with one another and thereafter, the primer is pressed through the pre-formed diffuser disk into the primer pocket. As the primer is pressed into the pre-formed diffuser disk, the primer severs one or more attachment points to release the pre-formed disk from the sheet and form the diffuser disk while the primer is loaded.

Abstract: A polymer cartridge includes an insert defining the base end and a body extending from the insert. The body forms a powder chamber which is in communication with a primer pocket formed in the insert via a flash hole formed through the insert top surface. A nose extends forward from the body and includes a shoulder that transitions into a neck defining a projectile aperture. An annular ridge is formed about the inner surface of the neck and positioned between the projectile aperture and the shoulder. The annular ridge is designed to engage the outer surface of a bullet that is the same caliber of the polymer cartridge. The bullet is designed with a groove corresponding to the location of the annular ridge so that the assembled cartridge is within the acceptable range for the total axial length thereof.

Abstract: A long range jacketed projectile has a cavity defined in the base end of the projectile core that is substantially filled with polymer material during the jacketing process. The cavity is configured to lighten the core, which lightens the overall weight of the projectile, and move the center of gravity closer to the center of pressure when compared to a conventional long range projectile. The polymer jacket lightens the projectile weight, which when combined with the lighter core, allows the projectile to attain a flatter trajectory at increased maximum velocities.

Abstract: A penetrating bullet, for use in an ammunition cartridge, has a jacket defining an internal volume and forming a closed base end opposite a nose end. A penetrator shaft is enclosed within the jacket and extends from the internal surface of the closed base end toward the nose end. Substantially filling the remainder of the internal volume is a core. The core is formed of two distinct regions, with a first stable region formed proximate the closed base end and extending to an intermediate location about the penetrator shaft. Forward from the stable region is a thermal region. The thermal region extends from the intermediate location to the nose end. The thermal region will ignite upon impact with a target to soften or otherwise weaken the target, allowing the penetrator shaft to more effectively penetrate deeper into the target medium.

Abstract: A method for uniformly sizing polymer-based cartridge necks in ammunition cartridges includes providing a neck sizer and aligning the polymer cartridge below the neck sizer. The cartridge is pressed into the neck sizer where the pressing step causes the cartridge neck to be compressed in the neck sizer so as to reduce the inner diameter of the cartridge neck to less than the maximum outer diameter of the bullet to be fired from the cartridge. The pressing step may also involve compressing excess polymer material from the cartridge neck through flutes in the collet die of the neck sizer to form external neck ribs about the outer surface of the neck. The neck ribs aid in concentrically aligning the polymer cartridge in the chamber of a firearm to improve accuracy of the bullet fired therefrom.

Abstract: A penetrating bullet, for use in an ammunition cartridge, has a jacket defining an internal volume and forming a closed base end opposite a nose end. A penetrator shaft is enclosed within the jacket and extends from the internal surface of the closed base end toward the nose end. Substantially filling the remainder of the internal volume is a core. The core is formed of two distinct regions, with a first stable region formed proximate the closed base end and extending to an intermediate location about the penetrator shaft. Forward from the stable region is a thermal region. The thermal region extends from the intermediate location to the nose end. The thermal region will ignite upon impact with a target to soften or otherwise weaken the target, allowing the penetrator shaft to more effectively penetrate deeper into the target medium.

Abstract: The invention herein describes an aerodynamically improved projectile which has less overall mass and achieves higher maximum velocities. The projectile has a jacket with a nose opening and a base opening and a core disposed therein. The core is open-ended and has a channel defined from the open forward end to the open base end. The channel is axially aligned with the nose opening and base opening of the jacket. Removably attached to the base opening is a base cover that is engineered to detach from the projectile during flight. A pressure differential created in the channel during projectile flight causes the base cover to detach from the projectile, thereby fully opening the channel.

Abstract: A keyed projectile for use in conventional or conventionally modified weapons systems is disclosed. The projectile core has one or more recessed portions defined in an outer surface. The core is covered with the projectile jacket that locks into the recessed portions to form the keyed projectile. The recessed portions, or keys, can be circumferential grooves, axial grooves, circular grooves, through-holes or any combination thereof. The keyed projectile has an increased resistance to disintegration caused by rotational separation mid-flight due to extremely high levels of RPMs during flight. A method for forming the keyed jacketed projectile is also disclosed.

Abstract: A long range jacketed projectile has a cavity defined in the base end of the projectile core that is substantially filled with polymer material during the jacketing process. The cavity is configured to lighten the core, which lightens the overall weight of the projectile, and move the center of gravity closer to the center of pressure when compared to a conventional long range projectile. The polymer jacket lightens the projectile weight, which when combined with the lighter core, allows the projectile to attain a flatter trajectory at increased maximum velocities.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coating a projectile for use in an ammunition cartridge. A polymer jacket is applied to an undersized projectile core of a first standard caliber to bring the outer dimensions of the jacketed projectile into compliance with those of a second, larger caliber projectile. The polymer jacket coating may produce a non-uniform outer diameter of the polymer jacketed projectile and may include a plurality of circular cavities defined therein. The polymer-jacketed projectile may be a bullet for pistol or rifle ammunition, or a pellet, or shot for use in a shotgun shell.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coating a projectile for use in an ammunition cartridge. A polymer jacket is applied to an undersized projectile core of a first standard caliber to bring the outer dimensions of the jacketed projectile into compliance with those of a second, larger caliber projectile. The polymer jacket coating may produce a non-uniform outer diameter of the polymer jacketed projectile and may include a plurality of circular cavities defined therein. The polymer-jacketed projectile may be a bullet for pistol or rifle ammunition, or a pellet, or shot for use in a shotgun shell.

Abstract: A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile the projectile including a core, a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, and extending past a forward end of the core to form an open space inside the jacket between the forward end of the core and the forward end of the jacket, and a plurality of ventilation ports formed proximate the forward end of the jacket, each of the ventilation ports having a first opening on an inner surface of the jacket defining the open space, and a second opening on an outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A method of forming a projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, the method including mixing a first material and a second material having different densities to produce a core mixture, disposing the core mixture in a die, heating the core mixture to the melting point, removing the core mixture from the die, quenching the core mixture, and plating the core mixture with a jacket material.

Abstract: A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile the projectile including a core, a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, and extending past a forward end of the core to form an open space inside the jacket between the forward end of the core and the forward end of the jacket, and a plurality of ventilation ports formed proximate the forward end of the jacket, each of the ventilation ports having a first opening on an inner surface of the jacket defining the open space, and a second opening on an outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A method of forming a projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, the method including mixing a first material and a second material having different densities to produce a core mixture, disposing the core mixture in a die, heating the core mixture to the melting point, removing the core mixture from the die, quenching the core mixture, and plating the core mixture with a jacket material.

Abstract: A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile the projectile including a core, a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, and extending past a forward end of the core to form an open space inside the jacket between the forward end of the core and the forward end of the jacket, and a plurality of ventilation ports formed proximate the forward end of the jacket, each of the ventilation ports having a first opening on an inner surface of the jacket defining the open space, and a second opening on an outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile the projectile including a core, a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, and extending past a forward end of the core to form an open space inside the jacket between the forward end of the core and the forward end of the jacket, and a plurality of ventilation ports formed proximate the forward end of the jacket, each of the ventilation ports having a first opening on an inner surface of the jacket defining the open space, and a second opening on an outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coating a projectile for use in an ammunition cartridge. A polymer jacket is applied to an undersized projectile core of a first standard caliber to bring the outer dimensions of the jacketed projectile into compliance with those of a second, larger caliber projectile. The polymer jacket coating may produce a non-uniform outer diameter of the polymer jacketed projectile and may include a plurality of circular cavities defined therein. The polymer-jacketed projectile may be a bullet for pistol or rifle ammunition, or a pellet, or shot for use in a shotgun shell.

Abstract: A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile, the projectile including a core, and a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, wherein the forward end of the jacket terminates in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the jacket, and wherein an outer perimeter of the forward end of the jacket has a machined sharp edge.

Abstract: A firearm ammunition cartridge including a case having a substantially tubular body portion, an open leading end, and a trailing end defining a primer port, the primer port opening to an interior of the case, a projectile received and retained within the leading end of the case, and configured with a recess extending inwardly from a trailing end of the projectile to receive a quantity of gunpowder, and a quantity of compressed gunpowder provided in the recess of the projectile such that the compressed gunpowder remains in the recess at any orientation of the projectile.