Wad, particularly for steel small shot for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles
A wad is provided particularly for steel small shot for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles. Each cartridge has a case having an end percussion cap and containing a firing charge and, above that, the wad for accommodating the small shot. The wad has a base turned towards the firing charge and a cylindrical lateral wall which extends from the base towards the direction of firing, in which said cylindrical lateral wall of the wad and the case define an annular space between them intended to prevent the expansion of small shot over the entire cross section of the barrel.
The present invention pertains to small-shot cartridges for smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles, and pertains in particular to a wad for steel small shot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs is known, such cartridges comprise a case having an end percussion cap and containing a firing charge and bullets consisting of a plurality of lead or steel small shot. In some cartridges, the charge and the small shot may be separated by a wad, which can be shaped like a cup for containing the small shot proper and for functioning as a concentrator of the small-shot cluster.
The use of steel small shot is, on the one hand, preferred compared to the use of lead small shot because of the known toxic action of the latter, and on the other hand, it is limited only to those rifles, whose barrel has a very smooth choke, called in slang “slippery union.” In fact, steel small shot, unlike the lead small shot, is neither compressed nor crushed, passing through the choke of the mouth of the barrel and, if a common choke with a truncated cone or straight union is used, it runs the risk of making the barrel explode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the present invention is to propose a cartridge wad for smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles, which makes it possible to use steel small shot with any type of barrel and related choke.
The object is accomplished with a wad for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles, having a base turned towards the firing charge contained in the case, and a cylindrical lateral wall that extends from said base towards the firing direction, in which said cylindrical lateral wall of the wad and the case define between them an annular space intended to prevent the expansion of the small shot over the entire cross section of the barrel. In practice, the diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall of the wad is less than that of its base, said lateral wall preventing the cluster of small shot produced by the explosion from striking against the bore of the barrel.
In any case, greater details of the present invention and its embodiment variants will become more evident from the description below with reference to the attached, indicative and nonlimiting, drawings. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings in particular,
According to the present invention, the diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall 17 of the wad is less than that of its base 16, so that the case 11 and said cylindrical lateral wall 17 define a space 19 between them. For example, the diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall 17 may be one or two gauges less than that of its base 16, i.e., of the cartridge. The cylindrical lateral wall 17 thus limits the expansion of the cluster of steel small shot over a section suitable for passage through the choke of the barrel of the gun, preventing the shot from striking against the bore of the barrel.
In addition, the wad 15 may be provided, preferably close to its opening, with a whole or segmented, annular element 20, with a centering and guide function for the wad during its sliding in the barrel of the rifle.
Moreover, the annular portion 16′ of the base 16 of the wad, which protrudes in relation to the cylindrical lateral wall 17, may have a conical course, converging downwards to function as an air intake and to contribute to the slowing down of the wad in relation to the small shot following the front impact with the air.
In a second embodiment illustrated in
In a fourth embodiment shown in
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
Claims
1. A smooth-bore shotgun or shooting rifle cartridge and wad comprising:
- a case having an end percussion cap;
- a firing charge in said case;
- a wad for accommodating small shot, said wad having a base turned towards the firing charge and a cylindrical lateral wall extending from a base towards a direction of firing, said cylindrical lateral wall and the case defining an annular space between them for substantially preventing an expansion of the small shot over a cross section of the barrel.
2. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base has a diameter equal to a gauge of the cartridge and a diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall is less than the diameter of said base.
3. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 2, in which the diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall is at least one gauge less than the gauge of the base.
4. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wad includes a whole or segmented annular element close to an opening of the case for centering and guiding the wad during its sliding in the barrel of the rifle.
5. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 4, wherein the wad has a plurality of longitudinal cuts along an end annular portion of the lateral wall of the wad, the annular element being provided below said end annular portion.
6. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lateral wall has a plurality of longitudinal ribs for centering and guiding the wad during its sliding in the barrel of the rifle.
7. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 2, wherein said base has an annular upper surface protruding externally from the cylindrical lateral wall and the annular surface has a conical course converging downwards.
8. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 1, further comprising steel shoot disposed in said wad.
9. A cartridge and wad for steel small shot for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles, comprising:
- a case having and end percussion cap and containing a firing charge; and
- a wad above the firing charge for accommodating steel small shot, said wad having a base turned towards said firing charge and two concentric cylindrical walls extending from said base towards the direction of firing, said walls including an external wall having a diameter equal to the gauge of the cartridge and an internal wall intended for accommodating the steel small shot, said internal wall having a diameter less than the gauge of the cartridge by one gauge.
10. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 9, wherein said external wall has a plurality of longitudinal cuts.
11. A cartridge and wad in accordance with claim 9, wherein said external wall has a height equal to about one third of said internal wall.
12. A wad for receiving steel small shot for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles, in which each cartridge comprises a case having an end percussion cap and a firing charge, the case having a diameter, the wad comprising:
- a base turned to be disposed adjacent to the firing charge;
- a cylindrical lateral wall extending from a base towards a direction of firing; and
- a spacer means for defining an annular space between a diameter of the cartridge and a diameter of said cylindrical lateral wall.
13. A wad in accordance with claim 12, wherein the base has a diameter equal to a gauge of the cartridge and a diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall is less than the diameter of said base.
14. A wad in accordance with claim 13, in which the diameter of the cylindrical lateral wall is at least one gauge less than the gauge of the base.
15. A wad in accordance with claim 13, wherein the wad includes a whole or segmented annular element close to an opening of the case for centering and guiding the wad during its sliding barrel of the rifle.
16. A wad in accordance with claim 13, wherein the wad has a plurality of longitudinal cuts along an end annular portion of the lateral wall of the wad, the annular element being provided below said end annular portion.
17. A wad in accordance with claim 12, wherein said spacer comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs connected to said cylindrical lateral wall for centering and guiding the wad during its sliding in the barrel of the rifle.
18. A wad in accordance with claim 13, wherein said base has an annular upper surface protruding externally from the cylindrical lateral wall and the annular surface has a conical course converging downwards.
19. A wad in accordance with claim 12, wherein said spacer comprises an outer cylindrical wall extending concentrically to said cylindrical lateral wall from said base towards the direction of firing, said outer wall having a diameter equal to the gauge of the cartridge.
20. A wad in accordance with claim 12, further comprising steel shoot disposed in said wad.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2003
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2005
Inventor: Walter Zanoletti (Gardone V.T.)
Application Number: 10/634,563