Abstract: A less-than-lethal kinetic impact projectile and an associated less-than-lethal ammunition round are provided. The projectile has a typically self-supporting, sealed cylindrical elastomeric bag with a particulate load therein and with a deformable hemispherical hollow nose cap forwardly attached to a front of the cylindrical elastomeric bag. The round has a cylindrical casing with an ignitable propellant powder charge disposed therein, and the projectile nested within the casing forwardly of the propellant powder charge. In operation, the polymer material of the cylindrical elastomeric bag with deformable hollow nose cap is such that the projectile will expand in diameter but remain intact when impacting against a soft or semi-soft target (e.g., the body of a human being or animal), but will tend to fragment, disintegrate, or open up at the back, upon impact with a hard or semi hard target (e.g., against concrete or wood).

Abstract: A shotgun shell incorporates a traditionally-configured shotgun shell and housing having a choke secured within the shell between the pellets and the charge.

Abstract: Herein we describe embodiments of shotgun shells, methods for loading such shotgun shells, and methods for using them. In some embodiments, the shotgun shells utilize a multi-component wad system with a biodegradable powder wad that stays intact through the firing process, and a separate and chemically distinct biodegradable shot wad that breaks apart within one meter after being shot out of the barrel of a shotgun. A clean release of the shot can be obtained, providing both high performance and biodegradability. The biodegradable shot wad can be a biodegradable polyester.

Abstract: Herein we describe embodiments of shotgun shells, methods for loading such shotgun shells, and methods for using them. In some embodiments, the shotgun shells utilize a multi-component wad system with a biodegradable powder wad that stays intact through the firing process, and a separate and chemically distinct biodegradable shot wad that breaks apart within one meter after being shot out of the barrel of a shotgun. A clean release of the shot can be obtained, providing both high performance and biodegradability. The biodegradable shot wad can be a biodegradable polyester.

Abstract: Shot shell payloads that include a plurality of large projectiles and shot shells including the same are disclosed herein. The shot shell payloads include a plurality of large projectiles and at least one spacer that is formed from a different material than the large projectiles. A spacer is located between adjacent large projectiles and/or separates adjacent large projectiles. Disclosed shot shell payloads also may include one or more end spacers that are positioned to contact just one large projectile or the plurality of large projectiles in the payload.

Abstract: An improved shotshell of the type having a hull, a head at the proximal end, propellant disposed in the hull, a wad disposed in the hull distal to the propellant, and a load disposed in the hull in distal to the wad. The improvement comprises the load including a plurality of individual shot, at least a portion of which are at least partially surrounded by a friable material that breaks up upon the firing of the shell to release to the shot and results in a reduced rate of dispersion of the plurality of individual shot compared to cartridges without the friable material.

Abstract: A munition round includes a cartridge case; a canister disposed at a forward end of the cartridge case, the canister including a piston movable in the canister; a plurality of high-density spheroids having a diameter in a range of about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches; a rear container disposed in the canister adjacent the piston, and fully loaded with the high-density spheroids; a front container disposed in the canister and partially loaded with the high-density spheroids, a remaining volume of the front container occupied by a spacer disc disposed atop the high-density spheroids; and a cap that closes a forward end of the canister.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a shotshell comprises a casing defining an internal chamber, a plurality of first shot pellets within the internal chamber and a plurality of second shot pellets within the internal chamber. The first shot pellets comprise a first shape and the second shot pellets comprise a second shape that is different from the first shape.

Abstract: A cartridge has a shell casing with a primer end and a projectile end. A projectile mounted in the projectile end is made of four segments held together by first and second retainer rings. In one form each segment contains shot. One form of the projectile has an air brake which is deployed as the projectile leaves the muzzle. The air brake is partially deployed or fully deployed, depending of the shredding of third and fourth retainer rings which hold the air brake. When the shredder is inserted in a barrel in a first position, the last horizontal retainer ring is shredded and the air brake is partially deployed. When the shredder blades are further positioned in the barrel, both retainer rings which hold the air brake are shredded and the air brake is fully deployed. Additional positions of the shredder ring first shred the second ring, releasing the segments, and then shred the first retainer ring, releasing the shot and other contents from the segments.

Abstract: A high-pressure fixed munition for a low-pressure launching system having a cylindrical body with a centrally located bore is provided. The bore of the munition has a reduced diameter on the charge end in which a primer charge is positioned. The bore is filled above the primer charge with a propellant and above the propellant with a payload. The payload may include multiple buckshot pellets, frangible buckshot pellets, tear gas, multiple slugs, frangible slugs, paint balls, rubber pellets, bean bags, or the like. The munition may also include a pressure disk between the propellant and the payload, and tactile ridges or on the outside surface of the munition body or be of a specific color for purposes of identification of the payload.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-range artillery shell (1) that is fin-stabilised in its trajectory and which is designed to be fired in a rifled gun barrel and thus has a slipping driving band (8) as main contact surface with the inside of the barrel, and has a so-called base-bleed unit (3) with a number of stabilization fins (9-14) that are deployable after the shell has left the barrel.

Abstract: A shotgun cartridge includes a cartridge case having a primer, a propelling charge contained in the cartridge case disposed proximate to the primer and shot. A first wad shot grouping element has a travel direction side surface in contact with the shot and extending rearwardly therefrom. The travel direction side surface acts on a first shot mass of the shot positioned in front of the first wad shot grouping element for at least some distance after exiting a barrel of a gun to define a first shot mass pattern. A second wad grouping element has a surface with a travel direction side surface and a side surface extending rearwardly from the travel direction side surface. An exterior surface with an annular edge extends forwardly of said travel direction side surface. The second wad surface acts on a second shot mass of the shot for at least some distance after exiting the barrel of the gun. The exterior surface and the travel direction side surface cooperate to form a cup shaped portion.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge for use with a gun which cartridge has a shotshell wad defining a rear charge receiving chamber and at least two forward shot or other projectile receiving chambers wherein a forward shot receiving chamber is formed of a solid disk including a plurality of shot pellets or similar projectiles embedded in a hardened binder material and wherein a rear shot or similar projectile receiving chamber houses unbound shot pellets or projectiles.

Abstract: A shotshell comprised of shot pellets of different densities and materials which provide increased effectiveness at both close and long range. Preferably the pellets are disposed in longitudinally stratified layers, with the more dense pellets located rearwardly of the pellets of lesser density. The pellets having the greater density maintain a closer pattern at long range, because they are preferably made of tungsten which has a high density and are located rearwardly, while the pellets having lesser density are preferably made of steel, describe a much wider pattern because of their lower density and forward location, and are therefore most effective at close range.

Abstract: A multi-part sabot for maintaining roundness of shot pellets during launch and passage of the pellets through a smooth bore harrel. The sabot is a coaxial stack of at least two cylindrical wafers, each dimpled to individually surround and protect the shot pellants.