Abstract: An increased volume shotshell having a biaxially oriented plastic tubular body has an end closure disk heat sealed to the open end of the shotshell eliminating the conventional star crimp closure. The increases volume results from making available the space normally taken up by the internal folds of the crimp. The end closure on the open end of the shotshell tube is fused to the tubular body to seal the shot load without destroying the biaxial orientation of the open end of the tubular body.

Abstract: A dual plastic compression formed shotshell casing includes an injection-molded annular-shaped hard plastic rim and an elongated compression-formed tubular body having an integral basewad portion at its base end which is mechanically interlocked with the rim to define the final basewad of the shotshell casing. In method of making the shotshell casing, the hard plastic rim is first injection molded independently. The tubular body is then formed in a two-step process. In the first step, a plastic preform is injection molded over the rim in mechanically interlocked relation to the rim. In the second step, the tubular body is compression formed from the preform mechanically locked to the rim.

Abstract: A moisture seal is designed for a shotshell having a biaxially oriented plastic tubular body. The seal is a composite of a thermally conductive layer and a thermoplastic such as high density polyethylene laminated together. The rim portion of the inner layer of high density polyethylene is bonded or fused to the tubular body to seal the shot load end without destroying the biaxial orientation of the tubular body adjacent the rim portion. The moisture seal may be installed inside the tubular body and fused to the inside surface of the tubular wall or may be installed in place of or over the end closure and fused to the outside surface of the tubular body.

Abstract: A shotshell having a maximum interior volume is disclosed comprising a tubular casing wall made of the biaxially oriented high density polyethylene, and injection molded basewad also made of high density polyethylene molded in place at one end of the tubular casings to close the end. The basewad has a skirt portion fused to the tubular wall to bond the basewad and the tubular casing wall together while maintaining the biaxial integrity of the tubular casing wall.

Abstract: An explosive cartridge produced by packaging an explosive with a paper polyethylene-laminated on both the sides, the outer surface of the cartridge having an angle of slide of not more than 12 degrees and a paper polyethylene-laminated on both the sides, at least one of the outer surfaces of the paper polyethylene-laminated on both the sides having an angle of slide of not more than 12 degrees used in the explosive cartridge are disclosed.The explosive cartridge of the present invention can be easily loaded into a dry or watery borehole and give good blasting performance.

Abstract: An improved reduced volume plastic basewad for a shotshell casing includes a generally solid cylindrical plastic body portion, an annular outer continuous skirt portion merging integrally and upwardly from the body portion, and a raised annular inner continuous hub portion merging integrally and upwardly from the body portion. The skirt and body portions define a continuous exterior surface sized relative an interior surface of a plastic tube of the casing for tightly frictionally fitting within the tube at a bottom end portion thereof providing a gas seal with the tube interior surface. The hub and body portions define a continuous interior surface forming an elongated pocket for receiving a primer in a tight frictional fitting relation in the pocket with an upper end of the primer disposed adjacent an upper end of the hub portion.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a preferably closed case, which contains a propellant charge and a priming material and which at its head end constitutes a bushinglike socket for receiving a projectile. In order to provide a reliable cartridge which can be manufactured in a simple manner and can be radially or tangentially ignited, the case comprises adjacent to its periphery at least one peripheral annular groove, which is open to the interior of the case and contains the priming material.

Abstract: A cartridge (1) comprises a cartridge case (2), which is closed at its rear end and contains a propellant charge (3) and a primer (7). The tip portion of the cartridge case defines a socket (4), which accommodates a full-bore projectile (5). The tip portion (2b), terminates adjacent to the nose of the projectile in an end face that is normal to the axis of the cartridge. That tip portion has an outside peripheral surface, which tapers with a substantially concave contour toward said forward end face. To provide a cartridge (1) which can easily be manufactured and can reliably be fired and can be gas-tightly inserted into the chamber of the firearm, the tip portion (2b) is formed in its rear end portion with a peripheral annular groove (6), which is open to the interior of the cartridge case and which contains the primer (7).

Abstract: Polyethylene crosslinked by high-energy radiation, preferably electron beams, is an effective material for the manufacture of ammunition elements, preferably cases for cartridges. The case is produced by irradiating a molded case component of polyethylene with high-energy radiation.

Abstract: A telescoped ammunition round utilizing nonstrategic materials is light-weight and enables the use of conventional particulate propellants as well as conventional components such as projectiles and primers if desired. Webs molded into the case interior facilitate molding of the case and provide for supporting the projectile therein before and during the loading of particulate propellant into the case. In addition, the webs are operative for decreasing the longitudinal resistance of the case thereby reducing inward movement of the primer when struck by a firing pin thereby reducing the possibility of misfire. The projectile is prevented from debulleting during handling and is provided with preselected shot-start characteristics by an opening formed through the cap and a plurality of holes formed in the cap to provide proper resiliency in the cap for holding the projectile before firing and retarding the projectile momentarily upon firing.

Abstract: A method and device (A) for cutting a shotgun shell (14) for shooting in a shotgun chambered for shorter shotgun shells includes a base (10) and shell receiving tube (12). A shell (14) is held in tube (12) above a knife (32) in such a manner that a circumferential slit is formed in shell casing (20) around the inside edge (24) of crimp (22). The knife is carried on a movable knife blade holder (40) which moves toward base (10) to engage the knife in the crimped edge as the shell is rotated. Upon shooting of shell (14), the crimp material separates from casing (20) leaving the shell of a shorter length. In this manner a two and one half inch (21/2") shell is obtained from a two and three-quarter inch (23/4") and three inch (3") shells which may be reloaded or disposed of.

Abstract: A training cartridge includes a metallic cartridge case with a case shoulder and dummy projectile having a gas exhaust opening at its front end. A propellant charge powder chamber of the cartridge case is closed in the forward direction by means of a cup-shaped closure element that is inserted in the cartridge case close to the case shoulder and that bursts or ruptures during firing under the action of the powder gases along predetermined intentional breaking zones. Toward the rear, the powder chamber is sealed by means of a bottom piece inserted in the cartridge case. By placing the intentional opening zones into the interior of the cartridge, danger of injury by the ejected cartridge case is reduced to a minimum.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a 12-gauge 00 buckshot shotshell having a definitely improved pattern accuracy because of the manner in which the pellets are stacked within the casing prior to firing. The 00 pellets are stacked within a relatively thick-walled casing, or within a relatively thick-walled sleeve within the casing, in single pairs superimposed one upon the other, each pair nesting with its adjacent pair in a common nesting zone and none of the centers of the pellets being disposed within such a nesting zone. The casing must have an effective internal diameter of less than 2.154 times the diameter of the 00 buckshot pellets. The pellets may be stacked so that the two pellets of most of the pairs are slightly axially off-set relative to each other, and so that each pellet is arranged along one of a pair of separate varying helical paths about the axis of the casing.

Abstract: A general purpose aerial bomb and a thermoplastic liner therefor consisting essentially of a melt blend of polypropylene and polybutene.

Abstract: An all-plastic cartridge case is disclosed. The case is all-plastic polyethylene and has a hard-plastic rim and a soft-plastic glass-filled high density polyethylene basewad. The basewad is of a plastic similar to but stronger and tougher than that of the shotshell tube while the rim is of a hard plastic which is chemically dissimilar to the tube. The rim is mechanically locked to the tough basewad and the basewad is chemically bonded to the tube. Also disclosed is a two-step method for molding such a shell with a triple plastic head. Either the rim or the basewad is molded first and the other of the two is molded through the first.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a cartridge assembly of a cartridge base of compressed polycarbonate, polyethylene and Teflon having at a forward end thereof a circumscribing annular flange mounted in a circumscribing annular recess within an inner wall surface of an open end of a plastic envelope of high-density polyethylene of which a distal-end of the plastic envelope has thin weakened walls extending along longitudinally-extending lines or of which a distal-end of the plastic envelope has mounted therein a slug (ball or bullet) of metal.

Abstract: A cased cartridge ammunition ignition booster includes a film of booster propellant that is case-bonded without insulation or liner to the inside wall and base of an ordinary brass, steel or plastic cartridge case and ignited by a conventional primer. Flame spread occurs from the case wall inward through the non case-bonded propellant bed, that is, the bed of the propelling charge.

Abstract: An all-plastic cartridge case is disclosed. The case is all-plastic and has a hard-plastic rim and a soft-plastic basewad. The basewad is of a plastic similar to that of the shotshell tube while the rim is of a plastic which is chemically dissimilar to the tube. The basewad and rim are mechanically interlocked. Also disclosed is a two-step method for molding such a shell with a dual plastic head. Either the rim or the basewad is molded first and the other of the two is molded through the first.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a cartridge assembly of a cartridge base of compressed polycarbonate, polyethylene and Teflon having at a forward end thereof a circumscribing annular flange mounted in a circumscribing annular recess within an inner wall surface of an open end of a plastic envelope of high-density polyethylene of which a distal-end of the plastic envelope has thin weakened walls extending along longitudinally-extending lines or of which a distal-end of the plastic envelope has mounted therein a slug (ball or bullet) of metal.

Abstract: A single-piece plastic shotshell casing and method of making same comprising softening one end portion only of a tube of uniformly biaxially oriented high density polyethylene sufficiently for forming and until a dollup is formed, then telescoping only a portion of the dollup into the rigid sidewalls of the tube, and then forming the dollup into a substantially thickened integral transverse base section constituting a head with a longitudinally extending primer opening therein, the base section being substantially biaxially oriented and the rigid sidewalls terminating a substantial distance inwardly from the outer end of the base section.

Abstract: A barrier breaching device that is designed primarily for opening holes in interior walls of buildings uses detonating fuse for explosive force. The fuse acts as the ribs or spokes of an umbrella-like device that may be opened up to form a cone. The cone is placed against the wall so that detonating fuse that rings the base of the device and which is ignited by the spoke-like fuses serves to cut a circular hole in the wall.

Abstract: A single piece plastic shotshell comprising a tube of high density polyethylene which is uniformly biaxially oriented to a substantial degree throughout its length and has side walls of constant internal diameter, thickness, molecular orientation and physical strength, the tube having a substantially thickened integral transverse base section formed of a compressed length of the tube at one of its end portions with a longitudinally extending primer opening therein, the base section being substantially biaxially oriented and telescoped within said end portion of the tube. Apparatus and methods for making the shotshell are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air burst munitions simulator which provides for the aerial dissemination of readily dispersable substance. A payload container adapted to contain the substance to be dispersed is launched into the air by a propellant charge, typically gunpowder. A time delay fuse assembly serves to detonate a high energy explosive charge which shatters the container to release the dispersible substance in air.

Abstract: A munition or round for a firearm comprises a shell casing of synthetic resin material formed internally with a plurality of axially spaced annular ribs which snap into corresponding grooves in the shank of the bullet. The bullet shank is also formed with axially extending grooves to vent the space between the base of the bullet and the bottom of the casing, this space receiving a moist firing charge whose solvent vaporizes through the gaps formed by the axially extending groove.

Abstract: An improved process for joining a shell having a plastic base portion to a cartridge case within a joining region. The joining region extends along a plastic base portion of said shell when it is inserted into the neck portion of the casing and has an upper and lower limit. The base portion is being axially inserted into the neck portion of the casing while being subjected to a relative rotational movement. A glueing or synthetic substance having flow capability is introduced into the neck portion of the casing. This plastic or glueing substance after hardening adheres more strongly to the inner surface of the neck portion than on said plastic base portion.

Abstract: A cylindrical primer cup having a top end which may be sealed so as to safely contain granular or liquid explosive matter is disclosed. A cylindrical conduit extends in a straight path through the cup, providing an opening at either end permitting through-passage of detonating cord or blasting caps. The cylindrical conduit additionally has a fixed diameter throughout, facilitating its travel along a detonating cord. A frustoconical conduit extends well within the primer cup for the placement and frictional retention of blasting caps therein. The sidewalls of the two conduits are relatively thin to provide for easier primer detonation. Symmetrically placed columnar-shaped ribs provide longitudinal structural support for the cylindrical conduit.