Abstract: A cartridge to be fired through a barrel comprises a cartridge body with a maximum outer diameter, and a removable and replaceable driving band with an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the cartridge body. The driving band is positioned on the cartridge body such that it is the only part of the cartridge that engages the barrel through which it is fired.

Abstract: A modular constructed, standardized test device for simulating a spin stabilized projectile which is fired from a barrel having rifling grooves, comprised of the bolted together, keyed to transfer spin, modular components of replaceable rotating band, replaceable front end and back end, and filler sections for further simulation of other components. The front end has an interior recessed area which allows for a selective integration of a threaded fuze or an aerodynamic, electronic, or other structure and the rear end has a crimp groove for selective attachment of a cartridge case, and aerodynamic or other structure to mimic the rear geometry of a projectile for testing purposes.

Abstract: A spin-stabilized artillery projectile having at least one driving band and at least one obturator, wherein the driving band contains at least one compensating groove, and wherein the at least one obturator is arranged in the compensating groove of the driving band. The cross-section of the compensating groove, is preferably trapezoidal, but can also be rectangular or square. As a result, a complete detachment of the obturator is achieved and residues are avoided.

Abstract: An obturator ring (4) for a mortar round (2) is proposed where the geometry of the ring (4) is modified by its sliding and striking stationary anvil (18) when the round (2) is placed in the muzzle-loaded mortar's barrel (6) and reaches its bottom. The initial ring (4) geometry does not impede round's travel down the barrel (6) while its modified geometry provides a gas seal between the round (2) and the barrel (6) wall. Several embodiments featuring free-rotating (4), splined non-rotational (4a) and stationary separated (12a-14a) designs are presented. The ring works with both smoothbore and rifled mortar barrels and in several embodiments imparts rotation to the round (2) if used in a rifled barrel (6). An optimized muzzle-loaded mortar barrel (6) operating in cooperation with rounds equipped with the obturator ring of instant invention is also presented, containing rifled (6a) and smoothbore (6b) sections.

Abstract: A launcher for launching a projectile includes a launch piston for engaging and driving the projectile from the launcher and a launch brake that constrains the piston to enable separation of the piston from the projectile. The launch brake is configured to have minimal to no effect on projectile exit velocity and exit trajectory from the launcher. The launch brake is also configured to reduce the velocity of the launch piston via coupling of the masses of the launch piston and the launch brake. The coupling allows, separation of the projectile from the launch piston and reduces or prevents a negative effect on stabilization of the projectile upon exit from the launcher.

Abstract: Muzzleloader systems include a pre-packaged propellant charge and primer for providing efficient loading and unloading of the muzzleloader. The muzzleloader accepts in the breech end the propellant containment vessel that abuts against a constriction portion with a reduced diameter portion. The propellant containment vessel having an end portion with a tapered surface that conforms to the constriction portion surface. A projectile is inserted in the muzzle end and seats against the constriction portion. The propellant containment vessel may be received in a removable breech plug. The constriction portion may be part of the breech plug or a separate component secured in the barrel by way of the breech plug. The containment vessel further comprises a primer mechanism that may be integrated into the proximal end of the containment vessel.

Abstract: A projectile includes a head, a tail, and an interface that interconnects the head and tail. Multiple sections of the interface are deformed by being compressed radially inwardly into respective annular recesses formed between the interface and the head and tail during manufacturing or by rifling when the projectile is fired. The amount of deformation is controlled by the depth of each of the annular recesses. In all embodiments, annular ridges formed in the head, the tail, or both, define the longitudinal extent of the annular recesses. The interface includes an annular obturation region and has a beveled open leading end to facilitate insertion of the head and tail into the interface.

Abstract: A projectile includes a leading part formed by a tip, a tip base, and a leading rod. A trailing part includes a main base, a truncate base, and a trailing rod. A leading end of a cylindrical interface abuts an annular shoulder where the tip meets the tip base and a trailing end abuts an annular shoulder where the main base meets the truncate base. The tip base and the truncate base respectively support the leading and trailing ends of the cylindrical interface. A medial extent of the cylindrical interface is unsupported by the leading and trailing rods and is deformed radially inwardly by lands in a barrel when the projectile is fired. The leading and trailing ends of the cylindrical interface maintain contact with the lands and the medial extent does not, reducing friction between the projectile and the barrel without sacrificing spin of the projectile.

Abstract: A weapon (104) including a stock, a barrel assembly (105) slidably mounted on said stock whereby, on discharging said weapon, the barrel assembly (105) slidably recoils relative to said stock, and a damper (107) for decelerating the recoiling barrel assembly, wherein said barrel assembly (105) includes a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel (108) wherein each of said projectiles is associated with a discrete propellant charge for propelling said projectile from the barrel. Suitably the weapon further includes a breech block (109) which slidably recoils relative to said stock and a further damper (106) for decelerating the recoiling breech block.

Abstract: Sealing band for a projectile, the band being characterized in that it comprises a front sub-band containing at least two sectors, the sub-band having at least a conical profile in a tight fit with the matching profile of a groove of the projectile, the cone tip being placed towards a rear section of the projectile, with the sub-band attached to the projectile by a cylindrical skirt.

Abstract: Projectiles for firearms, specifically bullets, are discussed that include a rear thin-walled counter bore. The counter bore is designed to be a first size and shape when the bullet is loaded into the firearm and expand upon discharge of the firearm so as to force the walls of the counter bore into barrel rifling. The expansion may occur through the direct interaction of propellant gases with the counter bore walls, or at least partially indirectly though the inclusion of an expansion plug that is placed at least partially within the counter bore in a manner that the expansion plug can be driven further into the counter bore by the firing action of the firearm.

Abstract: Projectiles for firearms, specifically bullets, are discussed that include a rear thin-walled counter bore. The counter bore is designed to be a first size and shape when the bullet is loaded into the firearm and expand upon discharge of the firearm so as to force the walls of the counter bore into barrel rifling. The expansion may occur through the direct interaction of propellant gases with the counter bore walls, or at least partially indirectly though the inclusion of an expansion plug that is placed at least partially within the counter bore in a manner that the expansion plug can be driven further into the counter bore by the firing action of the firearm.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-aligning device for aiding the engagement of a munition into a rifled gun barrel on loading of the munition, absent the use of a driving band, as, for example, in the case of a munition which is fitted with aerodynamic tail fins. The device comprises at least one annular ring to surround the munition, and which, if desired, can be seated on a surface of the munition which allows the ring(s) to rotate. One or more of the rings has a number of elements which are capable of lying within the outline of the ring or rings to allow the munition to be readily loaded into a gun barrel but which can take the form of projections extending radially outwards from the ring(s) when they become coincident with the internal rifling of the gun barrel on further movement of the munition along with barrel or when the munition is rotated. The projections then engage in the rifling grooves and provide a sealing effect.

Abstract: A barrel assembly comprising a barrel (37); a plurality of projectiles (30) axially disposed within the barrel for operative sealing engagement with a bore (36) of the barrel; and a plurality of discrete propellant charges for propelling each projectile of the plurality of projectiles sequentially through a muzzle of the barrel (37). Each projectile of the plurality of projectiles includes a tapered anvil portion (31); a sealing portion (35) extending about the tapered anvil portion for sealing engagement with the bore (36) of the barrel (37) upon the projectile being inserted into the barrel before firing, the sealing portion being forwardly moveable relative to the tapered anvil portion for operative freeing from the tapered anvil portion and for providing a bypass passage between propellant charges.

Abstract: A method of minimising misfiring or alleviating their consequences is provided by forming at least each trailing projectile (30) in a series of housed projectiles with a sealing portion (34) extending about a tapered anvil portion (31) and moveable therealong for expansion into sealing engagement with the barrel (11). The sealing portion (34) disengages forwardly in response to a misfire or the like to provide a bleed path for igniting the propellant charge (41) associated with the next leading projectile (30).

Abstract: A muzzleloading bullet is provided with a pin at its back end for affixing a gas check thereto. Preferably, the pin is generally cylindrical in nature, and has a distal end that is larger compared to its proximal end that is attached to the body of the bullet. The pin therefore “expands” from its proximal to its distal end so that the resilient gas check may snap onto the pin for being secured to the bullet. Also, the expending pin installed in a cylindrical central hole provides a small space or gap between the inner edge/surface of the central hole and the outer surface of the installed pin at one area or all the way around the pin near its proximal end. This gap increases the ease with which exploding gases from behind the gas check in the gun barrel enter the central hole of the gas check and exit between the pin and gas check when the gun is fired, which, in turn, deforms the gas check near the central hole and encourages the separation of the gas check from the bullet.

Abstract: An obturator is provided for a projectile launched from a gun barrel. The projectile has a mid-body annular groove that includes a shaped surface. The obturator includes an annular ring having an inner surface in contact with the shaped surface of the annular groove of the projectile. The annular ring further includes an outer surface. When the projectile is in the gun barrel, the outer surface of the annular ring contacts an inner surface of a bore of the gun barrel. The radial distance between the inner surface and the outer surface of the annular ring substantially equals or exceeds the radial distance between the shaped surface of the annular groove and the inner surface of the bore of the gun barrel at at least one point when the projectile is positioned in the barrel. This feature restricts a flow of charge gases from an aft end of the projectile to a forward end of the projectile when the projectile is launched from the gun barrel.

Abstract: A fin-stabilized mortar grenade has an ogival shell body, a tail tube with finned controlling surfaces. The shell body has at least one annular groove located with the limits of the caliber diameter zone. A spreadable sealing ring is disposed in the annular groove. The sealing ring has an edge bevel located at the edge facing the shell body at the bottom of the annular groove. The bevel edge configuration provides a mechanism by which the force of propellant gases enhances the radial spreading of the sealing ring outwardly against the inside surface of the barrel from which the mortar grenade is fired.

Abstract: A wedge-shaped seal for sealing against leakage of gun gases past a projele in the bore of a gun barrel includes a wedge-shaped tip having rearward angled forward and rear surfaces which is preloaded to bear the tip against the projectile body. A wedge-shaped region between the lip and the projectile body is partly collapsed by the pressure of gun gases on the rear surface of the lip to improve the seal. A similar seal may be provided with the bore of the gun barrel.

Abstract: A self aligning expansible sabot for projection from worm gun tubes without alloting of the sabot pedals due to misalignment and vibration. The sabot consists of three segments pinned together so they move radially in an expanding manner in the worm gun tube without loss of axial alignment. The connection pins allow normal discard of the sabot segments without excessive binding and without independent rotation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a shot-start projectile apparatus for a w gun tube. The apparatus can be fitted to a projectile as an auxilliary obturator or can be designed to the proper weight and used as the projectile. The apparatus comprises a torque bolt, a rear band, an alignment sleeve, a front band and an alignment nut. The front and rear bands are identical and they are made of metallic or non-metallic material. The remaining components of the apparatus are made of metal. The front and rear bands provide obturation to prevent hot propellant gases from leaking in front of the projectile.