Abstract: An improved barrel includes a first hollow portion having a preferred rectilinear extension direction and an inner surface defining a bore adapted to be travelled over by a projectile, the first hollow portion including an inner layer constituting the inner surface obtained through deposition of diamondoids by a high-vacuum process.

Abstract: A method of making a gun barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end and a bore extending between the two ends comprises applying to the outer surface of the bore a plurality of swaging dies (5), each of which carries an upstanding helical land (10). The dies are pressed simultaneously against the external surface of the gun barrel such that each land forms a helical recess (14) in the external surface and crystalline deformation to the material of the barrel wall immediately below the external helical recess. The distortion of the external surface results simultaneously in the creation of a plurality of smooth helical ridges (16) on the surface of the bore.

Abstract: A composite gun barrel comprising: an inner rifled liner tube having an outer surface; and an outer sleeve made from a shape memory alloy and having an inner surface for disposition against the outer surface of the inner rifled liner tube; wherein the inner rifled liner tube is configured for guiding projectiles and the outer sleeve is configured for dampening the firing vibrations encountered by the inner rifled liner tube.

Abstract: A rigid composite structure has a bore formed in a metallic material and a super hard interior segment or segments disposed within the bore. Each segment may be lined adjacent to one another and held under compression within the bore. The segments may be made of super hard materials such as natural diamond, synthetic diamond, polycrystalline diamond, single crystalline diamond, cubic boron nitrate or other superhard composite materials which exhibit low thermal expansion rates and are generally chemically inert. The resultant rigid composite structure may possess higher tolerances to high pressures and high temperatures.

Abstract: A muzzleloading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and the barrel has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore. The seal element may be a set of piston rings that are received in a circumferential groove about a forward end of the plug, or may be a cup at the forward end, with a forward rim that flares under pressure to provide a gas seal.

Abstract: A rifling angle calculating method according to the present invention expands a rifling angle by combining a Fourier function and a polynomial function to take only the advantages of the two functions, and thus boundary conditions at the start and end points of the rifling angle may be faithfully satisfied, and an optimum rifling angle for minimizing the maximum rifling force may be calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polygonal rifling of a gun barrel to provide grooves and bores in the gun barrel separated by a flat area which tapers from the bore to the groove. There is an angle from the center of the bore to the corner of the flat area, that is, where the flat area meets the bore. The angle is predetermined by the bore dimensions.

Abstract: A boomerang-shaped projectile, ammunition cartridge including the projectile, and a weapon barrel through which the projectile is fired.

Abstract: A firearm having a stock and an enhanced life barrel attached to the stock. The enhanced life barrel has a tapered bore and either parabolic or 5R rifling. The barrel includes a chamber and a throat. Each of the tapered bore, the chamber, and the throat are lapped and polished to a finish of about 15Ra of better. The enhanced life barrel includes a ferritic nitrocarburizing finish of greater than about 0.0003 inches thick.

Abstract: A firearm with a barrel that uses an ammunition discharge chamber that includes improved throat located between the chamber's free bore and the rifle bore. The improved throat includes a relatively short, inward aligned first tapered step, an intermediate elongated cylindrical body, and a longer, inward aligned second tapered step. Formed on the inside surfaces of the first tapered step, the elongated body and the second tapered step are rifling grooves and lands that gradually their depths and heights from rear to front direction. The two tapered beveled steps are aligned inward between 1.0 to 1.5 degrees. Using a short first tapered step, an elongated cylindrical body with straight sidewalls, a longer second tapered step with continuous grooves and lands that begin gradually in depth and height from rear to front directions, chamber pressure is reduced thereby enabling more gun powder to be used and bullet misalignment in the rifle bore is reduced.

Abstract: A method for producing a gun barrel, in which the barrel is formed from a pipe blank (1) in which barrel rifles (2) are formed against a mandrel (3) having grooves (2b) shaped as the rifles.

Abstract: This invention encompasses articles, compositions, and methods that provide enhanced corrosion resistance and wear resistance to firearms, firearm components, and firearm accessories. In one aspect, for example, a substrate comprising a firearm component is coated with a first layer of a corrosion-resistant material such as a first metal, followed by a second thin film layer of an abrasion-resistant material such as a second metal, a ceramic material such as a metal nitride, diamond-like carbon material, or other materials.

Abstract: Allows the reduction in the loss of precision of a discharge caused by the progressive heating-up of the barrel during a long succession of discharges, comprising at least: an interior rifled gunbore (1), an outer sleeve (2) mounted coaxially on the rifled gunbore (1) and configured with a high polar moment of inertia to support the strains in the rifled gunbore (1), while at the same time providing rigidity to the conjoined configuration, and a screwed union (3) adapted for the solid mutual fixation of said pieces. At least two holes (5, 6) are additionally provided which traverse the wall of the rifled gunbore (1) equilibrating the temperatures of said rifled gunbore (1) and said outer sleeve (2), in such a manner as to maintain the initially provided pre-strain of the barrel. The outer sleeve (2) may dispose an aperture for gases (1), adapted for the fitting of a repeat mechanism.

Abstract: A rigid composite structure includes a tubular body made from a metallic material and having a first bore formed therein along a longitudinal axis, and one or more segments formed from a super hard material disposed within the first bore. Each segment has a hole formed in the center thereof, and the segments may be positioned end-to-end and adjacent to one another to align the center holes about the longitudinal axis and form a second bore. The segments can be held under compression within the first bore of the tubular body. The segments may be made of super hard materials such as natural diamond, synthetic diamond, polycrystalline diamond, single crystalline 10 diamond, cubic boron nitrate or other superhard composite materials which exhibit low thermal expansion rates and are generally chemically inert. The resultant rigid composite structure may possess higher tolerances to high pressures and high temperatures within the second bore.

Abstract: A rifle barrel for a gas-operated rifle includes a metallic liner with a longitudinal bore and a transverse gas port through the liner to the bore intermediate along a length of the liner. A thermally conductive sleeve circumscribes the liner substantially along the length of the liner. A composite wrap circumscribes the sleeve substantially along a length of the sleeve. The composite wrap is separated from the gas port.

Abstract: A composite barrel for a firearm and method for forming by forging. The barrel includes at least two materials joined together by forging. In a preferred embodiment, at least one material is preferably lighter in weight than the other material. The barrel may include an inner tube and an outer sleeve. The inner tube defines a bore that provides a bullet path and in one embodiment may be made of steel or alloys thereof. The outer sleeve surrounds the inner tube and in some embodiments may be made of aluminum, titanium, or alloys of either thereof. The tube preferably includes an exterior surface containing recessed areas therein for receiving material displaced from the outer sleeve by the forging process. The preferred barrel forming method generally may include inserting the tube into the sleeve, striking an outer surface of the sleeve, and deforming the sleeve to force material to flow into the recessed exterior surface of the tube to bond the tube and sleeve together.

Abstract: A simulated gun launches a retrievable projectile in the form of a cylinder containing a compressible spring. The spring is compressed by inserting the barrel of the gun into the bore of the cylinder. A tab on the end of the cylinder rides in a helical groove on the surface of the barrel to cause the projectile to rotate about the axis of the barrel as the projectile is launched.

Abstract: A sabot-retaining shotshell cartridge and firing assembly including a barrel or barrel insert for firing the sabot-retaining shotshell cartridge. The shotshell cartridge includes a cylindrical hull, a sub-caliber projectile, a propellant charge, and a sabot. A central pathway or thin membrane is defined within the base of the sabot between the sub-caliber projectile and propellant charge. The barrel or barrel insert for firing the cartridge includes a transitional area between chamber and sub-caliber rifled bore to retain sabot in the cartridge. Upon cartridge firing, propellant gases flow through central portion of sabot base propelling projectile out of the sabot and into sub-caliber rifled bore.

Abstract: A rifle having a rifled barrel and a cartridge having a bullet having a diameter, a length, a ballistic coefficient (BC), and a muzzle velocity (V1) greater than 1250 ft/sec are related to achieve accuracy at very long range in that the twist of the rifling is substantially equal to: 83.7 ÷ ( bullet ? ? ? length × 2 ? B ? ? C bullet ? ? diameter ) × bullet ? ? diameter × [ 1 + ( V 3 V 1 × 0.667 ) ] where: V2 is the entry speed for the transonic, i.e. 1,250 ft/sec., and V3 is V1 minus V2. A rifle barrel for receiving a bullet has rifling twist according to the relationship. A method uses the relationship to determine the rifling twist for a rifle barrel receiving a known bullet. Another method uses the relationship to design a cartridge for a known barrel rifling. The relationship is particularly applicable for bullets having a high BC, such as 0.325 or greater.

Abstract: A firearm barrel includes an elongate metal insert member and a rigid sleeve surrounding the insert member along a majority of the length of the insert member. A casing is formed around at least a portion of the sleeve, preferably by injection molding. Breech and muzzle portions of the barrel may be fitted against the sleeve and are preferably tightly connected by the casing.

Abstract: A computer-controlled laser etching probe etches a firearm-identifying indicia such as a barcode encoded serial number into the barrel and breech of a bore of a firearm. Owner registration data coupled with the serial number is stored in a central database. A computer-controlled scanner reads the barcode from a slug or casing or a bullet fired from an etched firearm for comparison with registration data in the central database, thereby identifying the registered owner of the firearm from which the bullet was fired. Crime scene data including GPS data identifying the location of the crime, barcoded slugs or casings, registration data associated with the identified firearm, and the last known residence of the registered owner along with derived data may be used to determine a probability map of the location of a criminal suspect.

Abstract: A removable inner barrel apparatus has a rifle with barrel extending therefrom, an inner barrel having an end through which ammunition can exit, a pressure nut removably fastening the barrel of the rifle to the inner barrel, and a compression spring positioned within the pressure nut. The inner barrel has a grooved hollow interior and a bushing affixed adjacent to an opposite end thereof. The compression spring urges against a surface of the bushing so as to urge the bushing against the end of the inner barrel.

Abstract: A rifle barrel for realigning a projectile which is propelled through the barrel by gas pressure, the barrel comprising: a bore having a bore diameter through which a projectile may travel; rifling ridges within the bore; and at least one bore expansion chamber in the bore, wherein a diameter of the at least one bore expansion chamber is greater than the bore diameter, wherein a length of the at least one expansion chamber is smaller than an overall length of the projectile and greater than a contact length of the projectile. A process for projecting a projectile from a rifle barrel, the process comprising: increasing gas pressure behind the projectile in the rifle barrel, whereby the projectile is propelled through the rifle barrel; and passing a burst of gas around the projectile, whereby the projectile is aligned coaxially in the rifle barrel.

Abstract: The freebore section of a barrel of a firearm includes a plurality of freebore pads interleaved with a plurality of freebore slots for conveying propellant gases past the bullet upon entry of the bullet into the freebore section to stabilize and maintain the bullet in axial alignment with the axis of the rifled bore of the barrel upon entry of the bullet into the rifled bore.

Abstract: A gun barrel for a gun has an elongated tube with an axial bore extending completely through the tube from the breech end to the muzzle end. The tube and the contact surface in the axial bore, which contains propellant gasses behind the projectile and engages the projectile while guiding it toward the target, are made of Nitinol having a transition temperature lower than the lowest ambient temperature at which a gun with the barrel is designed to be operated, or of a Nitinol formulation consisting essentially of 60% nickel and 40% titanium. A first sleeve may be mechanically coupled to the barrel tube by shape memory contraction thereon to prestress the barrel tube in compression.

Abstract: Revolver frame and barrel assembly including a frame, a barrel shroud carrying a sight and keyed in sight alignment with the frame, and a generally cylindrical barrel having a rifled bore and extending through the barrel shroud and threadably engaged in the frame retaining the shroud in assembly with the frame. An assembly tool engaged with and complementing the rifling grooves in the barrel applies predetermined torque to the barrel to assemble it with the frame.

Abstract: A lacquer bullet gun barrel having an inner wall, on which a plurality of projections are circularly arranged. The projections are separated by vent grooves and have top surfaces which form a broken circular circumference around a firing path for a lacquer bullet. Thus a reduced contact surface between the lacquer bullet and the inner wall results.

Abstract: A firearm barrel has components made of different materials. The barrel includes an elongate metal insert member. A rigid sleeve surrounds the insert member along a majority of the length of the insert member. A casing is located around at least a portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for firing a projectile in which one part of the projectile rotates and the other part of the projectile does not rotate where is it used for delivering a line. The projectile firing apparatus includes a projectile having a part that rotates and a part that does not rotate, and further a barrel with a bore having spiraled grooves and at least two channels for the nonrotating part of the projectile to travel through when the projectile is fired. A line dragging system is mounted on the front of the barrel and engages to the nonrotating part of the projectile. The line dragging system is made of a wire frame including a cylindrical portion, engaging members, frame sides, and engaging locks. Upon firing the projectile, the rotating part moves through the bore of the barrel while the nonrotating part moves through the channels of the barrel.

Abstract: A method of providing an inner surface of a weapon barrel with a hard chromium layer includes the steps of forming the hard chromium layer on the inner surface by galvanic separation; and thereafter heating the hard chromium layer beyond the re-crystallization temperature thereof for obtaining, upon conclusion of the heating step, a uniform re-crystallization of the hard chromium layer in its entirety.

Abstract: The rifling in a barrel of a firearm is modified in proximity to the muzzle to reduce the radial difference between the land diameter and the groove diameter to urge a bullet to expand fully into the grooves and ensure rotation of the bullet about its longitudinal axis and without any lateral velocity component. Preferably, the land diameter is increased to a diameter somewhat less than the groove diameter but in the alternative the groove diameter may be reduced to a diameter somewhat more than the land diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing rifling grooves in a weapon barrel, in which a drawing head (1) that rotates about its longitudinal axis (5) is drawn through the respective weapon barrel by a drawing rod (2), and the rifling grooves are cut into the inside surface of the weapon barrel with corresponding drawing knives (9) disposed on the drawing head (1). To produce the rifling grooves in the respective weapon barrel at a Low cost, the drawing head (1) is provided with a central adjusting arbor (6), with which all of the drawing knives (9) can be simultaneously displaced outwardly. In the production of the rifling grooves, therefore, the drawing knives (9) need no longer be exchanged in a time-consuming process. Instead, only the setting of the drawing knives (9) is modified with the aid of the adjusting arbor (6).

Abstract: A device that is capable of adjusting the volume available to combustion gases following their expansion in a firearm includes (i) an expansion chamber connected to the barrel of the firearm through (ii) at least one connection hole disposed near the beginning of the rifling; (iii) a front calibration screw capable of being rotated into or out of the expansion chamber so as to calibrate the firearm for a particular ammunition; and (iv) a back calibration screw capable of being rotated into or out of the expansion chamber so as to calibrate the firearm for a particular ammunition. Adjustment of the positions of the front calibration screw and the back calibration screw facilitates the adjustment in the volume of the expansion chamber. By virtue of the adjustable volume expansion chamber, it is possible to adapt the physical features of the firearm to the specific type of ammunition that is to be employed, such as, for example, a high charge load cartridge.

Abstract: A gun barrel having a generally hollow cylindrically-shaped barrel with a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a plurality of internal spiral grooves and the outer surface defines a plurality of external spiral grooves.

Abstract: In a rifle or handgun, identification grooves, which are shallower than the rifling grooves, are formed in a pattern unique to a particular gun, providing a means of identifying the gun through which a bullet was shot. This identification can be used by forensic labs to tie a fired bullet to a gun having a particular serial number, even if the gun is not available for examination. The data mechanically encoded preferably include redundant bits which provide error control coding, thereby making identification both easier and more certain. The pattern is preferably formed by a mechanically-invariant process (such as EDM or photoengraving).

Abstract: Revolver frame and barrel assembly including a frame, a barrel shroud carrying a sight and keyed in sight alignment with the frame, and a generally cylindrical barrel having a rifled bore and extending through the barrel shroud and threadably engaged in the frame retaining the shroud in assembly with the frame. An assembly tool engaged with and complementing the rifling grooves in the barrel applies predetermined torque to the barrel to assemble it with the frame.

Abstract: A rifled weapon tube (1), from which spin-stabilized projectiles (8) with driving bands (9) are fired. In order to reduce manifestations of wear on a driving band (9), it is known to stabilize a spin angle (&dgr;) occurring during the firing or to cut deeper rifling grooves (3) into an inside wall (2) of the weapon tube (1). Both options can be realized only within limits as the compatibility between weapon tube (1) and projectile (8) must be ensured. The invention provides for another option of reducing the wear on the driving band (9). Increasing the number of rifling grooves (3) on the tube inside wall (2) reduces the frictional stress that occurs on the driving band (9). This new type of design for the rifling groove flanks (5), formed between a groove bottom (7) of rifling groove (3) and a lands (4) between the rifling grooves (3), reduces the total wear volume on the driving band (9). In this case, the rifling flanks (5) extend nearly perpendicular to the rifling groove bottom (7).

Abstract: The construction and arrangement of the projectile bearing surface interfaces rearward and forward of a recessed surface chamber of the projectile interface conjointly with the interfaces of bore wall areas segmented by recessed bore chambers which in conjunction effect the deployment/transport/dispersement/development/modulation and transformation of explosive propellant charges sequentially primed and activated rearward and forwardly of the projectile along the bore and in bore wall chambers captively converting high static gas pressure to expansively relieved dynamic propellant gas pressure directly at the projectile reducing firearm barrel recoil while energizing projectile movement along the bore in a closed-system of thermodynamic propellant energy for free flight purposes.

Abstract: An automatic revolver has a body, a barrel arranged in the body and having an inner passage provided with a thread-like formation, an ammunition-containing element from which a bullet is displaced into the barrel, the barrel being turnable relative to the body so that when a bullet passes through the barrel and rotates in one direction, the barrels is rotated by a reactive moment in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A substantially nonbonded composite/metallic gun barrel is disclosed. The gun barrel has a metallic liner and a composite casing disposed thereabout. Unlike composite/metallic gun barrels of the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention provide little if any bonding between the composite casing and the metallic liner so as to decrease the warping of the gun barrel caused by the differing thermal expansion coefficients of the composite material and the metallic liner. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a short binding layer is used to hold the composite casing to the metallic liner adjacent the chamber which holds a cartridge to be fired. The short layer prevents rotation of the casing and the liner with respect to one another, while preventing little risk of warping. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a holding pin is inserted in the gun barrel to prevent the metallic liner and the composite casing from rotating relative one another.

Abstract: A gun barrel for a gun has an elongated tube with an axial bore extending completely through the tube from the breech end to the muzzle end. The tube and the contact surface in the axial bore, which contains propellant gasses behind the projectile and engages the projectile while guiding it toward the target, are made of Nitinol having a transition temperature lower than the lowest ambient temperature at which a gun with the barrel is designed to be operated, or of a Nitinol formulation consisting essentially of 60% nickel and 40% titanium. A first sleeve may be mechanically coupled to the barrel tube by shape memory contraction thereon to prestress the barrel tube in compression.

Abstract: A muzzle-loading rifle having vents cut into the barrel near its muzzle. The rifling is timed with respect to the placement of the vents such that all vents are located within the rifling grooves. Depending on the number and size of the vents, the rifling grooves may be relatively wide and the rifling twist relatively slow to ensure that all vents remain in the rifling grooves.

Abstract: The construction and arrangement of projectile bearing surface interfaces rearward and forward of a recessed surface chamber of the projectile interface conjointly with the interfaces of bore wall areas segmented by recessed bore chambers which in conjunction effect the deployment/transport/dispersement/development/modulation and transformation of explosive propellant charges sequentially primed and activated rearward and forwardly of the projectile along the bore and in bore wall chambers captively converting high static gas pressure to expansively relieved dynamic propellant gas pressure directly at the projectile reducing firearm barrel recoil while energizing projectile movement along the bore in a closed-system of thermodynamic propellant energy for free flight purposes.

Abstract: A projectile for an industrial ballistic tool is formed from zinc or a zinc based alloy. The projectile has symmetry about a longitudinal axis and a rear portion of the projectile engages rifling, either within the barrel of the industrial ballistic tool or in a rifled extension, imparting ballistic stability. The projectile is particularly suited for high temperature industrial applications, such as removal of "clinkers" from cement kilns or lime kilns or removal of a plug when tapping an electric arc furnace, as used in the manufacture of metallic alloys such as ferrosilicon. The vaporization temperature of the projectile is sufficiently low that after effecting removal of the clinker or plug, the projectile vaporizes and does not contaminate the kiln, furnace or end product such as lime, cement or metallic alloy.

Abstract: A barrel for a muzzle loading firearm. The inner cylindrical surface which defines the bore of the barrel has a main portion which is provided with rifling and a muzzle portion which is integral with the main portion which extends from the main portion to the muzzle opening. The muzzle portion of the inner cylindrical surface has a diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the main portion of the inner cylindrical surface. The barrel of the present invention is made by drilling a cylindrical bore along a longitudinal axis of a solid barrel stock and forming rifling along the inner cylindrical surface which defines the bore with the use of a traditional rifling tool. A counterboring tool is then inserted to the muzzle opening to enlarge the muzzle end of the bore to form the muzzle portion of the inner cylindrical surface.

Abstract: Rifling for the barrel of a firearm includes a first gain twist region for increasing the rotational velocity of a bullet as it travels from the breech towards the muzzle end of the barrel, and a second region in which the rifling is of a constant twist so that the bullet exits the muzzle end of the barrel at a constant rotational velocity. The bore defined in the barrel is tapered in a direction from the breech end to the muzzle end so that the diameter of the muzzle opening of the barrel is less than the diameter of the breech opening. The angle of the rifling is variable with the rate of the gain twist of the rifling. The gain twist of the rifling in the barrel is formed by a button, preferably having a sinusoidal shaped periphery, which is pulled through the barrel during the manufacturing process. The smooth periphery of the button prevents shredding of the barrel when the button is twisted at different speeds to provide the variable gain twist of the rifling in different sections of the barrel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fire arm industry and more particularly to a system that impresses a bar type code into the lead bullet that has been fired from a gun. The identifying markings are placed on the gun barrel lands with as little visibility as possible but enough to form the code to identify the fired bullet as being from one specific handgun or rifle. The code markings may be placed on the barrel, without effecting its operation in any way. The microscopic identifying code markings are impressed in to the surface of the lands of the gun barrel and when the firearm is fired the force of the firing forms this particular gun's code on the bullet. These identifying code markings may be placed at the intersection of the chamber and the barrel so that when a bulletted cartridge is placed in the chamber and the gun is fired, the code marks are encoded on both the neck of the brass and the lead bullet surface, forming identical codes.

Abstract: A muzzle-loading firearm designed to utilize an ignition device carrier and to discharge projectiles having pre-cut rifling. The ignition device carrier serves to facilitate easy installation and removal of the primer or percussion cap required to discharge the firearm in addition to protecting both the primer from inclement weather and the shooter from powder detonation. The carrier also provides a means for positive mechanical extraction of the ignition device from the weapon. Projectiles for the firearm have the rifling grooves cut into them by forcing the bullets through an engraving die fashioned from a portion of the rifle barrel or from a separate barrel of slightly different dimensions than the barrel of the weapon which will fire the projectiles.

Abstract: A tubular insert for a shotgun such as an over/under shotgun provides a chamber end portion with a smooth outer surface. In order to achieve a good fit between the tubular insert at the chamber end portion and the shotgun barrel at its breech, a polymeric disk member is mounted in a correspondingly sized and shaped socket milled into outer surface of the chamber end portion of the tubular insert. The polymeric disk member extends a distance away from the outer surface of the chamber end portion to create a slight interference fit between the shotgun barrel bore at the breech and the tubular insert at its chamber end portion.

Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a muzzle, a breech, a chamber at the breech and a rifling, formed of alternating lands and grooves, extending along an interior of the weapon barrel. The lands have a hardened surface to a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The hardened surface extends along a barrel length portion which includes the muzzle.