One embodiment of the present invention provides a polymeric ammunition cartridge and methods of making and using the same. The cartridge includes a substantially cylindrical insert connected to a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body. The substantially cylindrical insert includes a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash hole positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface. The substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body includes a substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end and a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end connected by a powder chamber, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end extends over the substantially cylindrical coupling element and covers a circumferential surface of the primer flash hole.

Lightweight polymer ammunition cartridge casings

A method of making an ammunition article and associated ammunition article is provided. The ammunition article is interchangeable with standard ammunition articles and to operate in standard chambers of standard weapons systems and of the type having a casing including a sidewall that defines a casing volume within. The method includes determining a desired propellant charge volume for a given ammunition article, determining a thickness of the casing sidewall such that the casing volume substantially corresponds to the desired propellant charge volume, and forming the casing having the determined thickness.

Ammunition articles and methods for making the same

An ammunition cartridge casing having a geometry designed to allow for the use of polymeric materials in forming the walls of the cartridge casing of an ammunition article, and methods of reusing such cartridges are provided. More specifically, the ammunition cartridge has a specified ratio between the wall-thicknesses of select portions of an ammunition article's cartridge casing such that polymeric materials may be used in the construction of the ammunition article cartridge casings.

Polymeric Ammunition Casing Geometry

Two methods of making subsonic ammunition articles are provided that size the cavity to the propellant charge. The first method includes molding a core sleeve comprised of a unified neck, cavity sized to the propellant charge volume and a trailing end with an ejector ring, primer seat and flash hole; then, molding a polymer based casing over the core sleeve except the neck and a portion of the trailing end; then, inserting the primer, propellant charge and projectile; thereby, completing a subsonic ammunition article with a rigid core and a polymer casing. The second method includes injection molding a polymer sleeve within the casing of an ammunition article around a core pull positioned within the casing to form a thicker casing wall and a propellant cavity the volume of which corresponds to a desired propellant charge.

Subsonic ammunication articles having a rigid outer casing or rigid inner core and methods for making the same

The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition including a polymeric casing body comprising a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body having a body base at a first end thereof and a mouth at a second end to define a propellant chamber; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber, wherein the propellant chamber has an internal volume that is at least 10% less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber; a propellant disposed and confined within the propellant chamber; a primer insert positioned at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber; a primer disposed in the primer insert in combustible communication with the propellant; and a projectile frictionally fitted in the mouth in combustible communication with the propellant.

Subsonic polymeric ammunition

A subsonic ammunition cartridge casing having an engineered internal volume designed to allow for the introduction of precisely the amount of propellant necessary at precisely the desired location to reproducibly produce the desired projectile velocity and internal pressure is provided. The subsonic shell casing has an engineered internal propellant cavity built into the internal body of the casing itself that does not necessarily depend on the introduction of a separate volume reducing device such as tubing, filler, foam filler and the like. This ensures the integrity of the case, does not result in anything being expelled through the muzzle of the weapon other than the projectile, does not have any burning or combusting components, allows for very precise control of the internal volume and thus chamber pressure, and is economical to produce.

Subsonic Ammunition Casing

Polymeric ammunition casings having engineered neck geometries, and methods of forming such ammunition are provided. In particular embodiments, both the internal and external neck geometries are engineered to provide even greater improvement of the accuracy and consistency of the ammunition.

Engineered neck angle ammunition casing

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing subsonic ammunition articles from conventional supersonic ammunition articles are provided. The apparatus includes devices for controllably introducing a filler material to reduce the inner volume of a conventional supersonic ammunition article. Method are also provided for converting a conventional supersonic ammunition article to a subsonic ammunition article including defining a new subsonic propellant volume within said conventional supersonic ammunition article and controllably introducing a filler material therearound.

John Francis Bosarge

Papers

Subsonic Ammunition Casing

Engineered neck angle ammunition casing

Method for producing subsonic ammunition casing