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.

A rocket motor for a gun-fired projectile is configured stiffen the burnable propellant in the rocket motor during burning and/or protect the rocket motor from the pressure that occurs during firing of the projectile from the gun. The rocket motor may include a rigid structure that is integrated into the burnable propellant grain to stabilize the burnable propellant grain during burning of the burnable propellant grain. The rigid structure has a matrix or truss-like shape that extends into the depth of the burnable propellant grain. The rocket motor may include a baffled end cap that covers a nozzle of the rocket motor. The end cap defines a baffled path through the end cap to dampen gas flow into the nozzle and prevent particles of the gun propellant from entering the rocket motor. A rocket motor may implement the rigid structure or the baffled end cap, or both structures.

A rocket motor for a gun-fired projectile is configured stiffen the burnable propellant in the rocket motor during burning and/or protect the rocket motor from the pressure that occurs during firing of the projectile from the gun. The rocket motor may include a rigid structure that is integrated into the burnable propellant grain to stabilize the burnable propellant grain during burning of the burnable propellant grain. The rigid structure has a matrix or truss-like shape that extends into the depth of the burnable propellant grain. The rocket motor may include a baffled end cap that covers a nozzle of the rocket motor. The end cap defines a baffled path through the end cap to dampen gas flow into the nozzle and prevent particles of the gun propellant from entering the rocket motor. A rocket motor may implement the rigid structure or the baffled end cap, or both structures.

A non-lethal projectile formed by a front shell, with a hemispherical nose and a cylindrical shaft, and a base at the tail. The hemispherical nose has three or more bi-planar grooves, originating along the junction of the hemispherical nose and cylindrical shaft, extending toward the nose in an inward whorled manner, and terminating around the apex of the hemisphere. The grooves cause the projectile to spin, thereby creating a stabilizing gyroscopic effect when launched. The projectile's base has a domed shape. The convex inner surface of the dome has a profile complimentary to the hemispherical nose of the shell so that multiple projectiles may nest nose to tail when loaded into a multiple round magazine. The convex tail design moves the center of gravity forward and increases the aerodynamic stability and accuracy of the projectile.

A non-lethal projectile formed by a front shell, with a hemispherical nose and a cylindrical shaft, and a base at the tail. The hemispherical nose has three or more bi-planar grooves, originating along the junction of the hemispherical nose and cylindrical shaft, extending toward the nose in an inward whorled manner, and terminating around the apex of the hemisphere. The grooves cause the projectile to spin, thereby creating a stabilizing gyroscopic effect when launched. The projectile's base has a domed shape. The convex inner surface of the dome has a profile complimentary to the hemispherical nose of the shell so that multiple projectiles may nest nose to tail when loaded into a multiple round magazine. The convex tail design moves the center of gravity forward and increases the aerodynamic stability and accuracy of the projectile.

In various embodiments, a projectile includes a projectile body including a tail portion, a nose portion, a barrel engaging portion between the nose portion and the tail portion, and a metal jacket that defines an exterior of the projectile that surrounds an interior solid core. In one or more embodiments the projectile includes one or more circumferential grooves defined in the interior core portion, each of the one or more circumferential grooves covered by and positioned adjacent to the metal jacket and within the barrel-engaging portion. In various embodiments, during firing of the projectile, the one or more circumferential grooves define a void that allows material of one or more of the metal jacket and interior solid core to displace into the void for reduction in radial stiffness to the projectile in the barrel engaging portion.

In various embodiments, a projectile includes a projectile body including a tail portion, a nose portion, a barrel engaging portion between the nose portion and the tail portion, and a metal jacket that defines an exterior of the projectile that surrounds an interior solid core. In one or more embodiments the projectile includes one or more circumferential grooves defined in the interior core portion, each of the one or more circumferential grooves covered by and positioned adjacent to the metal jacket and within the barrel-engaging portion. In various embodiments, during firing of the projectile, the one or more circumferential grooves define a void that allows material of one or more of the metal jacket and interior solid core to displace into the void for reduction in radial stiffness to the projectile in the barrel engaging portion.

Composite projectiles include various material compositions, diameters, and cavities within the projectiles having a variety of cavity diameters, sidewalls, and bottoms selected and formed to induce different levels of penetration and disintegration of the composite projectiles upon impact with targets.

A sub-mass projectile for a standard, unmodified firearm, comprising a core formed from a malleable core material with at least a portion of the core material being a non-metal material. The core has a lower mass than a standard projectile for the standard, unmodified firearm. The core material has a mass and malleability that generates forces between the sub-mass projectile and the firearm that approximate operational forces of a standard mass projectile on the standard, unmodified firearm during operation.

A sub-mass projectile for a standard, unmodified firearm, comprising a core formed from a malleable core material with at least a portion of the core material being a non-metal material. The core has a lower mass than a standard projectile for the standard, unmodified firearm. The core material has a mass and malleability that generates forces between the sub-mass projectile and the firearm that approximate operational forces of a standard mass projectile on the standard, unmodified firearm during operation.