The present invention relates to increasing the flight stability of a bullet in subsonic flight. The bullet may incorporate features that impart additional angular momentum during flight. Helical fins may be configured such that laminar airflow over the bullet during flight increases rotational forces, thus increasing the angular momentum of the bullet and stabilizing it during flight. The fins may be self-forming during the use of the bullet or may be formed during manufacturing.

The present invention relates to increasing the flight stability of a bullet in subsonic flight. The bullet may incorporate features that impart additional angular momentum during flight. Helical fins may be configured such that laminar airflow over the bullet during flight increases rotational forces, thus increasing the angular momentum of the bullet and stabilizing it during flight. The fins may be self-forming during the use of the bullet or may be formed during manufacturing.

A projectile deployment system includes an entangling projectile having a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets. A projectile casing carries the entangling projectile and has a pair of sockets, each socket sized to carry one of the pellets. Each of the sockets is substantially parallel with the horizontal plane and at least a portion of each of the sockets is held at differing vertical elevations when the projectile launcher is held in the firing orientation. The sockets are oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile casing such that the pellets travel apart from one another as they are expelled from the projectile casing. A launcher carries the projectile casing and a selectively activatable pressure source is operably coupled to the projectile casing and is capable of expelling the entangling projectile from the projectile casing toward a subject.

A projectile deployment system includes an entangling projectile having a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets. A projectile casing carries the entangling projectile and has a pair of sockets, each socket sized to carry one of the pellets. Each of the sockets is substantially parallel with the horizontal plane and at least a portion of each of the sockets is held at differing vertical elevations when the projectile launcher is held in the firing orientation. The sockets are oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile casing such that the pellets travel apart from one another as they are expelled from the projectile casing. A launcher carries the projectile casing and a selectively activatable pressure source is operably coupled to the projectile casing and is capable of expelling the entangling projectile from the projectile casing toward a subject.

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.

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 less-lethal projectile include a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion can be a base member having a head, a waist, and a skirt configured to obturate a rifled barrel bore of an airgun. The front portion can be a hollow cylindrical cap sealingly engaged with the head such that the cap and the base member define an interior cavity in which a payload is received. The cap can include a plurality of fins and grooves configured to stabilize the projectile during flight toward a target and open without shattering the cap to release the payload from the cavity upon impact of the projectile with the target.

A less-lethal projectile include a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion can be a base member having a head, a waist, and a skirt configured to obturate a rifled barrel bore of an airgun. The front portion can be a hollow cylindrical cap sealingly engaged with the head such that the cap and the base member define an interior cavity in which a payload is received. The cap can include a plurality of fins and grooves configured to stabilize the projectile during flight toward a target and open without shattering the cap to release the payload from the cavity upon impact of the projectile with the target.

An indirect fire mission training round includes a projectile training shell having an outer periphery, a proximal end, and a distal end, the proximal end defining an interior chamber. The projectile training shell is configured to be inserted within a cavity of a projectile firing instrument. The round includes an interlock member configured to securely receive a proximal portion of a subsequent training round within the interior chamber of the projectile training shell. The round includes a resistance brake extending outward from the outer periphery and configured to contact a wall of the cavity of the firing instrument and provide resistance that secures the projectile training shell at a position within the cavity. The resistance break is selectively disengageable such that the position of the projectile training shell is adjustable.

An indirect fire mission training round includes a projectile training shell having an outer periphery, a proximal end, and a distal end, the proximal end defining an interior chamber. The projectile training shell is configured to be inserted within a cavity of a projectile firing instrument. The round includes an interlock member configured to securely receive a proximal portion of a subsequent training round within the interior chamber of the projectile training shell. The round includes a resistance brake extending outward from the outer periphery and configured to contact a wall of the cavity of the firing instrument and provide resistance that secures the projectile training shell at a position within the cavity. The resistance break is selectively disengageable such that the position of the projectile training shell is adjustable.