A firearm ammunition cartridge comprises a case having a substantially tubular body portion, an open leading end, and a trailing end defining a primer port. An insert is received within the case and extending along the body portion. The insert has an exterior surface conforming to an interior surface of the body portion and a central cavity extending along an axial dimension of the insert. The central cavity opens to the primer port at the trailing end of the case and to a leading end of the insert. A quantity of gunpowder is disposed within the central cavity, and a projectile is received and retained within the leading end of the case. The gunpowder is confined to a chamber comprising at least a portion of the central cavity between said case trailing end and the projectile.

A firearm ammunition cartridge comprises a case having a substantially tubular body portion, an open leading end, and a trailing end defining a primer port. An insert is received within the case and extending along the body portion. The insert has an exterior surface conforming to an interior surface of the body portion and a central cavity extending along an axial dimension of the insert. The central cavity opens to the primer port at the trailing end of the case and to a leading end of the insert. A quantity of gunpowder is disposed within the central cavity, and a projectile is received and retained within the leading end of the case. The gunpowder is confined to a chamber comprising at least a portion of the central cavity between said case trailing end and the projectile.

Ammunition cartridges for hunting big game with an AR15 rifle are provided while maintaining a size of the ammunition cartridge that permits multiple ammunition cartridges to be inserted into an AR15 rifle magazine in alternating side by side relation. Each cartridge has a rim diameter of 0.422 inches, extractor groove and a slight tapered main body base of 0.36°. In one embodiment, the main base body extends to form a cartridge with total length of 1.8 inches and nominal body taper of 0.020 inches to accept a bullet with a diameter of 0.400 inches. In other embodiments, the main body base extends to a shoulder and a neck to form a cartridge with a total length of 1.66 inches. The shoulder tapers to the neck at a 35° angle with a nominal body taper of 0.014 inches. These embodiments accept bullets with diameters of 0.277, 0.284 and 0.308 inches.

A high strength polymer-based cartridge has a polymer case with a mouth, a neck, a shoulder below the neck, and a body below the shoulder and having a case thickness (Tc). The body has a flat portion comprising a pull thickness (Tp), and a dip, closer to the shoulder than the flat portion and comprising a dip thickness (Tb). The cartridge can also include an insert attached to the polymer case opposite the shoulder. The insert can have a flat section contacting the flat portion and comprising an insert wall thickness (Ti), and a bulge engaging the dip to maintain the insert on the polymer case. Tc, Tp, Tb, and Ti are related by Tp+Tb+Ti=Tc. These variables also have ranges where Tp equals approximately 15-33% of Tc, Tb is greater than or equal to Tp, and Tc is a function of a loaded projectile.

A non-jacketed expandable bullet including a monolithic sintered body. The monolithic sintered body includes a base portion and a deformed hollow nose portion extending distally from a distal end of the base portion. Also, a method of manufacturing a non-jacketed expandable bullet including providing a monolithic sintered body including a base portion and a hollow peripheral portion extending distally from a distal end of the base portion and forming the hollow peripheral portion into the shape of a hollow tapered nose.

The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition cartridge 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 between 25 and 80% less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber; and a primer insert positioned at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber.

The present disclosure provides a projectile with a self-contained internal chamber. Reaction of propellant inside the internal chamber can generate high pressure and the resultant exhaust gases can be used for projectile linear acceleration, rotational acceleration or other purposes. Torque can be produced by exhausting the pressure via radially placed, tangential nozzles or other outlets and can be configured to induce sufficient projectile spin to stabilize the projectile without the need for barrel rifling. The internal chamber may be separate or integral to the projectile itself. The projectile may include two or more chambers or compartments internal to the chambers. The disclosed projectile allows for higher pressures in the internal chamber than in the barrel and greater flexibility on pressure manipulation in the barrel and the projectile, allowing for a more efficient propellant combustion and manipulation of projectile characteristics such as muzzle and rotational speeds.

The present disclosure provides a projectile with a self-contained internal chamber. Reaction of propellant inside the internal chamber can generate high pressure and the resultant exhaust gases can be used for projectile linear acceleration, rotational acceleration or other purposes. Torque can be produced by exhausting the pressure via radially placed, tangential nozzles or other outlets and can be configured to induce sufficient projectile spin to stabilize the projectile without the need for barrel rifling. The internal chamber may be separate or integral to the projectile itself. The projectile may include two or more chambers or compartments internal to the chambers. The disclosed projectile allows for higher pressures in the internal chamber than in the barrel and greater flexibility on pressure manipulation in the barrel and the projectile, allowing for a more efficient propellant combustion and manipulation of projectile characteristics such as muzzle and rotational speeds.

Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from a compacted mixture of metal powders that includes zinc and iron powders and which may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted mixture is heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. A majority component of the frangible firearm projectile may be iron. One or more of zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form a minority component of the frangible firearm projectile. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.

Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from a compacted mixture of metal powders that includes zinc and iron powders and which may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted mixture is heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. A majority component of the frangible firearm projectile may be iron. One or more of zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form a minority component of the frangible firearm projectile. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.