Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.

Shot projectiles are disclosed that are not completely spherical. The shot has an equatorial ring, top and bottom poles, and one or more sections extending between the ring and the respective poles. The ring defines a vertical height relative to an overall diameter of the projectile. The one or more sections provide flat, concave, or convex surfaces.

Shot projectiles are disclosed that are not completely spherical. The shot has an equatorial ring, top and bottom poles, and one or more sections extending between the ring and the respective poles. The ring defines a vertical height relative to an overall diameter of the projectile. The one or more sections provide flat, concave, or convex surfaces.

A two piece aerodynamic pusher consisting of a body and tailpiece. This pusher fits into a standard 40 mm cartridge case by means of three sabots. After the cartridge case is functioned, the combustion gases push the projectile forward and ignite a delay column located in the rear of the pusher. Upon muzzle exit, the sabots discard and the pusher continues down range as the delay column burns. Once the delay has burned, a charge located in the pusher body is ignited, pushing the payload out of the front of the projectile. The cap pops off, and the pellets are dispersed. This effectively moves the payload release point from the muzzle until a designated point down range based on the delay length.

A two piece aerodynamic pusher consisting of a body and tailpiece. This pusher fits into a standard 40 mm cartridge case by means of three sabots. After the cartridge case is functioned, the combustion gases push the projectile forward and ignite a delay column located in the rear of the pusher. Upon muzzle exit, the sabots discard and the pusher continues down range as the delay column burns. Once the delay has burned, a charge located in the pusher body is ignited, pushing the payload out of the front of the projectile. The cap pops off, and the pellets are dispersed. This effectively moves the payload release point from the muzzle until a designated point down range based on the delay length.

A process of cleaning the surface of lead or steel shot in a drum system and increasing the surface area to allow epoxy to adhere to the surface and spraying and cooking the paint to the surface with a spray gun in the drum system.

Disclosed are ammunition and ammunition tracking systems. The ammunition and ammunition tracking system may include a first projectile and a marker. The marker may be associated with the first projectile. The marker may contain a unique signature such that the first projectile may be identifiable from a second projectile.

A shotgun shell has a polymer wad with a forward shot cup portion and a rearward propellant cup, the wad in a casing, shot in the shot cup, propellant in the propellant cup, and a primer in a head of the casing. The propellant cup having a plurality of fins extending rearwardly that open to a deployed position upon firing and the shot cup having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially aligned linear slit segments that permit air to circulate and permit expansion of the shot cup.

The present invention is directed to a projectile configured to provide a submunition payload across a wide impact pattern, similar to that of a shotgun, at a range typically beyond the capability of standard shotgun rounds. The additional range is provided in some embodiments of the invention by allowing the tailoring deployment range of the submunition payload based upon a given threat.

Disclosed are processes for loading a cartridge such as a shot shell with a shot load and a charge of buffer material. The processes employ a tube that is coaxially aligned with the axis of the cartridge case or shot cup, the tube having an outer diameter that closely fits into the inner diameter of the cartridge case or shot cup. Shot and buffer material are loaded, the leading edge of the tube is inserted to a sufficient depth to cause at least a portion of the shot load and buffer material to rise into the inner volume of the tube, and the tube removed. The insertion-removal cycle effects the efficient mixing of the shot and the buffer material and can be repeated as many times as desired.