Herein we describe cartridges, including for shotgun shells, utilizing a particulate obturating medium to provide a gas seal. The obturating medium comprises particles having an average particle size greater than 212 microns, and an average specific gravity greater than 1.1. Such cartridges are particularly useful as shotshell cartridges used as blanks, less lethal loads, hunting loads, target loads, and barrel-cleaning loads. Methods for loading and use are described, as well as different particulate obturating media.

Herein we describe cartridges, including for shotgun shells, utilizing a particulate obturating medium to provide a gas seal. The obturating medium comprises particles having an average particle size greater than 212 microns, and an average specific gravity greater than 1.1. Such cartridges are particularly useful as shotshell cartridges used as blanks, less lethal loads, hunting loads, target loads, and barrel-cleaning loads. Methods for loading and use are described, as well as different particulate obturating media.

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.

A shot shell includes a cartridge (also referred herein as a hull), a primer, gunpowder, a tungsten propulsion system wadding, shot pellets having a first size, and shot pellets having a second size that is larger than the first size, and a 5-8 star crimp on an upper portion of the plastic cartridge. It has been found that there are advantages to loading smaller shot (preferably 3 shot or 4 shot) first, and then loading larger shot (preferably 1 shot or 2 shot) so that the larger shot leaves the cartridge first when the shot shell is fired. In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge contains 40% to 60% large shot, and the remainder of shot pellets in the cartridge is smaller shot. In an alternate embodiment, the large shot may be loaded first, and the smaller shot loaded last, so that the smaller shot leaves the shot shell first.

A shot shell includes a cartridge (also referred herein as a hull), a primer, gunpowder, a tungsten propulsion system wadding, shot pellets having a first size, and shot pellets having a second size that is larger than the first size, and a 5-8 star crimp on an upper portion of the plastic cartridge. It has been found that there are advantages to loading smaller shot (preferably 3 shot or 4 shot) first, and then loading larger shot (preferably 1 shot or 2 shot) so that the larger shot leaves the cartridge first when the shot shell is fired. In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge contains 40% to 60% large shot, and the remainder of shot pellets in the cartridge is smaller shot. In an alternate embodiment, the large shot may be loaded first, and the smaller shot loaded last, so that the smaller shot leaves the shot shell first.

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.

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.

Accessories may be mounted using a quick-detachable multi-purpose accessory mounting platform. The platform may include one or more clamps to receive an object, such as a firearm. The platform also may include at least one recessed mounting pad, at least one rear shelf, and other surfaces to provide different mounting points for accessories.

Accessories may be mounted using a quick-detachable multi-purpose accessory mounting platform. The platform may include one or more clamps to receive an object, such as a firearm. The platform also may include at least one recessed mounting pad, at least one rear shelf, and other surfaces to provide different mounting points for accessories.

Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from compacted metal powders that may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted metal powders may be or include a compacted mixture of metal powders that may include powders of one or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, copper, tungsten, nickel, boron, and/or alloys thereof, and/or oxides thereof. The compacted mixture may be 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. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.