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.

The invention relates to a shotgun cartridge comprising a case (12) of internal diameter d.sub.INT and a base (14) with a primer (16), the powder (18), a wad (22) and the shot (24), as well as an obturator (20) arranged between the powder (18) and the wad (22), characterized in that the obturator (20) is made of biodegradable material with plastic deformation properties, and comprises a central disk (25) and ribs (26) together forming a one-piece element with the disk, the assembly having an outer diameter d.sub.EXT, the ribs (26) comprising upper ribs (27) and lower ribs (28), these ribs (26) forming a non-zero angle with the plane of the disk (25), the obturator having a nominal outer diameter d.sub.EXT, the ribs being able to take at least one other position in which said ribs (26) are in the plane of the disk (25), the outer diameter being D.sub.EXT. The invention also concerns a method for producing a shotgun cartridge.

The invention relates to a shotgun cartridge comprising a case (12) of internal diameter d.sub.INT and a base (14) with a primer (16), the powder (18), a wad (22) and the shot (24), as well as an obturator (20) arranged between the powder (18) and the wad (22), characterized in that the obturator (20) is made of biodegradable material with plastic deformation properties, and comprises a central disk (25) and ribs (26) together forming a one-piece element with the disk, the assembly having an outer diameter d.sub.EXT, the ribs (26) comprising upper ribs (27) and lower ribs (28), these ribs (26) forming a non-zero angle with the plane of the disk (25), the obturator having a nominal outer diameter d.sub.EXT, the ribs being able to take at least one other position in which said ribs (26) are in the plane of the disk (25), the outer diameter being D.sub.EXT. The invention also concerns a method for producing a shotgun cartridge.

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.

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.

An obturator for a projectile cartridge, such as a shotgun cartridge includes multiple seals that serve to prevent gas leakage past the obturator when the cartridge is fired, which in turn ensures more constant firing characteristics from one cartridge to the next. The obturator can be used in place of a powder card in a fibre wad based cartridge or it can be used a component part of a plastic wad in a plastic wad based cartridge, with both applications demonstrating improved gas sealing qualities. An associate method of manufacturing projectile cartridges with more constant ballistic characteristics is also provided.

An obturator for a projectile cartridge, such as a shotgun cartridge includes multiple seals that serve to prevent gas leakage past the obturator when the cartridge is fired, which in turn ensures more constant firing characteristics from one cartridge to the next. The obturator can be used in place of a powder card in a fibre wad based cartridge or it can be used a component part of a plastic wad in a plastic wad based cartridge, with both applications demonstrating improved gas sealing qualities. An associate method of manufacturing projectile cartridges with more constant ballistic characteristics is also provided.

A less lethal projectile system is revealed. The less lethal projectile system includes an outer shell and a projectile. A rimfire blank mounting slot is arranged at a rear end of the outer shell and offsetting a center of the outer shell. A rimfire blank is mounted in the rimfire blank mounting slot. A firing pin of a launcher strikes an edge of the rimfire blank eccentrically to push the projectile out. When the projectile is fired and reached a target, the projectile is broken and effective compositions loaded therein is scattered. The projectile is less lethal and getting broken easily for allowing the effective compositions loaded in the projectile to be spread out within a certain range.

A less lethal projectile system is revealed. The less lethal projectile system includes an outer shell and a projectile. A rimfire blank mounting slot is arranged at a rear end of the outer shell and offsetting a center of the outer shell. A rimfire blank is mounted in the rimfire blank mounting slot. A firing pin of a launcher strikes an edge of the rimfire blank eccentrically to push the projectile out. When the projectile is fired and reached a target, the projectile is broken and effective compositions loaded therein is scattered. The projectile is less lethal and getting broken easily for allowing the effective compositions loaded in the projectile to be spread out within a certain range.