A sub-projectile carrier which uses aerodynamic drag to delay the release of a payload in a tailorable manner to control the spread of the payload over a desired range. A 40 mm shotgun style cartridge is shown for use for counter unmanned aerial systems, and for short range anti-personnel applications.

A sub-projectile carrier which uses aerodynamic drag to delay the release of a payload in a tailorable manner to control the spread of the payload over a desired range. A 40 mm shotgun style cartridge is shown for use for counter unmanned aerial systems, and for short range anti-personnel applications.

A projectile comprising a central slug axially circumscribed by a segmented cylindrical sleeve having a plurality of fragmenting segments and a base that opens into an interior cavity. A flange may circumscribe the base. A wad may fill the interior cavity, remaining attached to the central slug. The wad travels with projectile to set a geometric center behind the center of gravity of the projectile. A radially-segmented cylindrical sleeve receives the central slug. The cylindrical sleeve comprises inwardly sloping segments for funneling target material into the recess between the slug and cylindrical sleeve. The segments bend outwardly upon impact and are adapted to bend, compress or flex inwardly to pass through a muzzle choke.

A projectile comprising a central slug axially circumscribed by a segmented cylindrical sleeve having a plurality of fragmenting segments and a base that opens into an interior cavity. A flange may circumscribe the base. A wad may fill the interior cavity, remaining attached to the central slug. The wad travels with projectile to set a geometric center behind the center of gravity of the projectile. A radially-segmented cylindrical sleeve receives the central slug. The cylindrical sleeve comprises inwardly sloping segments for funneling target material into the recess between the slug and cylindrical sleeve. The segments bend outwardly upon impact and are adapted to bend, compress or flex inwardly to pass through a muzzle choke.

A handgun shot shell includes a bullet case configured to include a body portion and a neck portion extending upwardly from the body portion, the bullet case including a closed bottom end and a mouth opposite the bottom end that is open. A primer is situated in the bottom end and a propellant is situated in the interior area of the bullet case upwardly adjacent the primer. A shot cup is in the bullet case and the shot cup defines an interior space. A projectile load is positioned in the shot cup, the shot cup having an upper end sealed by a gas check member situated over the projectile load. A cap member of epoxy is positioned atop the mouth of the bullet case that includes one of a first indicia indicative that the projectile material is bird shot or a second indicia indicative that the projectile material is buckshot.

A handgun shot shell includes a bullet case configured to include a body portion and a neck portion extending upwardly from the body portion, the bullet case including a closed bottom end and a mouth opposite the bottom end that is open. A primer is situated in the bottom end and a propellant is situated in the interior area of the bullet case upwardly adjacent the primer. A shot cup is in the bullet case and the shot cup defines an interior space. A projectile load is positioned in the shot cup, the shot cup having an upper end sealed by a gas check member situated over the projectile load. A cap member of epoxy is positioned atop the mouth of the bullet case that includes one of a first indicia indicative that the projectile material is bird shot or a second indicia indicative that the projectile material is buckshot.

Described are spherical projectiles such as used in birdshot, buckshot, or single ball spherical projectiles, including slugs, muzzle loading projectiles, or any close-to-bore diameter projectile, that is auto-segmenting or self-segmenting upon impact with a target. The projectile or shot disclosed herein retains its shape and structure during flight until impact with soft tissue, whereupon its individual sections separate or segment in a controllable manner, each portion of the projectile imparting or depositing a high amount energy to the tissue and target. The auto-segmenting spherical projectiles can be frangible or non-frangible. This disclosure also provides cartridges such as shotshells that are loaded with the projectiles described herein.

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.

A sound suppressor for a firearm having one or more barrels, with at least one projectile pathway and with one or more choke-like connectors for insertion into at least one barrel of the firearm.