One embodiment of the present invention provides a polymeric ammunition cartridge and methods of making and using the same. The cartridge includes a substantially cylindrical insert connected to a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body. The substantially cylindrical insert includes a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash hole positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface. The substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body includes a substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end and a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end connected by a powder chamber, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end extends over the substantially cylindrical coupling element and covers a circumferential surface of the primer flash hole.

The present invention provides a method of coding polymer ammunition cartridges by providing a first colored polymer forming a polymeric bullet-end upper portion comprising a bullet-end coupling element extending to a bullet-end aperture to engage a bullet; providing a second colored polymer forming a polymeric middle body comprising a first coupling end connected to the bullet-end coupling element and a second coupling end connected to a primer insert to form a propellant chamber that connects the bullet-end aperture to the primer insert; and coding the first colored polymer, the second colored polymer or both to identify a projectile type, an ammunition type, a propellant charge, or a combination thereof.

The present invention provides a polymer ammunition cartridge having a primer insert having: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; a coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, wherein the coupling element comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises: a transition region that transitions from the bottom surface to a second segment wherein the transition region has a radius of from 0.1 to 0.2; a first segment extending from the second segment and terminates at a tip, wherein the first segment has a first segment distance from 0.06 to 0.14 inches and the second segment has a second segment distance from 0.05 to 0.15 inches, wherein the second segment has a second segment angle from +3 to −3 degrees relative to the first segment angle and the first segment has a first segment angle from +6 to −6 degrees from perpendicular to the top surface; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface; a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; and a flash aperture groove in the primer recess and positioned around the primer flash aperture and adapted to receive a polymer overmolding through the primer flash aperture.

The present invention provides a polymer ammunition cartridge having a primer insert having: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; a coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, wherein the coupling element comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises: a transition region that transitions from the bottom surface to a second segment wherein the transition region has a radius of from 0.1 to 0.2; a first segment extending from the second segment and terminates at a tip, wherein the first segment has a first segment distance from 0.06 to 0.14 inches and the second segment has a second segment distance from 0.05 to 0.15 inches, wherein the second segment has a second segment angle from +3 to −3 degrees relative to the first segment angle and the first segment has a first segment angle from +6 to −6 degrees from perpendicular to the top surface; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface; a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; and a flash aperture groove in the primer recess and positioned around the primer flash aperture and adapted to receive a polymer overmolding through the primer flash aperture.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having wicking texturing about the projectile aperture.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having wicking texturing about the projectile aperture.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having wicking texturing about the projectile aperture.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having wicking texturing about the projectile aperture.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a stamped metal primer insert for a polymeric ammunition cartridge comprising: a top surface having a stamped flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface; a stamped coupling element that extends from the flange to a coupling tip; a stamped inner coupling element from the coupling tip to a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is opposite the top surface; a stamped primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface; a primer flash aperture in the primer recess through the bottom surface; and a groove stamped in the primer recess around the primer flash aperture adapted to receive a polymer overmolding.

The present invention provides an injection molded primer insert for polymer ammunition comprising: a top surface opposite a bottom surface; a primer flash hole aperture positioned in the top surface extending through to the bottom surface; a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming an interior surface inside the substantially cylindrical coupling element and an exterior surface; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface, wherein the flange is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding.