A propellant composition comprises a propellant solvent, a propellant base, and a plurality of metal nanoparticles. A powder or dried propellant composition is formed by removing at least a portion of the propellant solvent. The metal nanoparticles of the plurality of metal nanoparticles are nonionic. The plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration.

A propellant composition comprises a propellant solvent, a propellant base, and a plurality of metal nanoparticles. A powder or dried propellant composition is formed by removing at least a portion of the propellant solvent. The metal nanoparticles of the plurality of metal nanoparticles are nonionic. The plurality of metal nanoparticles functions to reduce visible light output by the propellant composition during deflagration.

A mass reducing projectile is provided. The mass reducing projectile includes a shell, one or more weights, and a low melt fusible alloy. The one or more weights are disposed within the shell. The low melt fusible alloy is disposed within the shell so as to encase the one or more weights within the shell.

A mass reducing projectile is provided. The mass reducing projectile includes a shell, one or more weights, and a low melt fusible alloy. The one or more weights are disposed within the shell. The low melt fusible alloy is disposed within the shell so as to encase the one or more weights within the shell.

Development of different inorganic materials, having the capacity to generate visible colors when excited in the infrared region, which can be used to determine the origin of explosives, fuses and ammunition, even after detonation, and in weapons and metal projectiles, thus serving as a safety marking tool thereof. The following were developed: LaNbO.sub.4 (called Mark1), BiVO.sub.4, Sr.sub.3V.sub.2O.sub.8 and YNbO.sub.4 (called Mark2), doped with different rare earth ions (erbium, ytterbium, holmium and thulium). The markers were physically inserted inside the explosives and in the gunpowder and by carburizing and forging in steel or metal alloy, with which the weapon or metal projectile is manufactured. The parameter used to demonstrate the presence of the markers in the products, after detonation or scraping of the weapon, was the verification of the color identity of the marker fluorescence, before and after, via laser in the infrared region.

The present invention relates to a granulated block propellant device for firearms that is comprised of a generally rectangular body that has a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface, in addition to a set and a second set of generally parallel side surfaces. In differing embodiments, the body may be in the form of an axial slab body, a radial disc body, or a concentric-wrapped body. The body is further comprised of at least one perforation that can be arranged in a plurality of configurations. The body may also be comprised of at least one partial cut on a surface of the body that does not have the plurality of configurations. In one embodiment, the device can be placed in the casing of a projectile and used as a propellant. Multiple devices may also be stacked atop one another within a projectile casing.

The present invention relates to a granulated block propellant device for firearms that is comprised of a generally rectangular body that has a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface, in addition to a set and a second set of generally parallel side surfaces. In differing embodiments, the body may be in the form of an axial slab body, a radial disc body, or a concentric-wrapped body. The body is further comprised of at least one perforation that can be arranged in a plurality of configurations. The body may also be comprised of at least one partial cut on a surface of the body that does not have the plurality of configurations. In one embodiment, the device can be placed in the casing of a projectile and used as a propellant. Multiple devices may also be stacked atop one another within a projectile casing.

A low energy cartridge has a case having a sidewall with an interior surface defining a projectile receptacle along a bore axis and having a forward open case mouth, a projectile having an exterior sidewall closely received in the projectile receptacle and defining a rotational axis, a propellant receptacle defined by the case and having a passage communicating with the projectile receptacle, the projectile exterior sidewall being non-circular in cross section across the rotational axis, and the case sidewall interior surface having a rotational engagement feature configured to rotationally engage the non-circular projectile exterior sidewall. The projectile may be slidably received in the projectile receptacle for propulsion from the forward open case mouth. At least one of the projectile and the sidewall interior surface may have a helical surface feature, such that spin is imparted to the projectile upon propulsion from the case.

A low energy cartridge has a case having a sidewall with an interior surface defining a projectile receptacle along a bore axis and having a forward open case mouth, a projectile having an exterior sidewall closely received in the projectile receptacle and defining a rotational axis, a propellant receptacle defined by the case and having a passage communicating with the projectile receptacle, the projectile exterior sidewall being non-circular in cross section across the rotational axis, and the case sidewall interior surface having a rotational engagement feature configured to rotationally engage the non-circular projectile exterior sidewall. The projectile may be slidably received in the projectile receptacle for propulsion from the forward open case mouth. At least one of the projectile and the sidewall interior surface may have a helical surface feature, such that spin is imparted to the projectile upon propulsion from the case.

Disclosed is a cartridge case for various caliber ammunition that consists essentially of a powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy that is formed into the cartridge case through an injection mold processing. Also disclosed is a method for forming a cartridge case, which may include use of Metal Injection Molding (“MIM”) processes to produce the cartridge case which retains a primer, propellant, and/or a bullet. The method can include metal injection molding an initial part, and also at least one of tapering and trimming the initial part to form the finished cartridge case. Further embodiments can include the use of Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis to develop an optimized MIM design.