A system for firing reduced energy cartridges from a modern sporting rifle utilizes a bolt assembly weighing less than a conventional bolt assembly for such rifles and utilizes blow back for cycling the bolt assembly rather than gas operation. A bolt insert in a polymer bolt carrier of the bolt assembly has a projection that fits within a recess on the rear face of reduced energy cartridges. The reduced energy cartridges having a polymer casing, a rimfire power load for propellant, the power load recessed from the rear face of the casing. Tuning the bolt may comprise adjusting the weight of the bolt or the sliding resistance of the bolt assembly in the upper receiver. The bolt may be formed by metal injection molding with a polymer bolt carrier attached thereto.

Spotter ammunition projectiles adapted to be fired from a firearm, methods for making spotter ammunition projectiles, and spotter ammunition cartridges including spotter ammunition projectiles are provided. In one example, a spotter ammunition projectile includes a projectile body section extending in a distal direction to a body distal end portion. A projectile ogive is coupled to the body distal end portion and has an outer ogive surface that tapers in the distal direction towards a shoulder. The projectile ogive includes a post that is disposed adjacent to the shoulder and that extends therefrom in the distal direction. An ogive nose cap is disposed adjacent to the shoulder and covers the post. The post and the ogive nose cap are cooperatively configured to define a cavity therebetween. A pyrotechnic spotter composition is disposed in the cavity.

Spotter ammunition projectiles adapted to be fired from a firearm, methods for making spotter ammunition projectiles, and spotter ammunition cartridges including spotter ammunition projectiles are provided. In one example, a spotter ammunition projectile includes a projectile body section extending in a distal direction to a body distal end portion. A projectile ogive is coupled to the body distal end portion and has an outer ogive surface that tapers in the distal direction towards a shoulder. The projectile ogive includes a post that is disposed adjacent to the shoulder and that extends therefrom in the distal direction. An ogive nose cap is disposed adjacent to the shoulder and covers the post. The post and the ogive nose cap are cooperatively configured to define a cavity therebetween. A pyrotechnic spotter composition is disposed in the cavity.

Provided is a non-pyro cartridge for military training devices. The cartridge has a refillable compressed gas compartment fitted with a refill valve, which allows for quick reuse of the cartridge. The cartridge further has a blast compartment that receive a rush of compressed air from the gas compartment when the cartridge is triggered/detonated. Also provided is an activation device for the cartridge. The cartridge and activation device can generate physical and digital effects on the battlefield that safely and realistically simulate anti-tank weapon signatures, mortar weapon signatures, landmines signatures, improvised explosive device weapon signatures, artillery point of impact signatures, hand grenade signatures, weapon impact signatures on vehicles, weapon impact signatures on buildings, multiple types of battlefield effects, weapon signatures, impact signatures with a single device type.

Provided is a non-pyro cartridge for military training devices. The cartridge has a refillable compressed gas compartment fitted with a refill valve, which allows for quick reuse of the cartridge. The cartridge further has a blast compartment that receive a rush of compressed air from the gas compartment when the cartridge is triggered/detonated. Also provided is an activation device for the cartridge. The cartridge and activation device can generate physical and digital effects on the battlefield that safely and realistically simulate anti-tank weapon signatures, mortar weapon signatures, landmines signatures, improvised explosive device weapon signatures, artillery point of impact signatures, hand grenade signatures, weapon impact signatures on vehicles, weapon impact signatures on buildings, multiple types of battlefield effects, weapon signatures, impact signatures with a single device type.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations an ammunition cartridge includes a cartridge casing having a longitudinal center axis, a powder pocket positioned adjacent to the cartridge casing, a piston bore positioned adjacent to the powder pocket, a piston in the piston bore, and a payload bay positioned adjacent to the payload bay, wherein the piston is not coupled to the cartridge, wherein the piston is in direct contact with the payload bay wherein a diameter of the powder pocket is less than an inside diameter of the cartridge casing to provide a reduced velocity to the payload.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations an ammunition cartridge includes a cartridge casing having a longitudinal center axis, a powder pocket positioned adjacent to the cartridge casing, a piston bore positioned adjacent to the powder pocket, a piston in the piston bore, and a payload bay positioned adjacent to the payload bay, wherein the piston is not coupled to the cartridge, wherein the piston is in direct contact with the payload bay wherein a diameter of the powder pocket is less than an inside diameter of the cartridge casing to provide a reduced velocity to the payload.

Nonlethal cartridges adapted to be chambered in a firearm having a barrel that includes rifling are provided. In one example, the cartridge includes a cartridge case and a sabot that is telescopically coupled to the cartridge case and that has a sabot mouth. A projectile includes a polymer base projectile portion disposed in the sabot mouth. A polymer front shell projectile portion is coupled to the polymer base projectile portion and has an outer surface that includes a circular locking rib feature that forms an interference fit with the sabot mouth. The polymer base projectile portion is configured to engage the rifling of the barrel to impart spin stabilization to the nonlethal projectile when propelled from the sabot in response to the expansion of a propellant gas.

A less-than-lethal kinetic impact projectile and an associated less-than-lethal ammunition round are provided. The projectile has a typically self-supporting, sealed cylindrical elastomeric bag with a particulate load therein and with a deformable hemispherical hollow nose cap forwardly attached to a front of the cylindrical elastomeric bag. The round has a cylindrical casing with an ignitable propellant powder charge disposed therein, and the projectile nested within the casing forwardly of the propellant powder charge. In operation, the polymer material of the cylindrical elastomeric bag with deformable hollow nose cap is such that the projectile will expand in diameter but remain intact when impacting against a soft or semi-soft target (e.g., the body of a human being or animal), but will tend to fragment, disintegrate, or open up at the back, upon impact with a hard or semi hard target (e.g., against concrete or wood).

A less-than-lethal kinetic impact projectile and an associated less-than-lethal ammunition round are provided. The projectile has a typically self-supporting, sealed cylindrical elastomeric bag with a particulate load therein and with a deformable hemispherical hollow nose cap forwardly attached to a front of the cylindrical elastomeric bag. The round has a cylindrical casing with an ignitable propellant powder charge disposed therein, and the projectile nested within the casing forwardly of the propellant powder charge. In operation, the polymer material of the cylindrical elastomeric bag with deformable hollow nose cap is such that the projectile will expand in diameter but remain intact when impacting against a soft or semi-soft target (e.g., the body of a human being or animal), but will tend to fragment, disintegrate, or open up at the back, upon impact with a hard or semi hard target (e.g., against concrete or wood).