Combined Shot-Wadcutter Ammunition and Methods for Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

A small arms cartridge load that fires bird shot and a full wadcutter bullet. The cartridge is loaded with both a wadcutter and shot. A cup crimped to the casing is used to secure the contents inside the casing. No plastic capsule is needed to secure the shot in place. Removing the plastic capsule prevents the shot from taking the rifling and thus keeping the pattern tighter to extend the effective distance of the shot. The wadcutter can be hard cast to provide greater penetrating force. The load can be effective in deterring varmints or for defensive purposes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to ammunition. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a small-arms cartridge load that fires a combination of bird shot and a full wadcutter bullet in a single shot.BACKGROUND

[0002] Handgun cartridges loaded with shot instead of a single bullet are commonly used for pest control. However, handgun barrels usually have rifling, so when shot is used with a rifled barrel instead of a smooth barrel shot is scattered so widely that the effectiveness of the shot is limited to very close range. Shot scattering is exacerbated by current loading techniques which include encapsulation of shot in the cartridge. When the capsule containing the shot is fired the capsule catches the rifling causing the shot to scatter. Yet, capsules are an important technique used to maintain cartridge integrity while an adjacent cartridge is fired. Finally, while shot is effective against some pests, other pests are more effectively neutralized through a higher-caliber projectile. A need exists for a cartridge that maintains its integrity while being fired without encapsulating the shot. A further need exists for a cartridge that fires both shot and a solid projectile. Finally, a need exists for a cartridge that fires shot that has minimal engagement with rifling.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0003] The general purpose of the systems and methods disclosed herein is to provide an improved ammunition, while also promoting effectiveness of shooting pests. Specifically, the cartridge provides a combination full caliber wadcutter bullet and bird shot in one shot. Loading the shot and bullet directly into the casing allows for less spread of shot when used with a rifled barrel. The overall apparatus contains a casing, gun powder, a wadcutter, shot and a cup. This apparatus is designed to work in conjunction with a variety of existing rifled firearms, but it could also be included in conjunction with a smooth-bore firearm.

[0004] In one non-limiting embodiment, ammunition comprising a metallic cartridge that fires bird shot followed by a full caliber bullet is disclosed. One general aspect of the ammunition includes a cartridge containing both shot and a wadcutter. Some aspects include a casing having a mouth formed on a distal edge of the brass casing where the casing houses a content that may comprise gun powder, a wad cutter and / or shot; and a copper cup inserted into the cartridge mouth where the mouth and the cup are crimped to secure the cup to the mouth and retain the content inside the cartridge. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding features, apparatus, and elements each configured to perform the actions of the method.

[0005] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The cup is inserted into the mouth of the cartridge and creates a recess or lacuna at the top of the cartridge below the mouth of the casing. The casing may be metal. The cup may be metal. The casing contents may include a quantity of gun powder. The contents may include a plurality of shot, such as 000 buckshot or 00 buckshot. The contents may include a wadcutter. The wadcutter may be hard cast. The casing may house a quantity of gun powder, a plurality of shot, and a wadcutter. The content is in contact with the casing without additional encapsulation. The content is loaded into the casing through the mouth. The content is contained inside the casing below the cup. At least a portion of the content is in contact with the casing. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process.

[0006] One general aspect includes ammunition comprising a casing having a case head and a mouth; a quantity of gun powder deposited in the casing and proximate the case head, a hardcast wadcutter deposited adjacent the quantity of gun powder, a plurality of shot deposited adjacent the hardcast wadcutter, and a metallic cup having an edge where the cup is set inside the casing and against the plurality of shot so that the edge of the cup is approximately level with the mouth of the casing and where the cup and the casing mouth are crimped to secure the cup to the casing and where the plurality of shot is below the mouth so as to be disposed inside the casing.

[0007] One general aspect includes a method of securing shot and a wadcutter inside a casing. The method also includes filling a casing having a mouth with a content may include a quantity of gunpowder, a plurality of shot and a wadcutter; placing a cup inside the mouth so as to contain the contents of the casing are recessed below the mouth of the casing; and crimping together the cup and the mouth of the casing to couple the cup to the casing and securing the quantity of gunpowder, the plurality of shot and the wadcutter inside the casing. The method may include filling the casing with the quantity of gunpowder, the plurality of shot and the wadcutter through the mouth.

[0008] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Background.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to describe the manner in which the advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the ammunition disclosed herein.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a cut away view of the ammunition disclosed herein.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows a method of manufacturing the ammunition disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the apparatus, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but are merely representative of present embodiments of the invention.

[0014] In general, the figures disclose an invention that provides ammunition having a both a solid projectile and dispersed projectiles

[0015] In the following description, numerous references will be made to ammunition. However, it should be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art and in possession of this disclosure, would readily understand how the present invention and existing firearm cartridge structures and pneumatic cartridge structures can be incorporated.

[0016] Detailed references will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in FIG. 1 which illustrates an exploded view of the ammunition in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0017] In some embodiments a cartridge 100 comprising a casing having a mouth 104 formed on a distal edge 106 of the casing. In some embodiments the mouth 104 comprises and distal end of the casing opposite the case head 118. In some embodiments the casing comprises a cavity. In some embodiments the cavity is configured to receive content 108.

[0018] In some embodiments a cup 110 is used to enclose the cavity and secure the content 108 inside the cartridge. In some embodiments the cup 110 is a think metal disc that is formed into a cup-shape with an outer diameter that is approximately the inner diameter of the casing mouth. In some embodiments the cup 110 is inserted into the cartridge mouth 104. In some embodiments the cup 110 comprises a dome, or a flattened dome. In some embodiments the cup 110 comprises an edge. In some embodiments the cup 110 is placed in the mouth 104 with the dome protruding toward content 108, leaving the cupped side of the cup 110 facing out. In some embodiments the cup 110 rests on the content 108 when placed in the mouth 104. In some embodiments the cup 110 flange is oriented upward and is aligned flush with the distal edge 106 of the case mouth 104 and allows for a very tight weld with the crimp at the case mouth 104.

[0019] In some embodiments the casing is metal. In some embodiments the cup 110 is metal. In some embodiments the cup 110 and the casing are crimped to secure the cup 110 to the mouth 104 and retain the content 108 inside the cartridge is disclosed. In some embodiments the cup 110 is inserted into the casing using a rod, and the crimping occurs when the cup 110 is supported by the rod. In some embodiments the cup 110 is placed in the casing mouth 104 and a second tooling is used to crimp the cup 110 and casing. The crimped casing 102—cup 110 is an improvement over existing techniques, such as CCI's pest control shot shell which employs a capsule to secure the content 108 in the casing. A capsule engages rifling which spreads the shot pattern and reduces the distance over which the shot is effective, meaning maintains sufficient velocity to impact a target. In contrast, the cup 110 does not encapsulate the shot 114, thus avoiding increased engagement between the shot 114 and rifling and improving the effective distance of the shot 114. In some embodiments the cup 110 is inserted into the mouth 104 of the cartridge to create a lacuna 115 below the mouth 104 of the cartridge. In some embodiments crimping the cup 110 to the casing secures the content 108 in the casing during the violent motion that occurs while the gun is firing.

[0020] In some embodiments the cup 110 is secured to the casing using adhesive. In some embodiments the cup 110 is secured to the casing with friction.

[0021] In some embodiments the casing contents comprise a gun powder 112. In some embodiments the casing contents comprise a plurality of shot 114. In some embodiments the casing contents comprise a wadcutter 116. In some embodiments the wad cutter is a full caliber. In some embodiments the wadcutter is smaller than a full caliber. In some embodiments the wadcutter is greater than a full caliber. In some embodiments the wadcutter 116 is hard cast to prevent deformation or mushrooming upon penetration. In some embodiments the wadcutter 116 is configured engage the rifling to improve the stability of the trajectory of the wadcutter 116 along with improving its accuracy.

[0022] In some embodiments the casing houses the combination of gun powder 112, shot 114, and wadcutter 116. In some embodiments the contents 108 of the casing are loaded into the casing through the mouth 104. In some embodiments the content 108 inside the cavity of the casing fills the cavity to near the distal rim of the mouth 104. In some embodiments the content 108 is contained inside the casing below the mouth 104 the distance of the cup depth.

[0023] In some embodiments at least a portion of the content 108 is in contact with the casing because there is no encapsulation. In some embodiments the cartridge comprises the casing and the cup 110 without additional encapsulation. In some embodiments the contents are enclosed by the casing and the cup 110 only. In some embodiments the shot 114 is 000 buckshot. In some embodiments the shot 112 is 00 buckshot.

[0024] In some embodiments the a cartridge comprises a casing having a case head 118 and a mouth 104, a quantity of gun powder 112 deposited proximate the case head 118, a hardcast wadcutter 116 deposited adjacent the quantity of gun powder 112, a plurality of shot 114 deposited adjacent the hardcast wadcutter 116, and a metallic cup 110 having an edge wherein the cup 110 is set inside the casing and against the plurality of shot 114 so that the edge of the cup 110 is approximately level with the mouth 104 of the casing and wherein the cup 110 and the casing mouth 104 are crimped to secure the cup 110 to the casing and wherein the plurality of shot 114 is below the mouth 104 so as to be disposed inside the casing. In some embodiments the case head 118 comprises a rim fire primer. In some embodiments the case head 118 comprises a center fire.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, which illustrates an embodiment of a method of securing shot and a wadcutter 116 inside a casing, the method comprising filling a casing having a mouth with a content comprising a quantity of gunpowder, a plurality of shot and a wadcutter 302, placing a cup inside the mouth so as to contain the contents of the casing are recessed below the mouth of the casing 304, and crimping together the cup and the mouth of the casing to couple the cup to the casing and securing the quantity of gunpowder, the plurality of shot and the wadcutter inside the casing 306. In some embodiments method further comprising filling the casing with the quantity of gunpowder, the plurality of shot and the wadcutter through the mouth 308.

[0026] In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure. Other modifications that may be employed are within the scope of the disclosure. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations of the present disclosure may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to that precisely as shown and described.

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising:a casing having a mouth formed on a distal edge of the casing wherein the casing houses a content; anda cup inserted into the cartridge mouth wherein the mouth and the cup are crimped to secure the cup to the mouth and retain the content inside the cartridge.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cup is inserted into the mouth of the cartridge to create a lacuna below the mouth of the cartridge.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the casing is metal.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cup is metal.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the casing contents comprise a gun powder.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the contents comprise a plurality of shot.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the contents comprise a wadcutter.

8. The cartridge of claim 7 wherein the wadcutter is hard cast.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the casing houses a gun powder, a plurality of shot, and a wadcutter.

10. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the content is loaded into the casing through the mouth.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the content is contained inside the casing below the cup.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the content is in contact with the casing.

13. The cartridge of claim 6 wherein the shot is 000 buckshot.

14. The cartridge of claim 6 wherein the shot is 00 buckshot.

15. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein the content is in contact with the casing without additional encapsulation.

16. A cartridge comprising:a casing having a case head and a mouth;a quantity of gun powder deposited proximate the case head;a hardcast wadcutter deposited adjacent the quantity of gun powder;a plurality of shot deposited adjacent the hardcast wadcutter; anda metallic cup having an edge wherein the cup is set inside the casing and against the plurality of shot so that the edge of the cup is approximately level with the mouth of the casing and wherein the cup and the casing mouth are crimped to secure the cup to the casing and wherein the plurality of shot is below the mouth so as to be disposed inside the casing.

17. The cartridge of claim 16 wherein the case head is a rim fire.

18. The cartridge of claim 16 wherein the case head is a center fire.

19. A method of securing shot and a wadcutter inside a casing, the method comprising:filling a casing having a mouth with a content comprising a quantity of gunpowder, a plurality of shot and a wadcutter;placing a cup inside the mouth so as to contain the contents of the casing are recessed below the mouth of the casing; andcrimping together the cup and the mouth of the casing to couple the cup to the casing and securing the quantity of gunpowder, the plurality of shot and the wadcutter inside the casing.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising filling the casing with the quantity of gunpowder, the plurality of shot and the wadcutter through the mouth.

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