Cartridge for ar-15 pattern rifles
The 41 Super Mag cartridge addresses the performance gap by employing precise dimensions and tailored components to enhance muzzle velocity and kinetic energy, resulting in improved performance for AR-15 rifles.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- YORGASON KIRK T
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
AI Technical Summary
There exists a performance gap between the 400 Legend and 450 Bushmaster cartridges in terms of muzzle velocity and kinetic energy for AR-15 pattern rifles, necessitating a cartridge design that fills this gap.
A 41 Super Mag cartridge with specific dimensions, including a body diameter taper, neck angle, and extraction groove, designed to enhance muzzle velocity and kinetic energy, utilizing precise manufacturing and tailored propellant and projectile combinations.
The 41 Super Mag cartridge achieves improved muzzle velocity and kinetic energy, ensuring reliable feeding, firing, and extraction, providing enhanced accuracy, effective range, and terminal performance in AR-15 pattern rifles.
Smart Images
Figure US20260219013A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to firearms and ammunition, and more particularly to cartridges for use in AR-15 pattern rifles.BACKGROUND
[0002] AR-15 pattern rifles are widely used in various shooting applications, including hunting and sport shooting. These rifles are designed to accommodate a range of cartridges, each offering different performance characteristics. Two popular cartridges for AR-15 pattern rifles are the 400 Legend and the 450 Bushmaster. However, there exists a performance gap between these two cartridges in terms of muzzle velocity and kinetic energy.SUMMARY
[0003] The following description provides a non-limiting overview of some embodiments of the present disclosure. It is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which may encompass additional embodiments not expressly described herein. A cartridge for use in AR-15 pattern rifles may comprise a case having a body and a neck. The body may have a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches. The case may have a length of about 1.700 inches. The cartridge may have a total length of about 2.050 inches.
[0004] A method of manufacturing a cartridge for use in AR-15 pattern rifles may comprise forming a case having a body and a neck, wherein the body may have a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches and the case may have a length of about 1.700 inches. The method may include tapering the body diameter from about 0.4474 inches to about 0.4440 inches along a portion of its length. The method may further comprise forming the neck at an angle of about 35 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. The method may also include forming an extraction groove near a base of the cartridge, the extraction groove may have a width of about 0.033 inches.
[0005] A firearm system may comprise an AR-15 pattern rifle and a cartridge. The cartridge may comprise a case having a body and a neck. The body may have a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches. The case may have a length of about 1.700 inches. The cartridge may have a total length of about 2.050 inches.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure and together, with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary cartridge according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The present disclosure is not limited in its application, details, or components merely to the exemplary embodiments set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0009] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar parts. While several exemplary embodiments and features of the present disclosure are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the present disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims.
[0010] In accordance with various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a cartridge for use in AR-15 pattern rifles. The cartridge may be referred to as a 41 Super Mag cartridge. The cartridge may be designed to fill a performance gap between existing cartridges, such as the 400 Legend and the 450 Bushmaster.
[0011] Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of an exemplary cartridge 100 is illustrated. The cartridge 100 may include a case 102 having a body 104 and a neck 106. The body 104 may have a diameter that varies along its length. In some embodiments, the body 104 may have a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches at a point near the base of the cartridge 100. The diameter may taper to about 0.4440 inches at a point further up the body 104, and may further taper to about 0.4103 inches near the neck 106. The cartridge 100 may have a total length of about 2.050 inches. The case 102 may have a length of about 1.700 inches. A portion of the case 102 near the base may have a length of about 1.000 inches. The base of the cartridge 100 may include an extraction groove 108. The extraction groove 108 may have a width of about 0.033 inches. The base may also include a rim 110 that extends radially outward from the body 104. The neck 106 may be designed to securely hold a projectile (not shown). The neck 106 may have an angle of about 35 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge 100. A portion of the body 104 adjacent to the neck 106 may have an angle of about 20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge 100. The dimensions and angles described above are exemplary and may be varied to achieve desired performance characteristics. For example, some dimensions may have tolerances of ±0.010 inches or −0.100 inches.
[0012] In one or more embodiments, the cartridge 100 may be designed to provide improved muzzle velocity and kinetic energy compared to existing cartridges such as the 400 Legend and the 450 Bushmaster. This may be achieved through careful selection of case dimensions, propellant type and quantity, and projectile design. The cartridge 100 may be manufactured using conventional cartridge manufacturing techniques. The case 102 may be formed from brass or another suitable material. The cartridge 100 may be loaded with an appropriate propellant and projectile to achieve the desired performance characteristics.
[0013] In one or more embodiments, in use, the cartridge 100 may be loaded into an AR-15 pattern rifle. The cartridge 100 may be designed to reliably feed, fire, and extract in such rifles. Upon firing, the cartridge 100 may propel the projectile at a higher velocity and with greater kinetic energy than comparable cartridges. The cartridge 100 may be suitable for various shooting applications, including hunting and sport shooting. The improved performance characteristics may provide advantages in terms of accuracy, effective range, and terminal performance.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, the cartridge 100 may be designed to provide improved performance characteristics compared to existing cartridges. In some embodiments, the cartridge 100 may be loaded with a specific propellant charge and projectile combination to achieve desired ballistic properties. The propellant charge may be selected to provide an optimal burn rate for the cartridge dimensions. The projectile may be designed with a specific weight, shape, and material composition to complement the propellant charge and cartridge geometry.
[0015] In one or more embodiments, the cartridge 100 may be manufactured using precision machining and forming processes to ensure consistent dimensions and quality. The case 102 may be formed from brass or another suitable material using techniques such as drawing, annealing, and trimming. The neck 106 and shoulder area may be carefully shaped to provide proper headspacing and reliable feeding in AR-15 pattern rifles. The extraction groove 108 and rim 110 may be precisely machined to ensure reliable extraction after firing. In some embodiments, the rim 110 may have a diameter slightly larger than the maximum body diameter to facilitate extraction. The exact rim dimensions may be optimized for reliable function in AR-15 bolt carriers and extractors. The internal volume of the case 102 may be carefully calculated to provide the desired powder capacity. This internal volume, combined with the selected propellant type and charge weight, may contribute to achieving the improved muzzle velocity and energy compared to similar cartridges. The neck 106 may be sized to securely hold projectiles of an appropriate diameter for the cartridge's caliber.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, the cartridge 100 may undergo extensive testing and refinement to optimize its performance characteristics. This may involve iterative design changes to case dimensions, propellant selection, and projectile design. Factors such as chamber pressure, accuracy, and terminal ballistics may be evaluated and balanced to achieve the desired performance profile. The cartridge 100 may be designed to function reliably in magazine-fed, semi-automatic AR-15 pattern rifles. The overall length of 2.050 inches may allow for proper feeding from standard AR-15 magazines. The body taper and shoulder angle may be optimized to ensure smooth feeding and chambering.
[0017] In some embodiments, the cartridge 100 may be marked with appropriate headstamp information. This may include caliber designation, manufacturer information, and any relevant warning text. The headstamp may be applied using stamping or laser engraving techniques. While specific embodiments have been described above, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure encompasses many alternatives, modifications, and variations. The features disclosed herein may be combined in various ways to produce a variety of embodiments.
Claims
1. A cartridge for use in AR-15 pattern rifles, comprising:a case having a body and a neck;wherein the body has a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches;wherein the case has a length of about 1.700 inches; andwherein the cartridge has a total length of about 2.050 inches.
2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the body diameter tapers from about 0.4474 inches to about 0.4440 inches along a portion of its length.
3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the body diameter further tapers to about 0.4103 inches near the neck.
4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the neck has an angle of about 35 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.
5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a portion of the body adjacent to the neck has an angle of about 20 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.
6. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an extraction groove near a base of the cartridge, the extraction groove having a width of about 0.033 inches.
7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a portion of the case near a base has a length of about 1.000 inches.
8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the case is formed from brass.
9. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a propellant and a projectile loaded in the case.
10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the propellant and projectile are selected to provide improved muzzle velocity and kinetic energy compared to 400 Legend and 450 Bushmaster cartridges.
11. A method of manufacturing a cartridge for use in AR-15 pattern rifles, comprising:forming a case having a body and a neck, wherein the body has a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches and the case has a length of about 1.700 inches;tapering the body diameter from about 0.4474 inches to about 0.4440 inches along a portion of its length;forming the neck at an angle of about 35 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge; andforming an extraction groove near a base of the cartridge, the extraction groove having a width of about 0.033 inches.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising tapering the body diameter to about 0.4103 inches near the neck.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a portion of the body adjacent to the neck at an angle of about 20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising loading the case with a propellant and a projectile.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the propellant and projectile are selected to provide improved muzzle velocity and kinetic energy compared to 400 Legend and 450 Bushmaster cartridges.
16. A firearm system comprising:an AR-15 pattern rifle; anda cartridge comprising:a case having a body and a neck;wherein the body has a maximum diameter of about 0.4474 inches;wherein the case has a length of about 1.700 inches; andwherein the cartridge has a total length of about 2.050 inches.
17. The firearm system of claim 16, wherein the body diameter of the cartridge tapers from about 0.4474 inches to about 0.4440 inches along a portion of its length.
18. The firearm system of claim 17, wherein the body diameter of the cartridge further tapers to about 0.4103 inches near the neck.
19. The firearm system of claim 16, wherein the neck of the cartridge has an angle of about 35 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.
20. The firearm system of claim 16, wherein the cartridge further comprises a propellant and a projectile loaded in the case, the propellant and projectile being selected to provide improved muzzle velocity and kinetic energy compared to 400 Legend and 450 Bushmaster cartridges when fired from the AR-15 pattern rifle.