Shotshell with Shot Pellets Having Multiple Shapes

• US 20090114113A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Head, Lawrence Peter, Goodlin, Drew Lee, Poore, Rochelle Diane
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/460
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/046 Pellets or shot therefor

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a shotshell comprises a casing defining an internal chamber, a plurality of first shot pellets within the internal chamber and a plurality of second shot pellets within the internal chamber. The first shot pellets comprise a first shape and the second shot pellets comprise a second shape that is different from the first shape.

Claims

1. A shotshell comprising:

a casing defining an internal chamber;

a plurality of first shot pellets within the internal chamber, said first shot pellets comprising a first shape; and

a plurality of second shot pellets within the internal chamber, said second shot pellets comprising a second shape that is different from the first shape, the second shape being a preliminary shape formed during a process of making spherical shot pellets.

2. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein a drag coefficient of a second shot pellet is greater than a drag coefficient of a first shot pellet.

3. The shotshell of claim 2, wherein an effective drag coefficient of a second shot pellet changes as the second shot pellet tumbles in the air.

4. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said second shot pellets are non-spherical.

5. The shotshell of claim 4, wherein said first shot pellets are spherical.

6. The shotshell of claim 4, wherein said first shot pellets are non-spherical.

7. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said second shot pellets comprise a sharp edge.

8. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said second shot pellets comprise a cylindrical portion.

9. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said second shot pellets comprise a raised ridge.

10. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said second shot pellets are asymmetric across at least one axis.

11. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said first shot pellets comprise 60% of the shot load and said second shot pellets comprise 40% of the shot load.

12. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said first shot pellets are grouped toward the front of the internal chamber and said second shot pellets are grouped toward the rear of the internal chamber.

13. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said first shot pellets are grouped toward the rear of the internal chamber and said second shot pellets are grouped toward the front of the internal chamber.

14. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said first and second shot pellets are evenly distributed throughout the internal chamber.

15. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said first and second shot pellets are non-toxic.

16. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein said first and second shot pellets comprise steel.

17. The shotshell of claim 1, comprising layers of first shot pellets and second shot pellets.

18. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein the first shot pellets and second shot pellets are commingled within said internal chamber.

19. The shotshell of claim 1, wherein the first shot pellets are radially separated from the second shot pellets.

20. A shotshell comprising:

a casing defining an internal chamber;

a plurality of first shot pellets within the internal chamber, said first shot pellets comprising a first shape; and

a plurality of second shot pellets within the internal chamber, each second shot pellet comprising a non-spherical shape having a raised edge, wherein a cross-section of said second shot pellet taken through said raised edge is circular.

21. A shotshell comprising:

a casing defining an internal chamber; and

a shot load within the internal chamber, the shot load comprising a plurality of first shot pellets and a plurality of second shot pellets, the first shot pellets comprising a first shape, the second shot pellets comprising a second shape different from the first shape, the second shape being non-spherical, the second shot pellets comprising at least 40% of said shot load, the second shot pellets grouped toward a rear of the internal chamber.

22. A shotshell comprising:

a casing defining an internal chamber;

a plurality of spherical shot pellets within the internal chamber; and

a plurality of non-spherical shot pellets within the internal chamber;

wherein said shotshell exhibits a measurable pattern density when fired at a target at 40 yards, said target having a 30 inch outer diameter and a 15 inch diameter core, the pattern density in the core being approximately 1.2 times the overall pattern density.