METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUBSONIC AMMUNITION CASING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of producing a subsonic ammunition article comprising:
- providing a conventional supersonic ammunition article, the article having a primer end having a primer hole disposed therein, and a neck end having a neck hole disposed therein, and the article further having an outer wall defining an internal cavity therebetween, the internal cavity defining a first volume;
forming an access hole in the outer wall of the ammunition article;
inserting a core pin having a body defining a second volume through one of either the neck or primer holes and into the internal cavity such that a first end of the core pin is disposed within the neck hole and occludes at least a portion of the neck end of the ammunition article, and such that a second end of the core pin is disposed within the primer hole of the ammunition article;
inserting a filler material through the access hole in the outer wall of the ammunition article such that the filler fills a space within the internal cavity formed between the outer wall of the ammunition article and the body of the core pin;
solidifying the filler material within the space such that the access hole is occluded by the filler material;
removing the core pin from the ammunition article to expose a subsonic internal cavity having the second volume; and
wherein the second volume is at least 20% less than the first volume and is configured to hold a propellant charge having a charge density of at least 20% and being capable of propelling a projectile at no greater than a subsonic velocity without exceeding the maximum pressure limit of the ammunition article.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for manufacturing subsonic ammunition articles from conventional supersonic ammunition articles are provided. The apparatus includes devices for controllably introducing a filler material to reduce the inner volume of a conventional supersonic ammunition article. Method are also provided for converting a conventional supersonic ammunition article to a subsonic ammunition article including defining a new subsonic propellant volume within said conventional supersonic ammunition article and controllably introducing a filler material therearound.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of producing a subsonic ammunition article comprising:
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providing a conventional supersonic ammunition article, the article having a primer end having a primer hole disposed therein, and a neck end having a neck hole disposed therein, and the article further having an outer wall defining an internal cavity therebetween, the internal cavity defining a first volume; forming an access hole in the outer wall of the ammunition article; inserting a core pin having a body defining a second volume through one of either the neck or primer holes and into the internal cavity such that a first end of the core pin is disposed within the neck hole and occludes at least a portion of the neck end of the ammunition article, and such that a second end of the core pin is disposed within the primer hole of the ammunition article; inserting a filler material through the access hole in the outer wall of the ammunition article such that the filler fills a space within the internal cavity formed between the outer wall of the ammunition article and the body of the core pin; solidifying the filler material within the space such that the access hole is occluded by the filler material; removing the core pin from the ammunition article to expose a subsonic internal cavity having the second volume; and wherein the second volume is at least 20% less than the first volume and is configured to hold a propellant charge having a charge density of at least 20% and being capable of propelling a projectile at no greater than a subsonic velocity without exceeding the maximum pressure limit of the ammunition article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. The method of claim, wherein the ammunition article has a caliber selected from the group of .22, .22-250, .223, .243, .25-06, .270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .303, .308, .357, .38, .40, .44, .45, .45-70, .50 BMG, 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm.
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12. An apparatus for manufacturing a subsonic ammunition article comprising:
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a boring machine for forming an access hole in the outer wall of an ammunition article; a core pin having a body defining a volume and having first and second ends, the first end configured to be disposed within a neck hole of the ammunition article such that it occludes at least a portion of a neck end of the ammunition article, and the second end configured to be disposed within a primer hole of the ammunition article; and a source of filler material disposed in fluid communication with the access hole ammunition article; and wherein the volume of the core pin is at least 20% less than the volume of the ammunition article and is configured to hold a propellant charge having a charge density of at least 20% and being capable of propelling a projectile at no greater than a subsonic velocity without exceeding the maximum pressure limit of the ammunition article. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification