Non-destructive projectile recovery

1 . An apparatus for the intact recovery of ammunition projectiles, the apparatus comprising: a high pressure fluid cutting device operative to direct a fluid stream to erosively sever a casing of an ammunition cartridge, rearward on the cartridge beyond the rearward extent of the projectile, forming a first half of the cartridge including the projectile and at least a portion of the casing; an automated feeding apparatus collecting therein, orienting, and feeding therefrom a plurality of said first halves so severed; and a separation press, the separation press including a press ram, and a brace block having a through opening therein sized to pass the projectile without alteration thereof, and an internal side wall engaging the first half by the portion of the casing.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the brace block being oriented so the internal side wall engages the portion of the casing such that the rearward extent of the projectile faces the press ram, and the press ram oriented and operative to apply a pressing force to the rearward extent of the projectile a distance sufficient to separate the projectile from the portion of the casing.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the separation press being driven by a non-igniting motive power source.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

the non-igniting motive power source including a fluid power source.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the brace block being formed in plural and articulable portions.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a first actuator operative to articulate at least one articulable portion of the brace block.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:

the first actuator being driven by a non-igniting motive power source.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

the non-igniting motive power source including a fluid power source.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

the separation press and the first actuator sharing a power source.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

said press block comprising an additively manufactured polymer material.

11 . A method of recovering an ammunition projectile from an ammunition cartridge, the method comprising:

directing a high pressure fluid stream to sever the casing of the ammunition cartridge rearward on the cartridge beyond the rearward extent of the projectile, forming a first half of the cartridge including the projectile and at least a portion of the casing;

orienting said severed first half for presentation to a separation press;

placing one or more of said first halves into a brace block of the separation press, the brace block having a through opening therein sized to pass the projectile without alteration thereof, the press block engaging the first half by the portion of the casing; and

applying a pressing force to said first half by contacting a rearward extent of the projectile, until the projectile separates from the portion of the casing.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

orienting a plurality of ammunition cartridges uniformly for seriatim presentation to the high pressure fluid stream.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

orienting a plurality of said severed first halves using a vibratory bowl feeder for presentation to the separation press.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

providing said press block in a plurality of articulable portions.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

forming said press block using an additively manufactured polymer material.

16 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

applying said pressing force using a non-igniting motive power source.