Projectile wad for ammunition cartridges
An ammunition cartridge includes: a basewad disposed within a tube proximate the aft end of the tube; a projectile wad disposed within the tube proximate a fore end of the tube; a propellant charge disposed within a chamber formed between the projectile wad and the basewad; and a projectile disposed within the tube between a forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube. The aft end of the projectile wad has a powder cup skirt formed thereon, and a chamfer is formed around an outer perimeter of a lip of the powder cup skirt. The chamfer allows the powder cup skirt to be slidably received within a skirt of the basewad to form the chamber. The chamfer provides a clearance at the powder cup skirt lip, which helps to insure undisturbed entry into the mouth of the basewad skirt.
1. An ammunition cartridge comprising: a tube extending along a central longitudinal axis from an aft end of the tube to a fore end of the tube; a basewad disposed within the tube and located proximate the aft end of the tube, the basewad including: an interior surface extending outward and forward from a generally forward facing inner portion to a generally inward facing fore portion so as to define a skirt of the basewad; a projectile wad disposed within the tube, the projectile wad including: a forward facing surface, and an interior surface extending outward and rearward from a generally aft facing inner portion to a generally inward facing aft portion so as to define a powder cup skirt, the powder cup skirt having: a lip having an end surface, the end surface being substantially uninterrupted around the entire powder cup skirt, and a chamfer formed around an outer perimeter of the lip, the lip being slidably received within the skirt of the basewad so as to form a chamber between the powder cup skirt and the skirt of the basewad; a propellant charge disposed within the chamber; and at least one projectile disposed within the tube between the forward facing surface of the projectile wad and the fore end of the tube.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the powder cup skirt has a thickness T.sub.B at a transition point between the outer surface of the power cup skirt and the chamfer, the thickness T.sub.B being between about 0.015 inches to about 0.028 inches.
3. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the thickness T.sub.B is between about 0.018 inches to about 0.024 inches.
4. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.690 inches to about 0.712 inches.
5. The cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.695 inches to about 0.710 inches.
6. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.580 inches to about 0.600 inches.
7. The cartridge of claim 6 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.585 inches to about 0.595 inches.
8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the chamfer has a forward facing cone angle of about 18 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis.
9. The cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the transition point between the outer surface and the chamfer is about 0.30 inches from the end surface of the lip.
10. The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the lip has a thickness of about 0.10 inches at the end surface of the lip.
11. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the projectile wad further includes: a plurality of petals disposed at a perimeter of the forward facing surface, the at least one projectile being disposed between the plurality of petals.
12. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the projectile wad further includes: a compressible shock absorbing midsection disposed between the forward facing surface and the interior surface of the projectile wad.
13. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the projectile wad further includes: a plurality of evenly spaced channels disposed along an outer surface of the powder cup skirt.
14. A projectile wad for an ammunition cartridge, the projectile wad being formed as a unitary structure comprising: a forward facing surface adapted to support at least one projectile; a compressible shock absorbing midsection disposed between the forward facing surface and an interior surface of the projectile wad; and an interior surface extending outward and rearward from a generally aft facing inner portion to a generally inward facing aft portion so as to define a powder cup skirt, the powder cup skirt having: a lip having an end surface, the end surface being substantially uninterrupted around the entire powder cup skirt, and a chamfer formed around an outer perimeter of the lip, the lip being dimensioned for slidable receipt within a skirt of a basewad so as to form a chamber between the powder cup skirt and the skirt of the basewad for receiving a propellant.
15. The projectile wad of claim 14 , wherein the powder cup skirt has a thickness T.sub.B at a transition point between the outer surface of the power cup skirt and the chamfer, the thickness T.sub.B being between about 0.015 inches to about 0.028 inches.
16. The projectile wad of claim 15 , wherein the thickness T.sub.B is between about 0.018 inches to about 0.024 inches.
17. The projectile wad of claim 15 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.690 inches to about 0.712 inches.
18. The projectile wad of claim 17 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.695 inches to about 0.710 inches.
19. The projectile wad of claim 15 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.580 inches to about 0.600 inches.
20. The projectile wad of claim 19 , wherein the powder cup skirt has an outside diameter of between about 0.585 inches to about 0.595 inches.
21. The projectile wad of claim 14 , wherein the chamfer has a forward facing cone angle of about 18 degrees relative to the projectile wad's central longitudinal axis.
22. The projectile wad of claim 21 , wherein the transition point at the outer surface and chamfer is about 0.30 inches from the end surface of the lip.
23. The projectile wad of claim 22 , wherein the lip has a thickness of about 0.10 inches at the end surface of the lip.
24. The projectile wad of claim 14 , further comprising: a plurality of petals disposed at a perimeter of the forward facing surface, the at least one projectile being received between the plurality of petals.
25. The projectile wad of claim 14 , further comprising: a plurality of evenly spaced channels disposed along an outer surface of the powder cup skirt.
26. A projectile wad for an ammunition cartridge, the projectile wad being formed as a unitary structure comprising: a forward facing surface adapted to support at least one projectile; and an interior surface extending outward and rearward from a generally aft facing inner portion to a generally inward facing aft portion so as to define a powder cup skirt, the powder cup skirt having: a lip having an end surface, the end surface being substantially uninterrupted around the entire powder cup skirt, a chamfer formed around an outer perimeter of the lip, and an outer surface having a maximum diameter adjacent the chamfer, the maximum diameter adjacent the lip being dimensioned for slidable receipt within a portion of a tapered inner surface of the skirt of a basewad, such that the maximum diameter of the outer surface maintains itself in engagement with the inner surface of the basewad skirt to form a chamber between the powder cup skirt and the skirt of the basewad for receiving a propellant.