IP Library Granted Patent US 7,726,245
Granted Patent B2
US 7,726,245 · App. 12/109,472 · Granted Jun 1, 2010

Muzzleloader ammunition

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,726,245
App. No.
12/109,472
Granted
Jun 1, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fixed round of ammunition for a muzzle loader firearm. The round has a bullet within a sabot that is engaged to a consumable cartridge case. The case is filled with propellant that is precisely calibrated to provide optimal ballistic properties with the particular bullet it is engaged to. The consumable cartridge case can be more tailored to respectively increase or decrease the burn rate of the consumable cartridge case. The consumable cartridge case can be constructed out of nitrocellulose or other energetic materials. A wide range of propellant formulas can be used that are safe because the burn rate is precisely calibrated for the bullet used. The propellant can contain pyrotechnic material and/or other ingredients to reduce the burn rate of a smokeless propellant and can contain a stabilizer to increase the shelf life of the ammunition round.

Claims (22)

1. A muzzle loaded ammunition round in combination with a firearm, comprising:

a fixed round comprising a bullet and a cartridge case;

the cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed out of an energetic consumable material, and having a burn rate which can be selected by selecting the density of the consumable material of the cartridge case;

the bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight;

an igniter which extends into the propellant composition inside the case at the time of ignition;

when the bullet is fired, an energy with which the bullet exits the firearm is a ratio proportional at least to the burn rate of the consumable cartridge case, the charge weight of the propellant composition, and at least one physical property of the bullet, the burn rate being proportional to the combustibility of both the propellant and the consumable cartridge case;

the burn rate and the at least one physical property of the bullet are precisely calibrated to each other so as to yield ballistic properties in which the bullet is fired with a desired amount of kinetic energy and within the design constraints of the firearm.

2. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the cartridge case is constructed out of a consumable material.

3. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which a calibrated physical property of the bullet is one selected from the group consisting of: size, mass, density, caliber, shape, and any combination thereof.

4. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the cartridge case is at least in part constructed out of nitrocellulose.

5. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 4 in which the sabot is constructed at least in part out of a thermoplastic material.

6. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 4 in which at least one of the calibrated physical properties of the bullet is separability from the sabot.

7. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the bullet is positioned within a sabot and the sabot is engaged to the cartridge case.

8. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 constructed and arranged to be penetrated by a breech block.

9. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 further comprising an electrically conductive probe extending through the end of the cartridge case not facing the bullet.

10. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the propellant composition is one selected from the list consisting of: smokeless propellant, single base nitrocellulose, nitrocellulose propellant, black powder propellant, pyrotechnic propellant, non-pyrotechnic propellant, and any combination thereof.

11. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the propellant composition occupies a volume substantially equal to at least 90% of the volume of the cartridge case.

12. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the propellant composition includes at least one energy modifying material.

13. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 12 in which the at least one energy modifying material is an energy reducing material.

14. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the propellant composition includes a pyrotechnic material.

15. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 1 in which the propellant composition includes a stabilizer compound.

16. The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 15 in which the stabilizer compound is no greater than 1% by volume of the propellant composition.

Assignments (22)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2024
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 070479/0586 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2024
From: FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY
To: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069476/0873 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 069460/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; FOX HEAD, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 066959/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2023
From: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 062775/0924 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; QUIETKAT, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0747 →
ABL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 056033/0349 →
RELEASE OF ABL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL CORPORATION; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; JIMMY STYKS LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC/ARMY/PPI; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC/SWRI/IRA
Reel/Frame 055796/0690 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 25, 2019
From: GACP FINANCE CO., LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC (FKA JIMMY STYKS LLC); LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 050827/0778 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS JIMMY STYKS LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
Reel/Frame 049725/0096 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 048168/0620 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CALIBER COMPANY; BEE STINGER, LLC; BOLLE AMERICA, INC.; BOLLE, INC.; BUSHNELL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL, INC.; CAMELBAK ACQUISITION CORPORATION; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; DOUBLE BULL ARCHERY, INC.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; EAGLE MAYAGUEZ, LLC; EAGLE NEW BEDFORD, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; JIMMY STYKS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MIKE'S HOLDING COMPANY; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; OLD WSR, INC.; OPT HOLDINGS, INC.; PRIMOS, INC.; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION; SAVAGE SPORTS HOLDINGS, INC.; SERENGETI EYEWEAR, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; TASCO HOLDINGS, INC.; TASCO OPTICS CORPORATION; VISTA COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY INC.; VISTA COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION HOLDINGS COMPANY INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC
Reel/Frame 049024/0706 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: BEE STINGER LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; JIMMY STYKS LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: GACP FINANCE CO., LLC
Reel/Frame 047688/0306 →
ABL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 20, 2018
From: BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; C PREME LIMITED LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; JIMMY STYKS LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047609/0001 →
TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 19, 2018
From: BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; C PREME LIMITED LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; JIMMY STYKS LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047602/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2016
From: VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; VISTA COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY INC.; VISTA COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION HOLDINGS COMPANY INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BOLLÉ AMERICA, INC.; BOLLÉ INC.; BUSHNELL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; CAMELBAK ACQUISITION CORP.; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; DOUBLE BULL ARCHERY, INC.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; EAGLE MAYAGUEZ, LLC; EAGLE NEW BEDFORD, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; JIMMY STYKS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MIKE'S HOLDING COMPANY; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; OLD WSR, INC.; OPT HOLDINGS, INC.; PRIMOS, INC.; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION; SAVAGE SPORTS HOLDINGS, INC.; SERENGETI EYEWEAR, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; TASCO HOLDINGS, INC.; TASCO OPTICS CORPORATION; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 038412/0934 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2015
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 035455/0404 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2015
From: VISTA OUTDOOR INC.; BEE STINGER, LLC; BOLLE AMERICA, INC.; BOLLE INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; PRIMOS, INC.; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION; SERENGETI EYEWEAR, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 035223/0808 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RELEASE Recorded Feb 11, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034954/0732 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 031731/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES INC.; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY INC.; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION HOLDINGS COMPANY; ATK LAUNCH SYSTEMS INC.; ATK SPACE SYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; EAGLE MAYAGUEZ, LLC; EAGLE NEW BEDFORD, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 025321/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2008
From: QUESENBERRY, RICHARD; BANDEL, JEFFREY; GOODLIN, DREW LEE; WORRELL, WILLIAM J.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 020867/0533 →