OVERMOLDED HIGH STRENGTH POLYMER-BASED CARTRIDGE CASING FOR BLANK AND SUBSONIC AMMUNITION
A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for blank or subsonic ammunition has a reduced volume and includes a mouth, a neck extending away from the mouth, and a shoulder extending below the neck. Additionally, the cartridge includes an extraction rim and a groove, a primer pocket and a flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume. An inner wall encloses the reduced volume. The mouth has a first diameter and the inner wall has a second diameter and the second diameter is approximately equal to the first diameter. Further, the neck, shoulder, rim, groove, and inner wall all comprise a polymer. Further, the inner wall can be a metallic sleeve overmolded by a polymer sheath. The reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.
1 . A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition inclosing a reduced volume comprising:
a first end comprising a mouth;
a neck extending away from the mouth;
a shoulder extending below the neck and away from the first end;
a second end, opposite the first end, comprising:
an extraction rim and a groove; and
a primer pocket in fluid communication with a flash hole, the flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume; and
an inner wall, extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing the reduced volume;
wherein the mouth has a first diameter and the inner wall has a second diameter and the second diameter is approximately equal to the first diameter, and
wherein the neck, shoulder, rim, groove, and inner wall all comprise a polymer.
2 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1 , wherein the reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.
3 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 2 , wherein the bullet comprises a third diameter and the second diameter is approximately equal to the third diameter.
4 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1 , wherein the second diameter is constant over a length of the inner wall until the second end.
5 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1 , wherein the second diameter is constant over a length of the inner wall until the flash hole.
6 . A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition inclosing a reduced volume comprising:
an insert comprising:
an extraction rim and a groove both disposed at one end of the insert; and
a primer pocket in fluid communication with a flash hole, the flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume;
a sleeve section, comprising a metal or a metal alloy, and further comprising:
a first end comprising a mouth to receive a bullet;
a neck extending away from the mouth;
a second end opposite the first end;
a wall extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing at least a portion of the reduced volume; and
a first diameter approximately constant over a length of the wall;
a polymer sheath formed over the wall of the sleeve section and the insert, comprising:
a shoulder extending below the neck and away from the first end; and
an outside wall extending the length of the sleeve section.
7 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the insert and the sleeve section are integral and the insert is a metal or a metal alloy.
8 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises:
a ridge formed on the wall; and
a key formed on the ridge;
wherein both the ridge and the key engage the polymer sheath, and
wherein the key comprises at least one of a flat portion, a raised portion, or dimples.
9 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises knurling.
10 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the insert is polymer.
11 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises a neck extending away from the mouth.
12 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises:
an upper component comprising the sleeve section; and
a lower component comprising the insert,
wherein the upper component and lower component are joined together at an overlap/underskirt/taper portion.
13 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6 , wherein the reduced volume based on the first diameter permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.
14 . A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition inclosing a reduced volume comprising:
an insert comprising:
an extraction rim and a groove both disposed at one end of the insert; and
a primer pocket in fluid communication with a flash hole, the flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume;
a sleeve section, comprising a metal or a metal alloy, and further comprising:
a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a wall extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing at least a portion of the reduced volume; and
a first diameter constant over a length of the wall;
a polymer sheath formed over the wall of the sleeve section and the insert, comprising:
a mouth to receive a bullet;
a neck extending away from the mouth;
a shoulder extending below the neck and away from the first end; and
an outside wall extending the length of the sleeve section.
15 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the insert and the sleeve section are integral and the insert is a metal or a metal alloy.
16 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises:
a ridge formed on the wall; and
a key formed on the ridge;
wherein both the ridge and the key engage the polymer sheath, and
wherein the key comprises at least one of a flat portion, a raised portion, or dimples.
17 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises knurling.
18 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the insert is polymer.
19 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises a neck extending away from the mouth.
20 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises:
an upper component comprising the sleeve section; and
a lower component comprising the insert,
wherein the upper component and lower component are joined together at an overlap/underskirt/taper portion.
21 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 14 , wherein the reduced volume based on the first diameter permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.