Narrowing high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for blank and subsonic ammunition
A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing includes an upper component of polymer, a bullet of a standard weight, a lower component of polymer, and an insert. The upper component has a shoulder portion and an upper component inner wall has a first diameter extending from the shoulder. The lower component has a lower component inner wall having a second diameter. The upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber; and the first and second diameters reduce a volume of the propellant chamber. 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 for subsonic ammunition comprising:
an upper component, molded from a polymer;
a bullet, having a conventional weight for a caliber of the bullet, removably engaged with the upper component;
a lower component, molded from a polymer, and engaged the upper component;
an insert engaged to the lower component;
a shoulder portion of the upper component;
an upper component inner wall extending from the shoulder to the lower component and having a first diameter;
a lower component inner wall extending from the upper component to the insert having a second diameter; and
a linear slope disposed between the first diameter and the second diameter;
wherein the upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber;
wherein the first diameter does not equal the second diameter;
wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter; and
wherein the slope between the first and second diameters reduces a volume of the propellant chamber.
2. The high strength polymer-based cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet at subsonic speeds.
3. A method of making a high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for subsonic ammunition comprising the steps of:
molding an upper component from a polymer;
removably disposing a conventional weight bullet, for a caliber of the bullet, in the upper component;
molding a lower component from a second polymer;
engaging the upper component to the lower component;
forming an insert engaged to the lower component;
molding a shoulder portion of the upper component;
extending an upper component inner wall from the shoulder to the lower component;
molding a first diameter in the upper component;
extending a lower component inner wall from the upper component to the insert;
molding a second diameter in the lower component inner wall not equal to the first diameter;
molding a linear slope disposed between the first diameter and the second diameter;
forming a propellant chamber from the upper and lower component inner walls, the slope between the first and second diameters reducing a volume of the propellant chamber; and
permitting, based on the reduced volume, enough propellant to propel the bullet at subsonic speeds.
4. The method of claim 3 ,
wherein molding the second diameter comprises the step of molding the first diameter greater than the second diameter.
5. The method of claim 3 ,
wherein molding the second diameter comprises the step of molding the first diameter less than the second diameter.