GB2163534A

GB2163534A - Ammunition

Info

Publication number: GB2163534A
Application number: GB08421606A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Clucas
Original assignee: Clucas Diving & Marine Enginee
Current assignee: Clucas Diving & Marine Enginee
Priority date: 1984-08-24
Filing date: 1984-08-24
Publication date: 1986-02-26
Also published as: GB2163534B

Abstract

Shotgun ammunition comprises a propellant 4 and, separated therefrom by spacer discs 5, a mass 6 of lead particles dispersed in a wax binder to provide kinetic energy, which mass produces an opening in an object when fired from the gun and disperses on striking the object. A disabling gas may be obtained from powder or liquid disposed in the mass at 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ammunition The present invention relates to ammunition and more particularly to a round capable of being fired from a handgun such as a shotgun.

Sometimes it is necessary to enter a building or a room by breaking through an obstruction such as a locked door. One way of doing this is to shoot at the locks or hinges of the door to enable the door to be opened. A disadvantage of this method is that any occupants of the building or room may be seriously injured or killed by the round passing through the obstruction and remaining a missile.

It is an object of the present invention to provide ammunition which when fired at an obstruction will enable the obstruction to be removed but which will not pass through the obstruction to such an extent as to be capable of seriousiy injuring or killing anyone behind the obstruction.

According to the present invention there is provided ammunition adapted to be fired from a gun comprising a body containing a propellant and a mass of heavy particles dispersed in a binder to provide kinetic energy, which mass is so constituted as to be capable or producing an opening in an object when fired from the gun and to disperse on striking the object.

The heavy particles preferably comprise lead particles which may have a size of between various meshes to dust.

The binder may comprise wax or similar substances.

The ammunition may comprise a gas forming material disposed within the mass which gas forming material may be in either a liquid state or a solid state such as a powder.

The ammunition may be a shotgun round and the body may comprise a plastics casing.

The present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing of which the single Figure shows a shotgun round.

Referring to the drawing, the shotgun round 1 comprises a brass cap 2 into which extends a plastics casing 3. Situated within the cap 2 is a propellent 4 for propelling the round from the shot gun. Adjacent the propellent 4 are spacer discs 5 and adjacent the spacer discs 5 is a mass 6 of lead particles in wax or a similar substance. The wax acts as a binder for the lead particles which preferably have a particle size of between various meshes to dust. The amount of lead disposed in the wax depends on the use to which the round is to be put as this effects the weight of the round and the extent of the damage that can be done to the object at which the round is intended to be fired.The mass of lead particles in the wax preferably has a cake-like consistency so that when the round hits an object it makes a hole in the object but in so doing breaks up and the lead particles and wax disperse giving up its energy to the object to provide maximum damage to the object.

The advantage of the above described round is that when the round is fired at for example a door, the energy- in lead particles is sufficient to blast a hole in the door but once the hole is produced this energy is dissipated by virtue of the breaking up of the cake-like mass, thereby reducing or even eliminating the possibility of injury to anyone standing behind the door.

Such a round would be useful for example when a person is trapped in a room of a building which is on fire and it is necessary to effect entry into the room as quickly as possible without harming the trapped person.

The mass of lead particles disposed in the wax can be produced by melting the wax in a mould and then mixing the lead particles to the required amount into the wax. The wax is then solidified and the solid mass or pellet inserted int the casing 3. Finally a cover 7 is fitted over the end of the casing 3.

Additionally a hole 8 can be bored into the mass 6 of lead particles and wax and a gas producing chemical in the form of for example a powder or liquid inserted in the hole, the cover 7 then being fitted over the end of the casing 3. The purpose of this is that if for example people are being held hostage in a room behind a locked door or in a vehicle it is possible by means of such an embodiment of the present invention to fire a round into the door of the room or a window of the vehicle thereby enabling the door of the room to be opened or access to be gained to the vehicle and at the same time the chemical is caused to form into a disabling gas in the room or vehicle so that the captors are quickly disabled and the hostages freed without the danger of serious injury or death being caused to the hostages by the round since the lead and wax would dissipate after having blasted a hole in the door or window.

Instead of using lead particles and wax in the round it may be possible, depending on the use to which the round is to be put, to use other materials which are able to make an opening ionian obstacle but which do not remain a dangerous missile once the opening has been produced.

The binder, for example wax or similar substance is such as to be able to destroy the object such as thick timber then ceases to be a missile on exit from the object.

As mentioned above an embodiment of a round according to the invention can be made which will break up on passing through thin giass as well as heavy obstructions such as doors and thin metal and still deliver a gas.

The mix of lead and binder will also sub stantially prevent any ricochet effect even when a round is fired at very narrow angles.

Claims

1. Ammunition adapted to be fired from a gun comprising a body containing a propellant and a mass of heavy particles dispersed in a binder to provide kinetic energy, which mass is so constituted as to be capable of producing an opening in an object when fired from the gun and to disperse on striking the object.

2. Ammunition as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the heavy particles comprise lead particles.

3. Ammunition as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the particles have a size of between various meshes to dust.

4. Ammunition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the binder comprises wax or similar substances.

5. Ammunition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a gas forming material disposed within the mass.

6. Ammunition as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the gas forming material is in a liquid state

7. Ammunition as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the gas forming material is in a solid state.

8. Ammunition as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the gas forming material is a powder.

9. Ammunition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, being a shotgun round.

10. Ammunition as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the body comprises a plastics casing.

11. Ammunition substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.