Projectile

Abstract

A non-discarding sabot projectile consists of a projectile core; a lower core casing for insertion into a bore of a muzzleloader firearm; and an upper core cap fastly engaged with the lower core casing. Such an engagement between the upper core cap and the lower core casing defines a jacket so that, upon assembly of the lower core casing and upper core cap, the projectile core is encapsulated within the jacket.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A non-discarding sabot projectile which includes:
 a projectile core;   a lower core casing for insertion into a bore of a muzzleloader firearm; and   an upper core cap fastly engaged with the lower core casing to define a jacket such that, upon assembly of the lower core casing and upper core cap, the projectile core is encapsulated within the jacket.   
     
     
         34 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  in which the lower core casing includes a base having a side wall projecting upwardly from the base and terminating in a free end of the side wall. 
     
     
         35 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  in which the upper core cap includes a downwardly projecting sidewall. 
     
     
         36 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 35  in which the downwardly projecting side wall of the cap includes a recessed protrusion defining an inner flange of the downwardly projecting side wall onto which the free end of the side wall of the casing is seated. 
     
     
         37 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 36 , which includes complimentary interlocking engagement formations provided between the recessed downward protrusion of the cap and the side wall of the core casing. 
     
     
         38 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 37  in which the interlocking formations include either a barbed hook formation assembly or a screw threaded formation assembly. 
     
     
         39 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 36  in which the downward protrusion of the cap includes at least one circumferential ridge on the downward protrusion of the cap and the sidewall of the core casing includes at least one complimentary slot such that, upon assembly of the cap and the casing, the cap is slideably and snugly interlocked with the casing. 
     
     
         40 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 39  in which the snug fit of the cap onto the casing provides a smooth outer joint between the cap and the casing to provide either a smooth outer appearance of near-unitary construction or a ribbed outer appearance of near-unitary construction. 
     
     
         41 . A non-discarding, sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  includes at least one seal extending circumferentially about the base of the casing. 
     
     
         42 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  of which the top has an end shape selected from any one of a sharp-, a round-, a rounded- an oval- or an applanated shape. 
     
     
         43 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 34  in which the side wall of the lower core casing is tapered from the interlocking formations to the base of the casing to enable insertion of the projectile into the bore of the muzzleloader. 
     
     
         44 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 43  in which the taper extends from the interlocking formations to the base of the casing. 
     
     
         45 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  in which the projectile core is filled with any one or more of lead, tungsten, metal, iron, brass, shot, ceramic and fluid. 
     
     
         46 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  in which the core comprises granules of any one or more of lead, tungsten, metal, iron, brass, shot, ceramic, and fluid. 
     
     
         47 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  in which any one of the caps or the casing of like projectiles are colour-coded to distinguish their contents for different firing applications. 
     
     
         48 . A non-discarding sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 33  in which any one of the caps or the casing of like projectiles are transparent to identify various fillings. 
     
     
         49 . A method of manufacturing a non-discarding sabot projectile which includes:
 inserting a projectile core into a casing as claimed in  claim 33 ; and   encapsulating the projectile core by fitting a cap as claimed in  claim 33  over the projectile core.   
     
     
         50 . A method as claimed in  claim 49 , which includes assembling the recessed downward projection of the cap onto the seat of the casing defined by the free end of the side wall of the casing and press-fitting the cap to the casing by slideably engaging the at least one projecting ridge of the cap into register with the slot in the wall of the casing.