Lightweight Cartridge Case

Abstract

The rifle system comprises a rifle and an ammunition round for operation with the rifle. The high pressure ammunition round further comprises a cartridge case having an outer wall wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer wall geometry of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor. The rifle further comprising a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case and a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case having a thin walled body region of uniform thickness extending to a base of the cartridge case and a consolidated propellant charge wherein the consolidated propellant charge further comprises a primer cup recess. 
     
     
         2 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 1  further comprising an anvil for impinging the primer material between an indented portion of the cartridge case and the anvil. 
     
     
         3 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 1  wherein bottom surface of the consolidated propellant charge serves as an anvil. 
     
     
         4 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 1  further comprising a peripheral anvil disposed between the consolidated propellant charge and the primer composition. 
     
     
         5 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material. 
     
     
         6 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 1  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         7 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 1  wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link. 
     
     
         8 . A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case having a thin walled body region of uniform thickness and a primer cup integral to the cartridge case. 
     
     
         9 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 8  wherein the primer cup is a recess formed in an interior surface of the base and further comprising an anvil disposed partially in the recess and between a primer composition and a propellant charge. 
     
     
         10 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein the cartridge case further comprises a head region surrounding the primer cup and the anvil. 
     
     
         11 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein the body of the cartridge case extends to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 8  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material. 
     
     
         13 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 8  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         14 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 8  wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link. 
     
     
         15 . A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case configured for receiving a peripheral primer cup, wherein the cartridge case further comprises a thin walled body region of uniform thickness, a head region configured for partially receiving a base unit and the base unit configured for mating with the head region and receiving the peripheral primer cup. 
     
     
         16 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the peripheral primer cup is a Berdan primer cup. 
     
     
         17 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein an inner circumferential surface of the head region and an outer circumferential surface of the base unit comprise reciprocal mating features for attaching the base unit to the head region. 
     
     
         18 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material. 
     
     
         19 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         20 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link. 
     
     
         21 . A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case having an integral primer cup formed at the intersection of a head region and a base unit. 
     
     
         22 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 21  wherein the primer cup comprises an interior surface of the base unit and a recess formed in an exterior surface of the head region and wherein the head region further comprises an anvil formed by the exterior surface. 
     
     
         23 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 21  wherein the base unit is configured for partially receiving the head region. 
     
     
         24 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 21  wherein the head region and a base region are made of polymer material. 
     
     
         25 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 21  wherein the base unit is made of metal material. 
     
     
         26 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 21  wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link.