Ammunition cartridge

Abstract

An ammunition cartridge may include a cartridge body including a substantially straight sidewall defining a cartridge cavity. The ammunition cartridge may also include a cartridge base and a primer received within the cartridge base and projecting at least partially into the cartridge cavity. The ammunition cartridge may also include a propellant received in the cartridge cavity, and a sabot at least partially received in the cartridge cavity and including a sabot body having at least one sabot sidewall portion extending from a base portion to a sabot end defining an open-ended sabot cavity. The ammunition cartridge may also include a projectile at least partially received in the sabot cavity, and the projectile may include a front end defining a tip, wherein the sabot end extends beyond the tip and is configured to contact a preceding ammunition cartridge of a magazine without contacting a primer of the preceding ammunition cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ammunition cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a substantially straight sidewall defining a cartridge cavity extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, the second end defining an opening;   a cartridge base at the first end of the cartridge body;   a primer received within the cartridge base and projecting at least partially into the cartridge cavity;   a propellant received in the cartridge cavity;   a sabot at least partially received in the cartridge cavity and comprising a sabot body having a first sabot end, a second sabot end opposite the first sabot end, a base portion adjacent the first sabot end, and at least one sabot sidewall portion extending longitudinally from the base portion toward the second sabot end and defining an open-ended sabot cavity; and   a projectile at least partially received in the sabot cavity, the projectile comprising a projectile body with a rear end and a front end defining a tip;   wherein the second sabot end extends beyond the tip of the projectile and is configured to contact a rim of a preceding ammunition cartridge of a magazine without contacting a primer of the preceding ammunition cartridge.   
     
     
         2 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the cartridge body is configured to engage the at least one sabot sidewall portion to at least partially hold the sabot within the cartridge body. 
     
     
         3 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sabot sidewall portion defines at least one of a notch or a groove, and the second end of the cartridge body comprises a portion configured to engage the at least one of the notch or the groove. 
     
     
         4 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of an interior surface of the sabot cavity or an exterior surface of the projectile body is configured to provide engagement between the sabot and the projectile. 
     
     
         5 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second sabot end is configured to contact the rim of the preceding ammunition cartridge at multiple points of contact spaced from the primer of the preceding ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one separation feature defined in the sabot body adjacent the second sabot end and configured to promote separation of the sabot from the projectile after the sabot and the projectile exit a barrel of a firearm. 
     
     
         7 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the sabot body further comprises a recess defined in the first sabot end and arranged facing the propellant, the recess configured to facilitate obturation between the sabot and an interior surface of a barrel of a firearm upon ignition of the propellant. 
     
     
         8 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the sabot cavity defines an interior shape complimentary to at least a portion of an ogive of the projectile. 
     
     
         9 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second sabot end comprises a higher mass section configured to generate a centrifugal opening force to promote separation of the sabot from the projectile after the sabot and the projectile exit a barrel of a firearm. 
     
     
         10 . An ammunition cartridge comprising:
 a cylindrical cartridge body comprising a substantially straight sidewall defining a cartridge cavity extending longitudinally from a first end of the cartridge body to a second end of the cartridge body, the second end defining an opening;   a primer located at the first end of the cartridge body;   a propellant received in the cartridge cavity;   a sabot at least partially received in the cartridge cavity of the cartridge body and comprising a sabot body having a first sabot end and a second sabot end opposite the first sabot end, the sabot body comprising a base portion and a substantially cylindrical sabot sidewall portion extending forwardly from the base portion toward the second sabot end and at least partially defining a sabot cavity configured to receive a projectile therein, the projectile comprising a projectile body having a rear end and a front end, and a length approximately equal to or less than the sabot sidewall portion;   wherein the projectile is received in the sabot cavity such that the second sabot end extends beyond the front end of the projectile sufficient to form a space between the tip of the projectile and a primer of a preceding ammunition cartridge.   
     
     
         11 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge body engages the sabot sidewall portion. 
     
     
         12 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the sabot sidewall portion defines at least one of a notch or a groove, and the second end of the cartridge body comprises a portion configured to engage the at least one of the notch or the groove. 
     
     
         13 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of an interior surface of the sabot cavity or an exterior surface of the projectile body is configured to provide engagement between the sabot and the projectile. 
     
     
         14 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the second sabot end is configured to contact the base of the preceding ammunition cartridge at multiple points of contact spaced from the primer of the preceding ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the sabot body further comprises a series of separation areas configured to promote release of the sabot from the projectile after the sabot and the projectile exit a barrel of a firearm. 
     
     
         16 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the first sabot end defines a recess configured to receive expanding propellant gases upon ignition of the propellant and promote sealing between the sabot and a barrel of a firearm during firing of the projectile from the firearm. 
     
     
         17 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the sabot cavity defines an interior shape complimentary to at least a portion of an ogive of the projectile. 
     
     
         18 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the second sabot end comprises a higher mass section configured to generate a centrifugal opening force to promote separation of the sabot from the projectile after the sabot and the projectile exit a barrel of a firearm. 
     
     
         19 . An ammunition cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a sidewall defining a cartridge cavity extending longitudinally from a first cartridge end to a second cartridge end, the second cartridge end defining an opening;   a cartridge base at the first cartridge end;   a primer at the cartridge base;   a propellant received in the cartridge cavity;   a sabot at least partially received in the cartridge cavity and comprising a sabot body having a first sabot end and a second sabot end opposite the first sabot end, the sabot body comprising a sabot base portion and a sabot sidewall portion extending longitudinally from the sabot base portion toward the second sabot end and at least partially defining a sabot cavity; and   a projectile at least partially received in the sabot cavity, the projectile comprising a projectile body extending longitudinally from a rear end to a front end defining a tip,   wherein the second sabot end extends beyond the tip of projectile such that the tip of the projectile is spaced from a primer of a second ammunition cartridge.   
     
     
         20 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the ammunition cartridge is configured to be received within a tubular magazine in end-to-end abutment with successive cartridges and with the tip of the projectile of the ammunition cartridge recessed from engaging a primer of an adjacent cartridge.