Shaped projectile propellant

Abstract

A projectile load, such as a projectile cartridge, can include a propellant within the case. The propellant may include a first face, and the projectile load may include a form having a predefined set form shape that holds the first face in a first face shape that is uneven, which may include one or more protrusions and may define one or more hollows. The projectile load can also include a projectile at least partially within the case and different from the form, with the first face of the propellant facing toward the projectile. The projectile load can be configured so that an ignition of the propellant will force the projectile out of the case.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A projectile cartridge comprising:
 a case;   a propellant that comprises a chemical explosive within the case, with the propellant comprising a face, and with the face being held in a predefined set face shape that is uneven; and   a projectile at least partially within the case, a side of the projectile being gripped by the case, a front of the projectile facing out of the case, a rear of the projectile facing toward the propellant, the face of the propellant facing toward the projectile, the gripping of the projectile by the case being configured to keep the projectile at least partially within the case until ignition of the propellant forces the projectile from the case, the projectile cartridge being configured to be inserted into a gun, and the face of the propellant being held in the predefined set face shape by a form that is separate from the projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the projectile cartridge comprises an insert between the propellant and the projectile, with the insert being an insert that holds its own shape and comprises the form that holds the face of the propellant in the face shape. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant comprises the form so that the propellant holds itself in the face shape. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the face shape defines a hollow extending into the propellant. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the hollow comprises a central apex. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the hollow is conical. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the face shape defines a protrusion. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the protrusion comprises a central apex. 
     
     
         9 . A projectile load comprising:
 a case;   a propellant that comprises a chemical explosive within the case, the propellant comprising a first face, and the projectile load comprising a form having a predefined set form shape that holds the first face in a first face shape that is uneven, the propellant having a second face that faces away from the first face, the second face having a second face shape that does not match the first face shape; and   a projectile at least partially within the case and different from the form, the projectile filling an opening of the case, the first face of the propellant facing toward the projectile, and the projectile load being configured so that an ignition of the propellant will force the projectile out of the case.   
     
     
         10 . The projectile load of  claim 9 , wherein the first face has a surface area greater than a surface area of the second face. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile load of  claim 9 , wherein the form comprises an insert between the propellant and the projectile, with the insert being an insert that holds its own shape and holds the first face of the propellant in the first face shape. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile load of  claim 9 , wherein the propellant comprises the form that holds the first face of the propellant in the first face shape. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile load of  claim 9 , wherein the projectile load is a projectile cartridge, wherein a side of the projectile is gripped by the case, a front of the projectile faces out of the case, and a rear of the projectile faces toward the propellant, with the projectile cartridge being configured to be inserted into a gun. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile load of  claim 9 , wherein the propellant does not define a passageway between the first face and the second face. 
     
     
         15 . The projectile load of  claim 9 , wherein the propellant abuts the case. 
     
     
         16 . A method of firing a projectile load, the method comprising:
 inserting a projectile load into a gun, the projectile load comprising:
 a propellant that comprises a chemical explosive in a case, the propellant comprising a set face shape that is uneven, the set face shape being held in place by a form, the form having a set shape and holding the set face shape in place until the propellant is ignited; and 
 a projectile that is separate from the form; and 
   igniting the propellant, the igniting of the propellant causing the form to collapse and causing the projectile to be fired from the gun, with the projectile being separate from the form after the projectile is fired from the gun.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the form comprises an insert positioned in the case between the propellant and the projectile until the igniting of the propellant, with the insert being an insert that holds its own shape and holds the face of the propellant in the face shape until the igniting of the propellant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the form comprises the face of the propellant holding itself in the face shape until the igniting of the propellant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the face shape defines a hollow. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the projectile load is a projectile cartridge comprising the case, the propellant, the form, and the projectile, wherein a side of the projectile is gripped by the case until the igniting of the propellant, wherein a front of the projectile faces out of the case until the igniting of the propellant, and wherein a rear of the projectile faces toward the propellant until the igniting of the propellant.