Abstract 1. A flechette cartridge comprising an external cartridge casing, an internal flechette projectile having protruding stabilizing surfaces, a plurality of individual sabot segments encompassing said projectile and intermeshing with the said protruding stabilizing surfaces to align said projectile with the bore of the firearm in which said cartridge is fired, said projectile-sabot segmented unit having an axial length greater than the axial length of the protruding stabilizing surfaces on said projectile thus supporting the forward portion of the projectile against buckling as the unit proceeds down the bore of the firearm, said sabot segments when intermeshed with said projectile forming a circle of diameter equal to or greater than the diametric circle encompassing the said protruding stabilizing surfaces, explosive means to propel said projectile and suitable means to support said projectile and segmented sabots against thrust of the powder gases and to obturate said powder gases.
A flechette cartridge comprising an external cartridge casing, an internal flechette projectile having protruding stabilizing surfaces, a plurality of individual sabot segments encompassing said projectile and intermeshing with the said protruding stabilizing surfaces to align said projectile with the bore of the firearm in which said cartridge is fired, said projectile-sabot segmented unit having an axial length greater than the axial length of the protruding stabilizing surfaces on said projectile thus supporting the forward portion of the projectile against buckling as the unit proceeds down the bore of the firearm, said sabot segments when intermeshed with said projectile forming a circle of diameter equal to or greater than the diametric circle encompassing the said protruding stabilizing surfaces, explosive means to propel said projectile and suitable means to support said projectile and segmented sabots against thrust of the powder gases and to obturate said powder gases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A flechette cartridge comprising an external cartridge casing, an internal flechette projectile having protruding stabilizing surfaces, a plurality of individual sabot segments encompassing said projectile and intermeshing with the said protruding stabilizing surfaces to align said projectile with the bore of the firearm in which said cartridge is fired, said projectile-sabot segmented unit having an axial length greater than the axial length of the protruding stabilizing surfaces on said projectile thus supporting the forward portion of the projectile against buckling as the unit proceeds down the bore of the firearm, said sabot segments when intermeshed with said projectile forming a circle of diameter equal to or greater than the diametric circle encompassing the said protruding stabilizing surfaces, explosive means to propel said projectile and suitable means to support said projectile and segmented sabots against thrust of the powder gases and to obturate said powder gases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the projectile and segmented sabots are supported against thrust of the powder gases by a suitably strong disk of bore diameter and wherein said disk is obturated against powder by a cup wad with rearwardly exposed cup.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the flechette projectile is a needle-like finned object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the sabot segments are constructed of a light material possessing good lubricity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the sabot segments are constructed of nylon.