Dummy ammunition

A dummy cartridge or ammunition is disclosed comprising a cartridge case containing a case floor portion, a substantially cylindrical case wall, a substantially conical shoulder portion and a mouth portion. A dummy body member or projectile is inserted into the cartridge case and bears against the case floor portion. Means serve for securing one end of the dummy body member to the floor portion of the cartridge case, whereas a further portion of the dummy body member is attached to the mouth portion of said cartridge case. The dummy body member possesses a substantially cylindrical hollow compartment having a forward portion. An adjustable trim body is inserted into the forward portion of the hollow compartment, in order to place the center of gravity of the dummy cartridge at a predetermined desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of dummy 
or drill ammunition and, more specifically, to a dummy cartridge which can 
be repeatedly used during practice firing of a weapon or the like. 
Generally speaking, the dummy cartridge of the present development is of 
the type containing a cartridge case or sleeve which possesses a case 
floor or base, a substantially cylindrical wall, a case-conical shoulder 
portion and a case-mouth portion. Additionally, there is provided a dummy 
projectile body or projectile which bears upon the base or floor of the 
case and, on the one hand, is secured to the case base and, on the other 
hand, is attached to the mouth portion of the case. 
According to a state-of-the-art dummy cartridge as disclosed in U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,882,821, granted Apr. 21, 1959, the center of gravity of the dummy 
cartridge is shifted, in relation to service or live cartridges, due to 
the attachment of the dummy projectile by means of a reinforcing rod at 
the base or floor of the cartridge case. However, this undesirably 
influences the infeed of the cartridges to or ramming of the cartridges 
into the weapon, since the dummy cartridges should desirably behave in the 
same manner as service ammunition. 
Other constructions of ammunition or cartridges know to the art are 
exemplified, for instance, in French Pat. No. 2,374,614, filed Dec. 17, 
1976, U.S. Pat. No. 2,342,549, granted Feb. 22, 1944, U. S. Pat. No. 
4,233,902, granted Nov. 18, 1980, and British Pat. No. 572,269, granted 
Oct. 1, 1945. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved construction of dummy ammunition or cartridge which can be 
reliably and effectively repeatedly used during practice firing of a 
weapon. 
Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at the 
provision of a new and improved construction of dummy cartridge which is 
resistent to the forces arising during the infeed or ramming of the dummy 
cartridge into a weapon, and which dummy cartridge is constructed such 
that the center of gravity is located at the proper place, even though the 
attachment of the dummy projectile or body at the case floor or base 
causes a shift in the center of gravity. 
Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an 
improved construction of dummy or practice cartridge which is designed 
such that it accurately simulates the firing of service or live 
ammunition, can be repeatedly used without danger of distortion or damage 
to the cartridge case, and can be reliably and economically fabricated. 
Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, 
which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the 
dummy or practice cartridge of the present development is generally 
manifested by the features that, the dummy body or projectile possesses a 
substantially cylindrical hollow compartment or space. Contained in the 
front portion or region of the cylindrical hollow compartment or space is 
an adjustable threaded-in trim body, which serves to shift the center of 
gravity of the dummy cartridge to a desired location. 
Through the provision of this trim or tunning body there is achieved the 
beneficial result that the dummy or practice cartridge behaves like 
service or live ammunition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Describing now the single FIGURE of the drawing, there is disclosed therein 
a dummy or practice cartridge 10 containing a dummy body or projectile 11 
and a cartridge case or sleeve 12. The cartridge case 12 possesses a case 
floor or base portion 13, a case wall 14, a case-conical shoulder portion 
15 and a case-mouth portion 16. The conical portion or conical shoulder 15 
of the cartridge case 12 has merging therewith the mouth portion 16 at the 
forward or free end of the cartridge case 12. The dummy body or projectile 
11 possesses a substantially cylindrical hollow compartment or cavity 17 
in which there is located a so-called trim or tuning body member 18. This 
trim or tuning body member 18 is retained by a first screw or threaded 
bolt 19 or equivalent structure at the forward portion of the hollow 
compartment 17. By means of a second threaded screw or bolt 20 or 
equivalent structure the dummy body or projectile 11 is attached at the 
floor or base 13 of the cartridge case 12. By means of the trim body or 
body member 18 there is achieved the desirable result that the center of 
gravity of the dummy cartridge 10 can be positioned at the same location 
where there is located the center of gravity of service or live cartridges 
or ammunition. 
The inventive construction of dummy cartridge 10 furthermore advantageously 
possesses a casting mass or composition 22 which is located between the 
conical shoulder 15 of the cartridge case 12 and the dummy body or 
projectile 11. This casting means 22 serves to prevent any excessive 
distortion or upsetting of the cartridge case-conical shoulder portion 15. 
In this way the dummy or drill cartridge can be repeatedly used. If the 
cartridge case 12 of the dummy cartridge is deformed during the infeed 
thereof to a weapon and upon its ejection out of the weapon, particularly 
if the cartridge case-conical shoulder portion 15 is markedly deformed or 
stressed, then the dummy cartridge no longer can be used since there is no 
longer ensured for a reliable ramming into and ejection of the dummy or 
practice cartridge out of the firing weapon. 
Due to the filling of the casting mass 22 between the conical shoulder 
portion 15 of the cartridge case 12 and the dummy body or projectile 11 
there is not initially prevented any upsetting or deformation, but such is 
so small that the useful service life of the dummy cartridge is 
maintained. The casting mass 22 prevents that the deformation or upsetting 
of the cartridge case or casing 12 will exceed a certain value. 
While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced 
within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,