Patent Publication Number: US-2012023799-A1

Title: Reduced recoil choked shotgun barrel

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to shotgun barrels, and more particularly, relating to a shotgun barrel of a particular design and construction that provides a reduced recoil choked shotgun barrel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When fired, a firearm produces a recoil effect that is caused by the firearm&#39;s backward momentum, which exactly balances the forward momentum of the ejecta (the projectile(s), wad, sabot, propellant gas, etc.). In small arms, such as shotguns, the recoil is transferred through the shooter handling the firearm and into the ground. The recoil experienced by the shooter can have damaging effects on the shooter. For example, in shotguns, the shooter can experience a sudden and sharp jolt to the shoulder resulting in bruising of bone and tissue. Numerous devices having a myriad of constructions have been devised to reduce the recoil experienced by a shooter firing a shotgun. While these devises to a lesser or greater extent fulfill their respective objects, there still remains a need for an improved device of simple and low cost construction to reduce the recoil of a shotgun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention addresses this need by providing a shotgun barrel of an improved, simple and low cost construction which is able to reduce up to 50% of recoil as compared to a similarly constructed barrel not including the features of the present invention. 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide a propellant gas venting shotgun barrel. 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention further provide a shotgun barrel having a choke and propellant gas venting. 
     To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a reduced recoil choked shotgun barrel is provided. The shotgun barrel includes a smooth, non-rifled bore and a choke approximate the muzzle of the barrel. A plurality of vent holes through the barrel and extending into the bore in equal number and in alignment on opposing sides of the barrel along a length of the barrel that is inward of the choke. The sum of the transverse area of each of the plurality of vent holes not exceeding 50% of the muzzle area. 
     In general, in another aspect, each of the plurality of vent holes are of a diameter not exceeding 0.125 inches. In general, in another aspect, each of the plurality of vent holes are all of the same diameter. 
     In general, in another aspect, a shotgun is provided. The shotgun includes a first barrel having a smooth, non-rifled bore and a choke approximate the muzzle of the barrel, a plurality of vent holes through the barrel and extending into the bore in equal number and in alignment on opposing sides of the barrel along a length of the barrel that is inward of the choke, the sum of the transverse area of each of the plurality of vent holes not exceeding 50% of the muzzle area. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a reduced recoil choked shotgun barrel constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  illustrating the construction of the bore and venting holes of the barrel; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a single barrel shotgun including the shotgun barrel of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a double barrel, over-under shotgun including the shotgun barrel of  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIGS. 1-3  there is depicted an end portion of a shotgun barrel  10  that is specially designed in such a particular manner to reduce recoil of a shotgun utilizing the specially designed shotgun barrel. Barrel  10  comprises a smooth, non-rifled bore  12  terminating at muzzle  14 . Bore  12  comprises a choke  16  approximate muzzle  14 . The choke  16  consists of a conical section  18  that smoothly tapers from the bore diameter down to the choke diameter, followed by a cylindrical section  20  of the choke diameter. 
     A plurality of cylindrical-shaped vent holes  22  extend through the sidewall  24  of the barrel  10  from the exterior surface  26  of the barrel and into the bore  12 . Vent holes  22  allow a portion of the high pressure propellant gases within the barrel  10  behind the fired ejecta (the projectile(s), wad, sabot, etc.) to escape the barrel  10 , and thus reduce recoil. I have discovered that patterning the vent holes  22  in an exact and particular fashion, that is directly related to the area of the muzzle  14 , the recoil can be reduced by as much as 50% as compared to a barrel of similar bore and choke not having the exact and particular patterned vent holes. 
     Specifically, vent holes  22  must extend through the sidewall  24  of the barrel  10  along a length of the barrel that begins approximate the choke  16  and extends inwardly therefrom. An equal number of vent holes  22  must extend on opposite sides of the barrel  10  and must be in coaxial alignment with a corresponding and oppositely located vent hole. In an aspect, the vent holes  22  should be spaced 0.375 inches on center. 
     Further, the sum of the areas of each vent  22  as measured transversely across and normal to the axis of a vent hole can be equal to, but must not exceed 50% the area of the muzzle  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the sum of the areas of each vent hole  22  is exactly equal to 50% of area the muzzle, which I have found reduces the recoil by an equal 50% as compared to a barrel of similar bore and choke. I have discovered a vent hole diameter VD range of 0.094 inches and 0.125 inches on a barrel having a muzzle diameter MD of 0.7 inches provides most efficient recoil reduction. However, of course, the vent hole diameter VD can be scaled in accordance with the muzzle diameter MD. I have further discovered, the sum of the vent hole diameters is directly proportional to the recoil reduction, i.e. a vent hole diameter sum equal to 25% of the muzzle diameter MD will produce a 25% reducing in recoil. In another aspect, the vent holes  22  may be made at a lesser or greater angle to the bore  12  of the barrel  10 . However, the openings of oppositely disposed vent holes  22  into the bore  12  must remain coaxial. 
     In  FIG. 4 , there is shown a single barrel shotgun  30  comprising a barrel  10  constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6  there is shown a double barrel shotgun  32  in an over-under barrel configuration comprising a first barrel  34  and a second barrel  36 , each constructed as barrel  10  described above and in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.