Improvements in Cartridges.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Cartridges.
We KYNOCH LIMITED, Manufacturers, and JoHN JAMES INNISS, Ammunition
Inspector of Kynoch Ltd, both of Lion Works, Witton, in the County of Stafford,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to cartridges for small bore rifles such as the British
government rifle of 0303 inch bore. Cartridges for such rifles, when loaded with
cordite, are provided with a cardboard or paper wad laid in front of the cordite
charge before the case is necked in. The wad is necessary to retain the cordite
charge in position during the processes of necking and attaching the bullet to the
We find that when such a wad is used in a case the pressure produced by
the explosion of the cordite in the gun is materially increased. This increase
appears due to the momentary resistance of the wad, and the check thereby pro-
duced to the start of the movement of the bullet.
case.
Our invention consists in substituting for the ordinary wad a combustible wad
made preferably of cordite. We find, by substituting cordite for the cardboard
or paper wad, that the pressure within the gun is reduced, and the velocity of
the bullet is maintained, notwithstanding the fall in pressure.
Sometimes we slightly reduce the charge of cordite in the gun, but we find,
as the result of experiment, that, using a wad weighing 22, grains in the 303 cart-
ridge, we reduce the cordite charge separate from the wad by 12 grains. We thus
have a charge, one of cordite, consisting, part of the usual cord, part of a cordite
wad, 1 grain heavier than the usual charge. By using this device we get uniform
pressures and uniform velocities.
We consider that the use of a combustible wad prevents the initial resistance
which is otherwise given to the movement of the bullet by the stiff paper or card-
board wad. Whatever be the cause, however, of the change, we find by experi-
ment that the use of a cordite instead of an ordinary wad prevents the attainment
of undue pressures within the firing chamber of the rifle.
Dated the 28th day of September 1898.
MARKS & CLERK,
Agents for the Applicants,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,

page_text: Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our invention relates to cartridges for small bore rifles such as the British
government rifle of 0303 inch bore. Cartridges for such rifles when loaded with
cordite are provided with a cardboard or paper wad laid in front of the cordite
before the case is necked in. The wad is necessary to retain the cordite charge in
We
position during the process of necking and attaching the bullet to the case.
find that with such a wad the pressure produced in the gun by the explosion of
the cordite is materially increased. This increase appears to be due to the
momentary resistance of the wad and a check is thereby produced to the start of
the movement of the bullet. The object of our invention is to avoid this increase
of pressure and consequent initial check to the movement of the bullet.
Our invention consists in substituting for the ordinary wad, a wad of self-
combustible material, which ignites readily, and becomes consumed in the firing
of the cartridge. The substance we prefer to use is cordite but other like sub-
stances may be found equally suitable. We find that the substitution of a wad
of this kind materially reduces the excessive initial pressure within the gun, and
that the velocity of the bullet is maintained notwithstanding the reduced pressure.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates our invention accord-
ing to one modification as applied to a small bore rifle cartridge:
A is the cartridge case, which is reduced in diameter in the usual manner at B,
so as to fit the bullet C. D) is the cordite wad retained between the charge E,
also of cordite, and the bullet C. We find that by using a wad of this kind we
are able to reduce the weight of the cordite charge, separate from the wad. For
instance, with a cordite wad weighing 2½ grains in a 0303 cartridge, we reduce
the charge by 1 grains. We therefore have a total charge, made up partly of
cordite, in the usual cord form, and partly of a cordite wad, which is 1 grain
heavier than the usual charge for such cartridges. The employment of such a wad
thus enables us to increase the charge for a given size of cartridge, and at the
same time reduce the excessive initial pressure which is given by a cardboard or
like wad, while maintaining the velocity of the bullet.
uniform pressure within the bore of the rifle.
We thus secure a more
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-:
A self-combustible wad for rifle cartridges substantially as
locaribed
herein before
th day of May 1899.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.