Projectile seating depth influence on a small arms cartridge performance

Abstract

In the world of small-arms ammunition, precision reigns supreme. The most significant feature of ammunition for shooters is undoubtedly the repeatability from one shot to the next. This study explores the detailed assembly process of small arms cartridges, leveraging modern machinery and innovative designs employed by cartridge manufacturers. It emphasizes how these tools ensure the fundamental repeatability and precision necessary for the quality of each batch of rounds. Establishing standards for the highest possible quality requires assessing the impact of imprecise cartridge assembly on ballistic performance. Utilizing a free-flight ballistic tunnel, a high-speed camera, light- and target-screen systems, the authors analyzed the effects of varying projectile seating depths thus affecting cartridge overall lengths (COAL) and cartridge base to ogive distance (CBTO) on the initial velocity and bullets’ point of impact at 50 meters. The study was conducted for two types of projectiles, differing in their ogive profiles: secant and tangent ogive. The performance differences between these profiles provided valuable insights for future projectile designs, highlighting that low-drag projectiles are slightly more sensitive to the seating depth than tangent profile bullets, and the importance of it should be considered in mass, military production as well. It is a valuable resource for analyzing the trade-off between producing bullets with a low drag coefficient and ensuring high precision. The research enhances the understanding of internal and external ballistics but most importantly draws attention to the importance of the standards of assembly processes to ensure optimal performance and safety in the field.