Thread: saboted revolver cartridge

Retrieved: February 12, 2014
Last Post: August 18, 2013

Article discussing a S&W patent application for a "disintegrating sabot" for revolver ammunition: http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2012/05/17/25000-fps-handgun-cartridge/

The patent application itself: http://www.google.com/patents/US20060011092

Some years ago I noticed that the .38 Special runs at the same pressure range as some shotshells, and wondered about the practicability of plastic .38 cases. The problem was retaining the bullets. Other than gluing them in, I thought of having ridges molded into the front of the case to go into extra grease grooves.

Anyway, if you made the sabot an integral part of the case (basically, making the shoulder really, really thick) you could get some neck tension on the bullet and have a cartridge that was bottlenecked inside, but square outside, so it wouldn't be subject to the occasional setback issues that make bottlenecked revolver cartridges a hassle at higher pressures.

Making such a case out of brass would involve major expense, but it would be possible to mold such a thing out of plastic...

colt45727
August 15, 2013

Thanks for posting that article. It was definitely an interesting read.

The case your talking about making, reminds me of the 7.62 Nagant round for the Nagant revolver. The bullet is recessed into the casing and then the case is necked down for the gas seal. Wonder if you can take the idea from that, and make that work.

TRX
August 16, 2013

Probably. It might even be possible to do a heat-sealed crimp, and use .38- length cartridges in a .357 chamber. I bet there's more than one way to solve the bullet retention problem.

Considering how expensive brass is, there are definite attractions to a plastic cartridge.

colt45727
August 18, 2013

I would definitely make the rounds out of more commonly available caliber. I would try brass before plastic.

The Nagant rounds look like they were pinched inside the brass and then had a crimp on top.

Maybe be able to actually pinch / make two dimples on the side of the brass, in order to make it stay inside without using a bottle crimp.