BAE Systems PLC
Pressed head

Abstract:

The invention relates to a method of improved ammunition production, more specifically to an improved pressed metal head component suitable for a polymer tube cartridge The invention relates to a method of drawing and forming a metal head unit for use with a polymer case to form a polymer cartridge for use in a rifled barrel, comprising the steps of i) providing a metal cup drawing it through one or more dies to provide a case tube, wherein the case tube has a closed head end with a first outer diameter and an elongate open end, ii) trimming the elongate open end to form a metal coupling protrusion, said metal coupling protrusion with a second outer diameter, wherein the first diameter and second diameter are the same, iii) forming, a primer cavity into the closed head end, iv) forming internal and external features in the closed head end, v) forming by a heading process, an enlarged head rim on the closed head end, such that said enlarged head rim has a third diameter which is larger than the second diameter of the open end.