I apologize if my questions, bore many of you, but I'm interested. I'll use the 300 Super (H&H) as an example. This was invented by Holland & Holland. It and the ammunition was sold by them. If another rifle maker built a rifle in that caliber, was that maker required to pay Holland and Holland any thing? I believe Knoch made ammo for H&H. If, say Ely made ammo and labeled it 300 super, did they pay a fee. Does the same apply today? Captdavid

A lot of this is just a matter of changing things .001 and calling it whatever you want.

To my knowledge, a proprietary chambering could only be made by the original gun manufacturer. I don't think they paid the ammo makers anything, but I could be wrong. I think that without the ammo makers, no one would buy the guns, so it was a mutual benefit to both. Many of the originators "Released" the cartridge to the public, which meant that anyone could chamber rifles for that cartridge. Holland did so with the 300 and 375, as did W.R. with the 318. That's why you see so many from different makers and the main reason they became so popular, aside from the fact that they were all great performers in their own right. Probably Enfieldspares will chime in with more info.

I don't remember ever hearing of a situation where a gun company "protected" their round.

You need to educate yourself on the way the British gun manufacturers did their business.

When I developed a wildcat .505 cartridge in the late 1960's and attempted to obtain .505 bullets from Kynoch, I was told that the .505 Gibbs cartridge was proprietary and for that reason I could not purchase components.

Cpt. - Some cartridge creators choose to patent, copyright, and/or trademark their cartridges. They do it so they can control access and distribution of their designs with the hopes of making money from royalties or by being the sole producer and source. The JDJ cartridges are an example of proprietary cartridges. So, too is the .50 Beowulf® (note the registered trademark symbol) to the point that even the magazines are propriety. Gun builders, gunsmiths, ammunition makers, and component suppliers that want to make rifles, ream chambers, or sell ammunition for these must license the right to do so from the owner of the trademark, or copyright.

They can copyright a name or brand it with a trademark but the problem with controlling a design is that someone can alter it in a very small way and call it something else. It's like WalMart knocking-off shoes designed by Gucci. Subtle changes in the dimensions of cartridges won't prevent them from being interchangeable. For example, the 300 Whisper® is a proprietary cartridge of SSK Industries. It is essentially a .300-221 or 300 Fireball. Advanced Armament Corporation got around SSK's design by making very subtle changes and ended up calling their version .300 Blackout AAC, 300 Blackout or 300 BLK for short. Most rifles that can fire the Whisper® can also fire the Blackout and vise versa, most but not all. If the gun maker or gunsmith knows what he is doing he can make sure he builds rifles in which those both will be compatible. Other examples are the Olympic Super Short Magnum cartridges, OSSM, from Olympic Arms, and Winchester Super Short Magnum, WSSM, cartridges from Winchester.

Luckily most cartridges are not controlled like that. It is a double edged sword. The proprietary design, if a good one, may gather interest and generate a little income for the designer but it will never be as popular as it otherwise would have been because of its proprietary nature. Limited availability of cases and ammunition, extra fees to be paid for making the rifles, limited and expensive magazines, and extra fees for reloading dies work against popularity. When cartridges like the .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, and .25-06 Remington came about there wasn't much of a reason to make the cartridges proprietary because they had already existed as wildcats and all anyone needed to do was build rifles and load ammo with the wildcat names to get around it, in this case .22 Varminter, 240 Page Pooper, and .25-06 wildcats, or make up their own names. On the other hand, by sticking their registered trademark names at the end of non-proprietary cartridges and legitimizing them, like A-Square did with .338-06 A-Square and Remington did with .25-06 Remington, companies can get some extra advertising mileage.

I'll sum up my personal feelings about proprietary cartridges by telling you what I told someone recently when they asked me if my wildcat, .405 Grenadier, is proprietary. I replied, "No. My intent is to enjoy it and let others do the same." That's the way it should be.

As far as the 318 WR goes:

Leslie Taylor held no patent on the WR per se
he did hold a patent on the LT bullet or "LT system " as WR referred to it.

He did hold two patents on metallic cartridges in general. Both in 1895.

The founder of WR William Westley Richards held was granted patents for breech loading rifles using metallic cartridges in 1858 The patent included the cartridge patent.

After William WR John Deely became director of the firm , he held 16 or so patents related to guns in general.

The 318 WR was the brain child of Leslie Taylor and it bore the WR Title.

He was quite a scholar of ballistics and did considerable experimentation on bullet design.

He had some interesting thoughts on why the 318 was better than the 275 and the 280 Ross, the latter which he seemed to have viewed as competition.

He sold the 318 WR loaded with his patented bullets as a "system" called the LT system which he held as being a triangle with sides consisting of accuracy, flat trajectory and sporting effectiveness ie killing ability.

For this he claimed to have invented a special rifle which was actually a Mauser 98 fitted with WR patented sights and fitments. He discerned between pure Mauser's which he rebranded as WR Mausers vs Mauser actioned WR rifles.

He believed in the combination of Velocity, shock and energy !

Notes on H&H:

Henry Holland patented the Belted Rimless case in 1904 and in this cornered the market for all that followed.

He did this in consultation of one FW Jones of the Smokeless Powder and Ammunition co of Barwick

The 400/375 in 1905
The 275 H&H in 1910

The 275 was important because they experimented with overbore cartridges, very important to the later development of the 300 and 375.
We must not forget the British were still wrestling with cordite and pressure was a huge issue !

The 375 H&H belted Rimless in 1912

And then the 300 Super Rimless / "Super Thirty" / 300 H&H in 1925

Jones and Charles Ross do the 280 Ross in 1906.

Halbe and Gerlich of Kiell is Germany took this 280 Ross and revved it up to produce the 280 Halger and set world records for velocity in 1926, clocking an astounding 3900 fps with a 100 gr bullet ! This rifle with its 29 inch barrel shot a ragged one hole group at 300m !


What is interesting is that there was an American who actually patented the first belted rimless some years before namely Sylvester Roper
circa 1866

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
You need to educate yourself on the way the British gun manufacturers did their business.

Maybe you do, show me a lawsuit where a company sued someone for using their cartridge?

I personally could car less, if you find it or not. I always thought it was bullshit, and other than the denial of a purchase like XAUSA said. I have not seen it. It was one of those things that people exaggerated into a bullshit story.

Never seen a first hand account with an actual lawsuit mentioned.

Lee440, you need to educate yourself on the world and not believe everything you hear or read on the internet.

It is interesting because gunmakers both in Europe and England Patented inventions including improvements to existing patents owned by others.

It was incredibly important to them and their clientele base, especially to those who served the well heeled. Not only that they actively sought recognition from Royalty hence then the fact that they were granted Warrents from Royal Houses.

Of the most famous Lawsuits in the Gunmaking world was the Suit between Mauser and the US Govt for the 1903 Springfield

5 patents were infringed:

467180 , Shell Extractor

477671, Shell Extractor & Collar

482376, Clips, (called cartridge holder for magazine guns)

527869, Oct, 1894

547932, Clip (called cartridge pack)

547933, Safety, covered by 590271

590271, Sept, 1897

In addition to this there was a lawsuit brought by DWM for use of the Spitzer bullet. This never came to a conclusion because of WW1 and its outcome.

Looking at the histories of the famous gunmakers we see listings of their patents and also references to patent infringements.

It was all dependent on what was patented and what not!

I have an original copy of the very rare book Mauser Gewhere und Patente by Korn which contains the original drawings and descriptions of all the Mauser patents. Further the set of books by George Hoyem
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS, SMALL ARMS, 1855-1930 (7 volume set )

This applied to gunmakers an all sides of the pond !

Just for interest:

Did you know that the 375 Ruger and all its possibilities in caliber ( for the currently popular caliber range ) using the same case is patented ! And Hornady holds that patent right !

That means that anyone who uses this "base case" and wildcats it to another caliber say a 7mm or 30 caliber and wishes to profit financially from it would need to obtain the rights from Hornady to do so?

The patent description is quite extensive and interesting to read

Generally speaking, the more specifications a patent must contain to protect a very simple design the easier it is to make a modification to stay outside of the patent.

For example, consider this language. The case could be lengthened or shortened to avoid item 3. A different shoulder angle would avoid item 4. Only a cartridge of .30 caliber is covered by this patent. Changing body taper avoids item 6.

quote:

3. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the case has an overall length of between 2.080 and 2.100 inch.

4. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the shoulder has a diameter of 0.420 at a position between 1.719 and 1.726 inch from an end face of the head.

5. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the bullet has a maximum diameter of between 0.306 and 0.309 inch.

6. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.517 at a position 1.500 inch from an end face of the head.

Go read Hornady's patent
They made provision for that very thing !
Obviously when caliber changes other dimensions change and the patent makes provision for that

I couldn't find the patent you refer to. Has the patent been granted or is it pending? Normally, if a patent application is too broad and encompassing it will either not be granted or, if granted, stands greater risk of being successfully challenged.

"Jones and Charles Ross do the 280 Ross in 1906.

Halbe and Gerlich of Kiell is Germany took this 280 Ross and revved it up to produce the 280 Halger and set world records for velocity in 1926, clocking an astounding 3900 fps with a 100 gr bullet ! This rifle with its 29 inch barrel shot a ragged one hole group at 300m !"

ALF,

Do you have any information regarding the sights used for the 300M shooting?

Regards

Saeed

Cartridge for a firearm
US 8443729 B2
ABSTRACT
The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a centerfire rifle cartridge with a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, and a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet. The body has a straight external surface free of a protruding belt, and has a maximum diameter sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action of magnum width. The cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action such as a short action or a long action.

DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the firearm ammunition, and more particularly to centerfire cartridges for rifles.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Rifle cartridges for firearms are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes for different applications. However, the variations are not infinite, and there are important constraints on cartridge dimensions. A typical rifle cartridge has a bottleneck shape with a slightly tapered nearly cylindrical body extending from a base or head to a much more tapered conical shoulder that transitions to a nearly cylindrical neck that receives a bullet. The case head typically has a groove near the head to provide a rim for a rifle extractor to engage, enabling removal of the case from a rifle chamber after firing.

Some cartridges are “belted”, in that they have a larger diameter band near the head, with a forward facing step. The main body portion has a slightly smaller diameter than the belted portion. When a belted cartridge is chambered, the belt step provides a stop that establishes the axial position of the cartridge in the chamber. In contrast, an standard non-belted cartridge limits its insertion depth by the shoulder engaging an internal shoulder in the chamber.

While cartridges may exist in any theoretical dimension, there are a number of reason why cartridges have been limited in their dimensions.

First, the characteristics of gun powder and structural limitations on rifle actions (which define the chamber) make many extreme dimensional ratios impractical or unsafe.

Second, cartridges are generally made in “families,” which each member of the family produced from a common source or “parent” cartridge case. This can be as simple as a standard case that is necked down for a smaller bullet caliber (or expanded for a larger caliber). Parent cases may be shortened as well. Nonetheless, essentially all the modification of the parent cartridge occurs at the end of the cartridge near the mouth. There is very little that can be done after a case is made to change the dimensions near the case head in any useful manner, aside from minor (but impractical in large scale production) machining operations such as to trim the rim to a smaller rebated diameter or to machine turn off a belt.

While it is easy to conceive of cartridges outside of established families (those with established case head dimensions) there is a powerful economic barrier to creating new cartridges outside of these families, due to the large tooling cost for a new cartridge. This is one reasons why belted cartridges have persisted, even though the original reason for the belt (for historic cartridges without prominent shoulders to establish depth) does not apply to many or most modern belted cartridges.

A third limitation on cartridge dimensions is the dimensions of the actions of the rifles that are to receive them. Again, rifle actions may be conceived in any length or width, but it is impractical for rifle manufacturers to generate a new size for a new cartridge that may be proposed (and there is a powerful disincentive to develop a cartridge for which there are no rifles capable of shooting it—or if the only rifles that do receive it are needlessly heavy, large or expensive.) Thus rifle actions (in the field of bolt action rifles for this discussion) are generally produced in just a few limited size categories. Even competing rifle makers use the same standard sizes, because they are producing rifles for the same market of standard ammunition.

A bolt-rifle's action will have a main elongated lower opening rearward of the chamber through which a cartridge is received (this opening may be on the side or top for single shot rifles). The opening has a length that limits the cartridge overall length (COL) that can be received, and this opening length essentially defines the length of the action. While it is disadvantageous to employ an action that is significantly longer than needed for a given cartridge due to weight, cost, size, and strength reasons, slight excess length is tolerated. Thus, there are only a limited number of action (opening) lengths produced.

A “short action” closely accepts a cartridge with a maximum COL of 2.84 inch. This is sized to optimally receive the 308 Winchester cartridge, for instance.

A “long action” closely accepts a cartridge with a maximum COL of 3.34 inch. This is sized to optimally receive the 30-06 Springfield cartridge, for instance.

A “magnum action” closely accepts a cartridge with a maximum COL of 3.60 inch. This is sized to optimally receive the 375H&H Magnum cartridge, for instance.

The width of the action opening limits the diameter of the accepted cartridge. Typical actions are provided in one of three standard widths, to provide standardization for the reasons noted above.

A standard width action admits a cartridge with a maximum diameter of 0.473 inch. This is sized to closely accommodate the 308 Winchester, and the 30-06 Springfield cartridges, for instance.

A magnum width action admits a cartridge with a maximum diameter of 0.532 inch. This is sized to closely accommodate the following example cartridges:

350 Remington Magnum (a short-action belted cartridge)
6.5 mm Remington Magnum (a short-action belted cartridge)
300 Winchester Magnum (a long-action belted cartridge)
7 mm Remington Magnum (a long-action belted cartridge)
375H&H Magnum (a magnum-length-action belted cartridge)
Lazzeroni 6.53 Scramjet (a magnum-length-action unbelted cartridge.)
A super magnum width action admits a cartridge with a maximum diameter of 0.580 inch. This is sized to closely accommodate the 378 and 460 Weatherby (super magnum length belted cartridges), for instance. The 300 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) also requires an action larger than a magnum-width action (whether a special width or a super magnum width action) because its 0.555 inch base diameter does not fit in a magnum-width action. The WSM has a reduced or rebated rim with such diameter to be accommodated by standard magnum bolts, with the stability and feeding disadvantages associated with rebated rims.)

The above standard sizes creates a 3-by-3 “grid” with nine bins into which the main category of centerfire bottlenecked rifle cartridges are necessarily categorized. In certain bins, the cartridges previously developed to fit the dimensional constraints have limitations on the power available to shooters.

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a centerfire rifle cartridge with a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, and a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet. The body has a straight external surface free of a protruding belt, and has a maximum diameter sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action of magnum width. The cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action such as a short action or a long action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a rifle cartridge according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a rifle cartridge according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a rifle cartridge 10 designated “300 Ruger” having a brass case 12 containing a charge of powder (not shown), with a bullet 14 received in a forward end of the case.

The case has a head 16 including a rim 20 nearest the rear head face 22 of the head, and an extraction groove 24 forward of the rim. A primer pocket 26 is centrally defined in the face 22, and communicates via a flash hole 30 with the interior of the case in which the powder charge is contained. The case has a main body portion 32 that is a gently tapered, nearly cylindrical conical portion extending forward from the groove 24. A more steeply tapered shoulder 34 transitions from the forward end of the body to a smaller essentially cylindrical neck 36, which has a forward end defining the mouth 40 that receives the bullet 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the case head rim has a diameter of 0.532 (all dimensions in inches)+0.000/−0.010.

The groove has a diameter of 0.475+0.000/−0.020.

The body has a diameter of 0.532+0.000/−0.008 at a position 0.200 forward of the case head face 22. This is the same as the rim diameter, except for a slightly tighter tolerance for undersizing.

The body has a diameter of 0.5167+0.000/−0.008 at a position 1.500 forward of the case head face, and 0.515+0.000/−0.008 at the junction with the shoulder.

The shoulder is tapered at a 30 degree angle to the axis of the case.

The shoulder has a diameter of 0.420 at a position 1.7257+0.000/−0.007 forward of the case head face.

The neck has a diameter of 0.340+0.000/−0.008, and the bullet has a diameter of 0.3090+0.000/−0.003.

The rim has a thickness of 0.050+0.000/−0.011, and the inner cylindrical portion of the groove meeting the diameter dimensions has a length along the body axis of 0.037+0.010/−0.000.

The body-to-shoulder junction is 1.643 from the case head face 22, and the shoulder-to-neck junction is at 1.795 from the case head face 22.

The case length from the case head face to the mouth is 2.100+0.000/−0.020.

The cartridge overall length (COL) to the bullet tip is 2.840+0.000/−0.125.

The rim having the same diameter as the rear of the case body, the case is neither rimmed nor rebated, and the case is described as “rimless”. Because the rim is of a standard diameter, a rifle chambered for the cartridge may employ a standard bolt without requiring a custom component or increased inventory. And with the body having a straight sidewall outer surface (slightly conically tapered to facilitate feeding and extraction) the case is unbelted.

Moreover, unlike low-volume cases produced at great expense, the straight body is not produced by removing the belt from a larger standard belted cartridge, but is produced by a standard deep-drawing manufacturing process that forms the straight wall without a belt. This provides a consistent smooth surface finish that facilitates feeding and extraction, avoiding circumferential machining marks that increase friction, or require further undesirable post-processing.

The cartridge 10 is sized with a width that closely fits a magnum width action opening, and a COL to fit a short action opening. The straight unbelted case allows a larger internal volume that would be provided with a belted cartridge, which would have smaller body diameter that the preferred embodiment due to the belt diameter limiting the cartridge size. This provides a maximum power cartridge within the dimensional envelope limitations of the standard “bin” for the selected action length and width.

The cartridge has a nominal length-to-diameter ratio of 5.34, which is optimized for the selected action dimensions. Allowing for the length and diameter tolerances, the ratio may range between 5.10 and 5.42. Expanded tolerances may put this range between 5.00 and 5.50.

The preferred embodiment provides a straight-bodied (unbelted) cartridge with a body diameter and COL that closely fit within a magnum width, short length action.

The preferred embodiment further provides a straight-bodied unbelted cartridge with a case produced from conventional high production techniques not requiring post-machining to remove a belt, with a body diameter that closely fits within a magnum width action.

Alternative Embodiment
FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment, rifle cartridge 110 designated “375 Ruger” having a brass case 112 containing a charge of powder (not shown), with a bullet 114 received in a forward end of the case. The cartridge has many of the same dimensions as cartridge 10, except as noted below

The case has a head 116 including a rim 120 nearest the rear head face 122 of the head, and an extraction groove 124 forward of the rim. A primer pocket 126 is centrally defined in the face 122, and communicates via a flash hole 130 with the interior of the case in which the powder charge is contained. The case has a main body portion 132 that is a gently tapered, nearly cylindrical conical portion extending forward from the groove 124. A more steeply tapered shoulder 134 transitions from the forward end of the body to a smaller essentially cylindrical neck 136, which has a forward end defining the mouth 40 that receives the bullet 114.

In the illustrated embodiment, the case head rim has a diameter of 0.532 (all dimensions in inches)+0.000/−0.010.

The groove has a diameter of 0.475+0.000/−0.020.

The body has a diameter at a position 0.200 forward of the case head face 22 of 0.532+0.000/−0.008, which is the same as the rim, except for a slightly tighter tolerance for undersizing.

The body has a diameter of 0.5170+0.000/−0.008 at a position 1.950 forward of the case head face, and 0.515+0.000/−0.008 at the junction with the shoulder.

The shoulder is tapered at a 30 degree angle to the axis of the case.

The shoulder is a diameter of 0.465 at a position 2.2230+0.000/−0.007 forward of the case head face.

The neck has a diameter of 0.405+0.000/−0.008, and the bullet has a diameter of 0.376+0.000/−0.003.

The rim has a thickness of 0.050+0.000/−0.011, and the inner cylindrical portion of the groove meeting the diameter dimensions has a length along the body axis of 0.037+0.010/−0.000.

The body-to-shoulder junction is 2.1797 from the case head face 22, and the shoulder-to-neck junction is at 2.2750 from the case head face 22.

The case length from the case head face to the mouth is 2.580+0.000/−0.020.

The cartridge overall length (COL) to the bullet tip is 3.340+0.000/−0.060.

As with the preferred embodiment, the rim having the same diameter as the rear of the case body, the case is neither rimmed nor rebated. Because the rim is of a standard diameter, a rifle chambered for the cartridge may employ a standard bolt without requiring a custom component or increased inventory. And with the body having a straight sidewall outer surface (slightly tapered to facilitate feeding and extraction) the case is unbelted.

Moreover, unlike low-volume cases produced at great expense, the straight body is not produced by removing the belt from a larger standard belted cartridge, but is produced by a standard deep-drawing manufacturing process that forms the straight wall without a belt.

The cartridge 110 is sized with a width that fits a magnum width action opening, and a COL to fit a long action opening. The straight unbelted case allows a larger internal volume that would be provided with a belted cartridge, which would have smaller body diameter that the preferred embodiment due to the belt diameter limiting the cartridge size. This provides a maximum power cartridge within the dimensional envelope limitations of the standard “bin” for the selected action length and width.

The cartridge has a nominal length-to-diameter ratio of 6.28, which is optimized for the selected action dimensions. Allowing for the length and diameter tolerances, the ratio may range between 6.17 and 6.37.

The preferred embodiment provides a straight-bodied (unbelted) cartridge with a body diameter and COL that closely fit within a magnum width, long length action.

The preferred embodiment further provides a straight-bodied unbelted cartridge with a case produced from conventional high production techniques not requiring post-machining to remove a belt, with a body diameter that closely fits within a magnum width action.

A further alternative embodiment of the above cartridge may be provided with a .416 caliber bullet. It has all of the same major dimensions (it being produced from the same parent case) to fit in the same action. However, there are differences at the shoulder and neck to accommodate the larger bullet. In other embodiments, cartridges that maximize the available space provided by each category of standard action may be provided in all common calibers. Short action calibers may include: .257, .264, .277, .284, .308, .338. Long action calibers may include: .277, .284, .308, .323, .338, .358, .366, .375, .416.

While the above is discussed in terms of preferred and alternative embodiments, the invention is not intended to be so limited.


CLAIMS(20)
The invention claimed is:
1. A centerfire rifle cartridge comprising:
a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet;
the body having a straight external surface free of a protruding belt;
the body having a maximum diameter sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action of magnum width;
the cartridge having an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action selected from the group of standard actions including short actions;
wherein the body has a maximum diameter of between 0.524 and 0.532 inch; and
wherein the cartridge has an overall length of between 2.715 and 2.840 inch.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard short action.
3. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the case has an overall length of between 2.080 and 2.100 inch.
4. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the shoulder has a diameter of 0.420 at a position between 1.719 and 1.726 inch from an end face of the head.
5. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the bullet has a maximum diameter of between 0.306 and 0.309 inch.
6. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.517 at a position 1.500 inch from an end face of the head.
7. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the head of less than or equal to 5.42.
8. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the head of greater than or equal to 5.10.
9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the entire body has a consistent surface finish.
10. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the rim has substantially the same diameter as a rear portion of the body proximate to the rim.
11. A centerfire rifle cartridge comprising:
a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet;
the body having a straight external surface free of a protruding belt;
the body having a maximum diameter of greater than or equal to 0.524 inch; and
the cartridge having an overall length of less than or equal to 2.84 inch.
12. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard short action.
13. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the case has an overall length of between 2.080 and 2.100 inch.
14. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the shoulder has a diameter of 0.420 at a position between 1.719 and 1.726 inch from an end face of the head.
15. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the bullet has a maximum diameter of between 0.306 and 0.309 inch.
16. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.517 at a position 1.500 inch from an end face of the head.
17. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the head of less than or equal to 5.42.
18. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the bead of greater than or equal to 5.10.
19. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the entire body has a consistent surface finish.
20. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the rim has substantially the same diameter as a rear portion of the body proximate to the rim.

Publication number US8443729 B2
Publication type Grant
Application number US 11/710,463
Publication date 21 May 2013
Filing date 22 Feb 2007
Priority date 22 Feb 2007
Fee status Paid
Also published as US20080202372
Inventors Mitchell T. Mittelstaedt
Original Assignee Hornady Manufacturing Company

Saeed:
The rifle was scoped
I have pictures of the Halger rifles

Alf, this is what was patented.

quote:

CLAIMS(20)
The invention claimed is:
1. A centerfire rifle cartridge comprising:
a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet;
the body having a straight external surface free of a protruding belt;
the body having a maximum diameter sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action of magnum width;
the cartridge having an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action selected from the group of standard actions including short actions;
wherein the body has a maximum diameter of between 0.524 and 0.532 inch; and
wherein the cartridge has an overall length of between 2.715 and 2.840 inch.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard short action.
3. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the case has an overall length of between 2.080 and 2.100 inch.
4. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the shoulder has a diameter of 0.420 at a position between 1.719 and 1.726 inch from an end face of the head.
5. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the bullet has a maximum diameter of between 0.306 and 0.309 inch.
6. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.517 at a position 1.500 inch from an end face of the head.
7. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the head of less than or equal to 5.42.
8. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the head of greater than or equal to 5.10.
9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the entire body has a consistent surface finish.
10. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the rim has substantially the same diameter as a rear portion of the body proximate to the rim.
11. A centerfire rifle cartridge comprising:
a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet;
the body having a straight external surface free of a protruding belt;
the body having a maximum diameter of greater than or equal to 0.524 inch; and
the cartridge having an overall length of less than or equal to 2.84 inch.
12. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard short action.
13. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the case has an overall length of between 2.080 and 2.100 inch.
14. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the shoulder has a diameter of 0.420 at a position between 1.719 and 1.726 inch from an end face of the head.
15. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the bullet has a maximum diameter of between 0.306 and 0.309 inch.
16. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.517 at a position 1.500 inch from an end face of the head.
17. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the head of less than or equal to 5.42.
18. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has a ratio of overall length to body diameter at a location proximate to the bead of greater than or equal to 5.10.
19. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the entire body has a consistent surface finish.
20. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the rim has substantially the same diameter as a rear portion of the body proximate to the rim.

These is made up of dependent claims, meaning a claim that only has meaning when combined with a preceding claim .

Claim 1 describes a cartridge with a max body diameter of 0.524"-0.532" and OAL of 2.715" and 2.840". Claims 2 thru 10 are dependent claims to further describe the cartridge. They give the length of the case, diameter and position of the shoulder, specify it is for a 30 caliber, and give measurements to set the body taper. These dependent claims do not stand alone. For example, claim 5 says "the bullet has a maximum diameter of between 0.306 and 0.309 inch" but we know that Hornady did not just patent all .30 caliber cartridges with that claim, only this .30 caliber cartridge.

Claim 11 describes another, fatter, cartridge with a body diameter greater than or equal to 0.524" and an OAL less than or equal to 2.84". Claims 12 thru 20 are dependent claims for that cartridge.

I am not an attorney but I think it would be very easy to modify these two case designs to bring them outside the scope of this patent. For example, a cartridge with an overall length of 2.85" exceeds the maximum length of both of the cartridges above. A cartridge with a maximum diameter of 0.523" is not applicable to this description either, even though it is only 0.001" smaller in diameter.

I think Alf covered the subject very well..I can only add that it turned around an bit the Brits in the butt on several occasions, its purpose simply backfired and created some resentment towards the Brits and lead to some fine German and American calibers and rifles..

As to it being bullshit, I see it more as history and a lesson learned. As to Ruger jumping in head first I suppose only time will tell, and I also think it will work against them if history repeats itself and it normally does.

I agree, Ray. I believe that is one reason Holland & Holland did not make their recent .400 Magnum and .465 Magnum cartridges proprietary.

Im sure it is, by their own admission, using proprietary cartridges was a mistake as others didn't use it, and ammo plants didn't make ammo available..Common knowledge in most of the articales and books Ive read on the subject or was mention in relation to the subject...