WO2012172406A1

WO2012172406A1 - Cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2012172406A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/001141
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierluigi ORLANDI
Original assignee: Orlandi Pierluigi
Priority date: 2011-06-16
Filing date: 2012-06-12
Publication date: 2012-12-20
Also published as: ITMI20111086A1

Abstract

A shot (30) cartridge or a bullet (300) cartridge presenting a body (1) comprising: • - an upper part (1A, 10A) presenting at least one retention element (2, 200) for said shot (30) or bullet (300), • - and a lower part (1 B) presenting at least one chamber (3) for containing an explosive charge (4) and a primer device (77) for the charge, in which a lateral wall (1C) of said lower part (1) presents at least one weakened portion (7) arranged to cause detachment of a first cartridge part (8) provided above said weakened portion (7) and comprising at least said retention element (2, 200) from a remaining cartridge second part (9) provided below said weakened portion (7) ) and comprising at least said primer (77) ), when said explosive charge (4) is made to explode.

Description

CARTRIDGE

The present invention relates to a shot cartridge according to the pre- characterising part of the main claim.

Cartridges of the aforeindicated type are already known, see for example GB1101856 or US3233546 describing a cartridge with a metal head in the form of a cartridge case which is shortened or of reduced dimensions compared with conventional sizes, and into which a tubular body is inserted presenting a lower chamber containing the explosive charge and an upper chamber containing the shot pellets. The lower part of the tubular body is connected to the base by a friction coupling, this type of coupling not being secure as the tubular body can become detached from the base and release the explosive charge. In addition, when the charge explodes, the entire tubular body is projected from the gun barrel, causing possible overpressure or a pressure increase deriving from the considerable friction of the lower tubular part, which is large-dimensioned to contain the explosive charge, and moreover once subjected to the action of the gases offers a high resistance during passage through the gun barrel, causing the internal pressure to increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge which at the same time ensures optimal and secure containment of the explosive charge, and certain detachment of the cartridge part containing the shot pellets from the remaining part of the cartridge on explosion of the charge, with elimination of the usual cartridge case required for containing powder and lead.

This and other objects which will be evident to an expert of the art are attained by a cartridge in accordance with the characterising part of the accompanying claims.

The present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figures 1 and 2 are partly sectioned side views of two embodiments of the invention; Figures 1A and 2A show an enlargement of a detail indicated by the arrow A in Figures 1 and 2;

Figures 3 and 4 are an exploded view of Figures 1 and 2;

Figures 5A, B, C and D are bottom side views and views from above on different scales, showing two variants of a component of the cartridge; Figures 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal sections through further variants of a cartridge according to the invention;

Figures 9 and 10 show the cartridge at different times after explosion of the charge contained therein;

Figure is a partly sectioned schematic view of a further variant of the cartridge;

Figures 12, 13, 14 are respectively a front view, an exploded view and a sectional view of a further variant of a cartridge according to the invention. With reference to Figures 1 , 1A and 3, a cartridge according to the invention presents a substantially tubular body 1 comprising: an upper part 1A presenting a chamber 2 for containing the shot pellets, and a lower part 1 B comprising a chamber 3 for containing an explosive charge 4 and a charge primer device 77. According to the invention, a lateral wall 23A of the lower part 1 B of the cartridge presents at least one weakened portion 7 to cause detachment of a cartridge part 8 (Figure 9A) provided above said weakened portion 7 and comprising at least said upper chamber 2; when said explosive charge 4 is made to explode, said cartridge part 8 separates from a remaining cartridge part 9 (Figure 9B) provided below said weakened portion 7 and comprising at least the primer 77.

More particularly, as represented in Figure 3, the cartridge advantageously comprises two elements: a substantially tubular first element 10 and a base element 11. The tubular element 10 comprises an upper portion 10A defining the shot-containing chamber 2 , an intermediate portion 10B acting as a damper, and a lower portion 10C which together with a corresponding portion 11A of the base element 11 forms the chamber 3 for containing the explosive charge 4. The chamber 2 of the upper portion 10A of the tubular element 10 is defined by a lateral wall 2B and by a base wall 2A. The lateral wall 2B presents a plurality of longitudinal weakening lines 2E dividing said wall into a plurality of parts or segments 2H. At an upper opening 2C of the chamber 2 the inner face of the lateral wall 2B presents a plurality of spaced-apart recessed circumferential lines 2D enabling a flat discoidal element 16 to be removably associated therewith to close the chamber, and which by virtue of the plurality of circumferential lines 2D can be associated at different depths of the chamber 2, hence enabling the chamber to be filled to different levels. The damper element 10B comprises a plurality of walls 17 defining a lower plurality of cells 17A open towards the outside, to ensure the desired damping effect, and which define a lower body 18A of substantially cylindrical shape and an upper part 18B of substantially frusto-conical shape. Advantageously, the walls 17D of the frusto-conical portion are inclined, preferably by about 45°, to a flat lower face of the base wall 2A of the chamber 2, and join to said face at a circumferential line 2F of lesser diameter than that defining the chamber 2, at the lower end of the longitudinal weakening lines 2E.

The lower part 10C of the tubular element 10 comprises a lowerly open cylindrical chamber 23 defined by a lateral wall 23A and a base wall 23B. On the outer face of the lateral wall at the base wall 23B, the lateral wall 23A presents a circumferential weakening 7. This weakening 7 advantageously reduces the thickness S1 (Figure 1A) of the wall 23A to less than 2/3 of the thickness S of that part of said wall 23A of greater thickness, and preferably to about 1/3 of said thickness S. Preferably, the wall 23A comprises a part 23B above the weakening 7 having a thickness S2 which is intermediate between the greater thickness S and the thickness S1 , in that that part 23B of thickness S2 has to pass within the barrel core and must therefore be of lesser thickness that that of the part 23A, which instead has to couple to the dimensions of the explosion chamber, which are conventionally larger than those of the barrel core. The lateral wall 23A presents, along its internal face, means 25 enabling the base element 11 to be securely connected to the tubular element 10. Preferably, these connection means comprise a conventional toothing 25A arranged to cooperate with counter-means 26, comprising a counter- toothing 26A, provided on the outer face of a lateral wall 1 B of the base element 11. According to the invention, the connection means and counter-means 25, 26 are of the type able to securely connect together the portions 10C and 11A which define the chamber 3 for containing the explosive charge, such that said connection means prevent detachment of the walls 23A, 1 B, either due to stresses created in the chamber 3 by the pressures (which can vary from 350/1050 bar) generated during the explosion of said load, or to incorrect manipulations, for example pulling action (between 35 and 80 bar) which a user has to exert on the cartridge to separate the two portions 10C and 11A and open the chamber 3 containing the explosive charge.

The lateral wall 11 B can have a height such that its free end 11M reaches the same height as the weakened portion 7 or a lower height or a greater height, when the two lateral walls 23A and 11 B are connected together. The cartridge base part 11 beyond said lateral wall 11 B also comprises a bottom base 11C. The lateral wall 11B comprises an annular element 10 to act as an abutment for the lower edge of the wall 23A of the lower portion 10C of the tubular element 10, to prevent gas leakages from the receiver of the weapon when the charge 4 in the chamber 3 is made to explode and cartridge portion 8 has separated from the remaining portion 9. Below the annular element 11 D an annular recess 1 E is provided enabling downward flexure (indicated by the arrow R of Figures 3 and 10B) of the annular element, which in this manner, by virtue of the gases formed in the cartridge chamber when the charge is made to explode, sealedly adheres to the inner face of the wall (not shown) of the weapon cartridge chamber, so preventing rear gas leakages. The bottom base 11C is of cylindrical shape and has a solid core centrally presenting a through hole 11 F for housing a conventional primer member 77 for the charge 4. The hole 1 1 F comprises, at that mouth facing the chamber 3, an annular rim 1 1 G of small thickness (for example between 0.2 and 0.4 mm) which defines the flash hole and acts as a gasket for the upper end 7A of the primer 77, to prevent that gas part which following the explosion of the charge 4 acts on the inner face 1 1 H from being able to decouple the primer 77 from the part 1 1 C. The bottom base 1 1 C comprises at its end face 1 11 a projecting annular rim 1 1 L, acting as an abutment for the cartridge in the relative cartridge chamber of a weapon.

To assemble the cartridge, the chamber 2 of the tubular body 10 is filled with a desired quantity of shot pellets 30 and the chamber then closed with the cover 16, which is insertion-coupled to the annular recesses 2D of the chamber. Advantageously, the chamber height H1 is between 20 mm and 50 mm, preferably 35 mm. In this manner, in addition to being able to fill the chamber 2 with all the usual shot quantities of known cartridges, it is also ensured that an end portion 2G of the chamber 2 is always inserted into the barrel bore such as to prevent or at least reduce any gas leakages. The chamber 3 is then filled with the explosive charge 4, which can be of any type conventional to the expert of the art. The charge is for example poured into the tubular element 10C in the appropriate chamber 3 and then coupled to the base element 1 1 . As already noted, this coupling is preferably equivalent to a sort of non-removable connection to prevent the two parts being able to separate one from the other accidentally or by improper use of the cartridge, and release the explosive charge. It is positioned in the cartridge chamber of a weapon, for example a gun, then at the moment the weapon trigger is pressed, the action of the percussion pin on the primer 77 causes the charge present in the chamber 3 to explode.

The pressure of the gas which forms in the chamber 3 causes the weakened portion 7 of the cartridge to break and the part 8 (Figure 9A) of the cartridge to separate from its remaining part 9 (Figure 9B). By the action of the gases due to the explosion of the charge 4, the part 8 of the cartridge passes from the rest state in the cartridge chamber to project into the gun barrel and emerges from the gun, while the other part of the cartridge remains inside the cartridge chamber.

In this stage, the damping part 10B of the tubular element 10 is arranged to delay (by some tens of millionths of a second) the propulsive effect of the gases generated by the explosion of the charge, such as to enable complete ignition of the load and finally to ensure greater efficiency of the overall propulsive effect of he charge 4. It should be noted that the damping part 10B, although providing undoubted advantages for the cartridge efficiency, does not represent an essential element. As the cartridge part 8 leaves the gun barrel, the effect of the air resistance opposing the movement and the effect of the weakenings 2E of the chamber 2 is that the lateral wall 2B of the chamber 2 breaks and opens (as shown in Figure 10A), to separate its various segments 2H one from the other, which remain connected to just the base wall 2A, and also causes detachment or fragmentation of the chamber closure element 16 and the formation of a burst shot pattern. The breakage of the lateral wall 2B and its separation into segments 2H connected to the base wall 2A is favoured by the fact that in this stage of the cartridge life the base wall 2A can partially flex downwards (as indicated by the arrow S of Figure 3) to rest on the inclined walls 17D (Figure 10A) of the frusto-conical upper part 18B of the damping portion 10B of the tubular element 10.

The cartridge part 9, which has remained in the cartridge chamber after the charge 4 has exploded and the other part 8 has separated, prevents, by virtue of the presence of the outer annular element 11 D (Figure 10B), any leakage of gas from the receiver developed following explosion of the charge and, by virtue of the annular element 11G, prevents any detachment of the primer from its seat 11 F in the base element 11.

It should be noted that weakening 7 provided in the lateral wall 23A of the cartridge lower part 1 B, always provides absolute certainty that the explosion of the charge 4 will cause detachment of the cartridge part 8 provided above said weakened portion 7 and comprising at least the upper chamber 2, and preferably also the damping part 10B, from the remaining cartridge part 9 provided below said weakened portion 7.

At the same time, because of the connection means 25, 26 of the two cartridge parts 10C and 11 which form the chamber 3 for the charge 4, there is absolute certainty that said chamber cannot in any manner be accidentally opened, hence enormously increasing the level of safety of the cartridge compared with those of the known art.

According to a first variant of the embodiment illustrated up to this point, the connection means of the two partslOC and 11 which define the chamber 3 for the charge 4 could be different from those already described and comprise a different configuration of the connection means and counter-means and/or the use of conventional adhesive substances and/or welding of the plastic materials with which said parts 10C and 11 are formed. It has been verified experimentally that a connection between these two parts which resists a traction force of at least about 60 kg is sufficient to ensure that these cannot be decoupled manually.

The cartridge is advantageously made of plastic material, for example the tubular body 10 of polyethylene and the base element 11 of high density polypropylene; alternatively the cartridge components can be made of a conventional biodegradable plastic material, hence nullifying the environmental impact compared with conventional cartridges.

Figures 2 and 4 show a first variant to the aforedescribed embodiment, comprising a tubular body 30 substantially identical to the aforedescribed and a base element 31 also similar to the aforedescribed, but presenting a lateral wall 3 B of lesser height than the base element previously described (those components common to this embodiment and the preceding embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be further described). Consequently the toothing 35A and counter- toothing 36A connecting the base part 31 to the body 30 is more limited. In addition, in this variant, at the weakened portion 7 the chamber 3 for housing the charge 4 is defined by a lateral wall 23A formed only by a wall of the tubular body 30. During cartridge filling, the explosive charge is poured into the chamber 23 of the tubular body 30, this chamber then being closed by the base element 31.

Figures 5A-D show base elements 41 and 51 similar to those 11 and 31 previously described, but in which the primer 107 is partially formed by moulding the plastic material with which the base element is formed.

More particularly, the base element 81 comprises a central hole 81 F in which an element 107A of stem or anvil shape is centrally provided, rigidly secured by three arms 107B to the wall which defines the hole 8 F, in proximity to the upper mouth 107D of the hole 107 itself. The three arms define three flash holes 107F. The hole 107 is closed at its lower mouth 07E by a conventional cap 107C (shown only in Figure 5A) made of soft metal and containing an explosive substance able to prime the charge contained in the chamber 3.

The cap 107C is of conventional type for the expert of the art, for example of the type usually used in known primers, and is fixed into the lower mouth 107E of the hole 07 for example as a forced or form fit and/or by an adhesive substance, i.e. such as not to be able to separate from the cartridge during its use or handling.

When the most outer face 107G of the cap 107C is struck, its most inner face 107H comes into contact with the anvil 107A which by penetrating into the cap makes contact with the substance contained in the cap, to cause the explosion which by propagating through the flash holes 107E, also produces the explosion of the charge contained in the chamber 3. The particular form of the aforedescribed primer simplifies it, makes its production less costly and limits the quantity of metal present in the cartridge. In this respect, traditional primers comprise a metal casing which encloses in its interior an anvil and the detonating material, whereas as described above, in the embodiment of the invention, the metal casing contains only the detonating material.

It should be noted that a primer of the aforedesccribed type, comprising a cap to contain a detonating substance and an anvil, preferably of plastic material (but also of any other material suitable for the purpose), and preferably connected to the upper mouth of the cartridge flash hole by one or more connection arms, and/or fixed by adhesive-bonding or welding into the primer hole or touch-hole, can also be used in cartridges of conventional type already in commerce, and/or of known type, presenting a base wall or base of plastic material. In such conventional cartridges, to form a primer according to the invention, it is sufficient to provide an anvil of the aforedescribed type and associate a cap with it.

Figure 5D shows a variant of the base element of Figures 5A-C having a shape equal to that of the element of Figure 2 and presenting a primer identical to that of said Figures 5A-C, which will not be further described. Figures 6 and 7 show a further variant of a cartridge according to the invention comprising a cylindrical body 80, 90 formed in one piece, i.e. without a separate base element (11 , or 31 or 41) of the type previously described (those components common to this embodiment and the preceding embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be further described). With reference to Figure 6, this shows a cartridge 80 comprising, for housing an explosive charge, a chamber 3 defined by a single lateral wall 80C and a base wall 80A. This latter comprises a hole 80B into which a tubular closure element 81 is insertable presenting a central hole 81A for housing a conventional primer 77. The cartridge of this variant allows easy loading of the explosive charge into the chamber 3 when the closure element 81 is removed from the cartridge body. When the powder has been loaded the element 81 is inserted into the hole 80B and fixed to the cartridge base in such a manner as to no longer be removable therefrom, for example by adhesive-bonding or welding or forced insertion.

With reference to the cartridge of Figure 7, this presents a single-piece body 90 entirely of plastic material, comprising a chamber 3 for housing an explosive charge, defined by a single lateral wall 90C and a base wall 90A. This latter comprises a hole 90B into which a conventional primer 77 can be inserted. The cartridge of this variant enables the explosive charge to be loaded into the chamber 3 before inserting the primer 77 into the hole 90B. When the powder has been loaded, the primer 77 is inserted into the hole 90B and connected to the wall of the hole 90B in such a manner as to no longer be removable therefrom, for example by adhesive- bonding or forced insertion.

Figure 8 shows a dual solution with respect to those of Figure 1 and Figure 2 (those components common to this embodiment and the preceding embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be further described). In this variant the cartridge presents a tubular body 100 with an end wall 123A inserted into and fixed to a lateral wall 111 A of a base element 111. According to this variant, the weakened portion T which enables the cartridge portion 108 to separate from the remaining portion 109 on igniting the explosive charge is provided in the lateral wall 111A of the base element 111 and not in the lateral wall 123A of the tubular body 110. As in the previously discussed solutions, the connection means and counter-means125, 126 of the two lateral walls 111 A and 123A can be of forced-insertion, teething or thread type, or comprise adhesive-bonding or welding. The length of the wall 123A can also be different from that shown, and/or said wall could also be provided on a solid cylinder, instead of a tubular body as shown in the figures. The shape of the base wall 111C could also be different from that shown and comprise one of the already illustrated embodiments.

It should be noted that the particular form of the damping part 1C of the cartridge tubular body 1 can also be formed in the body of a wad of usual type for conventional shot cartridges. In particular, in known wads, a part of substantially frusto-conical shape, preferably of open cell type, can be provided below the base wall of the chamber containing the shot pellets. Advantageously, the walls of the frusto-conical portion are inclined, preferably by about 45° to the lower face of the base wall of the wad chamber containing the shot pellets, and are joined to said base wall on a circumferential line of lesser diameter that that defining the shot chamber and at the lower end of weakening recesses in the lateral wall of said chamber, to hence favour opening of the "segments" of said wall during the flight of the wad.

It should also be noted that the particular form of the end wall or base illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 could also be provided in the plastic bottoms of conventional cartridges. In other words, according to the invention in known base elements of traditional cartridges a base wall of a chamber for housing an explosive charge can be provided with a hole into which a closure element preferably tubular with circular cross-sections can be inserted, presenting a central hole for housing a conventional primer. The cartridge of this variant enables easy loading of the explosive charge into the chamber when the closure element is removed from the cartridge body. When the powder has been loaded, the closure element is inserted into the hole of the base wall of the cartridge base element and fixed to the cartridge base in .such a manner as to no longer be removable therefrom, for example by adhesive-bonding or welding or forced insertion, a conventional primer then being inserted.

It should also be noted that the particular form of the terminal part of the lateral wall 11 B of the base element illustrated in Figures 1-3 and 10B could also be provided in the plastic bottoms of conventional cartridges. In other words, according to the invention in known base elements of traditional cartridges a lateral wall can be provided comprising externally an annular element (identical to the element 1 D of Figure 3) (arranged to prevent gas leakages from the receiver of the weapon when the charge is made to explode) and, immediately below this annular element, an annular recess (identical to that indicated by 11 E in Figure 3) which enables the annular element _; ^" to flex downwards, such that, by virtue of the gases formed in the cartridge chamber when the charge is made to explode, sealedly adheres to the inner face of the wall of the weapon cartridge chamber, so preventing rear gas leakages.

It should be noted that in none of its embodiments does the cartridge of the invention comprise the cartridge case, a component considered essential up to now for filling conventional cartridges. The absence of the cartridge case advantageously reduces the cost of the product and of the cartridge production equipment.

Figure 11 shows a further variant of the cartridge described up to this point which, instead of the chamber 2 for containing shot pellets, comprises a stem or piston 200 on which a metal slug 300 is fixed. Preferably, in this variant the damping element 310B no longer has a frusto-conical shape but is instead cylindrical. According to this variant the remaining cartridge components, which have not been represented in detail, and in particular the components for defining the chamber 301 for containing the explosive charge, can be shaped as one of the various embodiments described up to this point.

In the present context a slug means any metal body having preferably a cylindrical lateral outer wall 300A and a hole 300B in its lower part into which the stem 200 can be forcibly fixed.

In the present context the chamber 2 for containing the shot pellets 30 and the stem 200 for connecting the slug 300 are indicated by the general term of "retention element" for the shot pellets 30 or for the slug 300.

Figures 12-14 show a further variant of a cartridge according to the invention, of the type usable for a pistol or rifle. This cartridge comprises an upper part 501 A presenting a bullet 500 and a lower part 501 B presenting a chamber 503 for containing an explosive charge (not shown) and a primer 577 for the charge. According to the invention, a lateral wall 523A of the of the cartridge lower part 50 B presents at least one weakened portion 507, arranged to cause detachment of a cartridge part 508 provided above the weakened portion 507 and comprising the bullet 500 and, preferably, also an upper portion 523B of the walls defining the chamber 502, when the explosive charge is made to explode. The cartridge part 508 separates from the remaining cartridge part provided below the weakened portion 507.

With reference to the thickness of the weakened portion 507, the same conditions are valid as those stated for the thickness S1 of the weakened portion 7 of the cartridge of Figures 1 and 2, and in particular Figures 1A and 2A.

The bullet 500 is connected to the cartridge lower part by a stem or piston 500A. Preferably the bullet 500 comprises a central hole 500B open at the bullet lower base, into which the stem 500A is to be forcibly inserted in order to securely fix the bullet to the cartridge. To improve this fixing, the stem advantageously presents projections 500D.

The bullet 500 is preferably of ogive shape.

Preferably the flat base 500C of the bullet 500 abuts against a corresponding upper flat base of the wall 523B which upperly defines the chamber 503 for the explosive charge.

Preferably the maximum bullet diameter D1 is slightly less than the maximum diameter D2 of the chamber 503 containing the explosive charge (the difference between the two diameters being for example between 0.05 and 2 mm, and preferably equal to about 0.5 mm), as the bullet has to pass within the barrel bore and must hence be of lesser thickness than the remaining part of the cartridge which instead has to couple with the explosion chamber dimensions, which are conventionally larger than those of the barrel bore.

Preferably the weakened portion is provided immediately below the wall 523B which upperly closes the chamber 503 for the explosive charge. Preferably the cartridge presents a bottom 511 , preferably connected by connection means 525A, for example of snap-fit type, to corresponding counter-means 525B provided in a lower portion of the inner wall of the chamber 503 for the explosive charge (for these connection means and counter-means the same considerations are valid as stated for the previously described embodiments, and which for brevity will not be repeated). It should be noted however that the bottom could also be formed in one piece with the chamber 503 as described with reference to the cartridge of Figure 6.

It should again be noted that the various technical solutions discussed with reference to the plurality of previously described cartridge variants could also be used in the cartridge of the present variant, these not being further described for brevity.

Claims

1. A cartridge presenting a body (1) comprising:

- an upper part (1A, 10A) presenting at least one retention element (2, 200) for a plurality of shot pellets (30) or for a bullet (300),

- and a lower part (1B) presenting at least one chamber (3) for containing an explosive charge (4) and a primer device (77) for the charge,

characterised in that a lateral wall (1C) of said lower part (1) presents at least one weakened portion (7) arranged to cause detachment of a first cartridge part (8) provided above said weakened portion (7) and comprising at least said retention element (2, 200), when said explosive charge (4) is made to explode said cartridge first part (8) becoming detached from a remaining cartridge second part (9) provided below said weakened portion (7) and comprising at least said primer (77).

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the weakened portion (7) is provided in a wall (23A) of a cartridge portion

(10C) at least partly defining the chamber (3) containing the explosive charge (4).

3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising:

- a tubular element (10) comprising the retention element (20, 200) and at least one wall (23B, 23A) at least partly defining the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge (4),

- and a base element (11) comprising the primer device (77) and at least one wall (11 H, 11 B) at least partly defining the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge (4),

said tubular element (10) and base element (11) comprising means (25, 26) for connecting together at least two portions (23A, 11B) of said two elements,

said connected-together portions being provided in the first cartridge part (8) provided above said weakened portion (7) and/or in the second cartridge part (9) provided below said weakened portion (7),

said connection means being shaped such as to ensure that said connected-together portions (23A, 11 B) remain at least partially connected together even when said first cartridge part (8) provided above said weakened portion (7) and said second cartridge part (9) provided below said weakened portion (7) become detached from each other following the explosion of the explosive charge (4).

4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the connection means (25, 26) are shaped such as to ensure that said connected-together portions (23A, 11 B) remain connected together up to a traction stress of at least 60 kg.

5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising two elements: a substantially tubular first element (10) and a base element

(11), the tubular element (10) comprising an upper portion (10A) presenting the retention element (2, 200), and a lower portion (10C) which together with a corresponding portion (11 A) of the base element (11) forms the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge 4 and connection means (25, 26) for at least a part of said portions (10C, 11 A) forming the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge.

6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the retention element comprises a chamber (2) for containing the shot pellets, said chamber (2) being defined by a lateral wall (2B) and a base wall (2A), the lateral wall (2B) presenting a plurality of weakening lines (2E) dividing said wall into a plurality of parts or segments (2H), and/or the inner face of the lateral wall (2B) presenting in a position corresponding with an upper opening (2C) a plurality of spaced-apart connection elements (2D) enabling a chamber closure element (16) to be removably associated therewith, said connection element (2D) being able to be associated at different depths of the chamber (2) by virtue of the plurality of connection elements (2D), so enabling the chamber to be filled to different levels.

7. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising a damping element (10B) between the retention element (2, 200) and the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge.

8. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the retention element is a chamber (2) for containing the shot pellets (30), the cartridge comprising a damping element (10B) between said shot pellet chamber and the explosive charge chamber, said damping element comprising a part (18B) of substantially frusto-conical shape, a portion (17D) of said frusto-conical part joining a lower face of a base wall (2A) of the shot- containing chamber (2) at a circumferential line (2F) having a lesser diameter than that defining the chamber (2) and/or at the lower end of longitudinal weakening lines (2E) provided in the lateral wall defining said chamber.

9. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the lateral wall (23A) at least partly defining directly or indirectly the charge containing chamber presents a thickness (S1) at the weakened portion (7) which is less than 2/3 of the thickness (S) of that part of said wall (23A) of greater thickness.

10. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising a base element (11) presenting at the outer face of a lateral wall ( 1 B) thereof an annular element (11 D) and immediately below this element an annular recess (11 E) enabling said annular element to flex downwards, to hence prevent gas escape from the receiver of the weapon.

11. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising a base element (81) comprising, in a base wall (81 C) thereof defining the base of the chamber (3) for housing the explosive charge (4), a central through hole (81 F) comprising in its interior a stem-like member (107A), and at least one element (107B) for connecting said stem-like member to the inner wall of said hole and/or to said base wall (81 C), and which is shaped such as to leave said hole (81 F) at least partly open at its upper mouth (107D); said central hole (81 F) being closed at its lower mouth (107E) by a cap (107C) containing an explosive substance able to prime the charge contained in the chamber (3), an upper surface of said cap being in contact with the free end of said stem-like member.

12 A cartridge as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that at least the base wall (8 C) of the base element (18), the stem-like member (107A), and at least a connection element (107B) of said stem-like member are made of plastic material and form a single piece.

13. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising a single tubular body (80) of plastic material comprising both the retention element (2, 200) and the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge (4), said chamber (3) for the explosive charge being defined by a base wall (80A) comprising a central hole (80B) into which a substantially tubular closure element (81) is sealedly insertable presenting a central hole (81A) for housing at least one member (77) arranged to cause priming of the explosion of said charge.

14. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising a single tubular body (90) of plastic material comprising both the retention element (2, 200) and the chamber (3) for containing the explosive charge (4), said chamber (3) for the explosive charge being defined by a base wall (90A) comprising only a central hole (90B) for housing at least one member (77) arranged to cause priming of the explosion of said charge.

15. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by presenting a tubular body (100) with an end wall (123A) which is inserted into and secured to a lateral wall (111 A) of a base element (111), the weakened portion (7) being provided in the lateral wall (111 A) of the base element (111).

16. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the retention element comprises at least one connection element (200; 500A) for a slug or a bullet (300; 500).

17. A cartridge as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by comprising an upper part (501 A) presenting a bullet and at least a portion of an element (550A) for connecting said bullet to a lower part (501 B) of the cartridge, said lower part presenting a chamber (503) for containing an explosive charge and a primer (577) for the charge, a lateral wall (523A) which defines said chamber (503) presenting at least one weakened portion (507) arranged to cause detachment of a cartridge part (508) provided above said weakened portion (507) and comprising the bullet (500) and also an upper portion (523B) of the walls defining said chamber (502), when the explosive charge is made to explode.