DEVELOPMENT PROTOTYPE PRODUCTION TEST AND DEMONSTRATION OF THE NEW M855 CARTRIDGE (POLYMERIC CASE)

IT IS DESIRED TO REDUCE BOTH THE COST AND THE WEIGHT OF THE CURRENT M855 CARTRIDGE. THE CARTRIDGE CASE IS THE MOST VIABLE COMPONENT OF THE ASSEMBLY IN WHICH SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT CAN BE MADE. CONCEPT ANALYSIS CORPORATION (CAC) PROPOSES HEREIN A PROTOTYPE DESIGN OF THE NEW M855 CARTRIDGE. THIS DESIGN MAKES EXTENSIVE USE OF A GLASS FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMERIC RESIN AND IS PROJECTED TO REDUCE THE WEIGHT OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE ALONE BY 67%. THE TOTAL M855 CARTRIDGE WOULD THEN WEIGH 33% LESS. INJECTION MOLDING IS HEAVILY RELIED UPON AS A MANUFACTURING OPERATION, THEREFORE SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS ARE EXPECTED WHEN LARGE VOLUME PRODUCTION IS UNDERTAKEN. RAW MATERIAL COSTS OF THE NEW DESIGN ARE APPROXIMATELY 21% OF THOSE FOR THE CURRENT DESIGN. THE DESIGN ADDRESSES ALL MAJOR LOADINGS THE M855 ROUND WILL UNDERGO IN THE M16A2 AND M249 WEAPONS. THESE LOADINGS INCLUDE: INTERNAL PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE AND CREEP, MAGAZINE (INCLUDING CASE TEAR), BULLET EXTRACTION (CRIMPING) AND RIM SHEAR. THE PROBLEM OF CASE JAMMING WILL BE REDUCED WITH THE NEW DESIGN. THE DESIGN IS EXPECTED TO MEET OR EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS (INCLUDING BULLET VELOCITY) IN MIL-C-63989A(AR), THE MILITARY SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE M855 ROUND.