Multi-pellet launcher with selectable choke

A system for launching a plurality of pellets from a multi-pellet launcher, as the launcher travels along a flight path at a flight velocity “vf”, the launcher comprising:

• a launch tube formed with a lumen and having a proximal end and an open distal end;
• a means for firing the launch tube onto the flight path with the flight velocity “vf”;
• a pellet propulsion unit mounted on the launch tube for an in-flight activation of the pellet propulsion unit at a time “to”, to propel the plurality of pellets in a distal direction at a propulsion velocity “vp” through the lumen of the launch tube;
• and
• a launch tube extension having a length “L”, wherein the launch tube extension is integrated with the launch tube to continue movement of the plurality of propelled pellets inside the launch tube, through the length “L”, for an additional time interval “τ” immediately after the launch activation time “to”, to attain a muzzle velocity “vm” for the pellets, where vm=vf+vp.

A method for assembling a multi-pellet launcher which comprises the steps of:

• providing a launch tube formed with a lumen and having a proximal end and an open distal end, with an abutment affixed to the proximal end of the tube;
• selecting a spring having a relaxed length “x” and a spring constant “k”;
• positioning the spring inside the lumen of the tube against the abutment at the proximal end thereof;
• deciding upon an “n” number of pellets;
• aligning the “n” number of pellets in the lumen of the launch tube, distal to the spring;
• and
• configuring an acceleration-activated binary latch with the launch tube at a distance “L” from the distal end of the launch tube, to hold the pellets between the latch and the spring, and to compress the spring through a distance “Δx” to generate a spring force equal to “kΔx” for propelling the pellets through the distance “L” within a time interval “τ”, in response to an activation of the binary latch at a time “to”.