Apparatus and method for quantitative determination of chamber pressure in firearms

Abstract

An apparatus and method is described which enables one to determine the amount of chamber pressure produced by a cartridge in any firearm chambered for said cartridge. A plastic material of uniform size, consistency, and shape is attached to the outside of the cartridge case with translucent adhesive tape - the total thickness of the plastic material and tape being such that chambering of the cartridge is not significantly inhibited. During firing the pressure inside the cartridge case causes the plastic material to spread between the cartridge case and the tape as both are forced against the rigid surface of the chamber wall. The width of the plastic material is measured and is proportional to the amount of pressure generated during firing of the cartridge. The actual pressure in pounds per square inch is determined from a standard curve that relates the width of the plastic material to pounds per square inch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.