Inert practice round with solid body

Abstract

An inert practice round has an elongated, solid body of aluminum having an external outline with the contour and size of a live round of a predetermined caliber. In one embodiment, the round comprises a unitary, one-piece, cavityless body. In another embodiment the body has an axial cavity formed centrally in the base end thereof and receives a cushioning structure, which may be all-plastic, plastic with a headed rivet embedded therein or a stack of O-rings or a coil spring with a rivet inserted therethrough.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An inert practice round comprising: 
 a unitary, one-piece, solid, cavityless body having an external surface contour and size of a live round of a predetermined caliber.    
     
     
         2 . The practice round of    claim 1   , wherein said body is cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         3 . The practice round of    claim 1   , wherein said body is formed of metal.  
     
     
         4 . The practice round of    claim 3   , wherein said body is formed of aluminum.  
     
     
         5 . The practice round of    claim 4   , wherein said body is anodized to a gray color.  
     
     
         6 . The practice round of    claim 1   , wherein said body is formed of a material different from that of a live round of the predetermined caliber.  
     
     
         7 . The practice round of    claim 1   , wherein said body has at least one characteristic which readily distinguishes it from a live round of the predetermined caliber.  
     
     
         8 . The practice round of    claim 7   , wherein the at least one characteristic includes color.  
     
     
         9 . The practice round of    claim 7   , wherein the at least one characteristic includes weight.  
     
     
         10 . An inert practice round comprising: 
 an elongated, solid, rigid body having a nose end and a base end and a longitudinal axis,    said body having an external outline with the contour and size of a live round of a predetermined caliber,    said body having an axial cavity formed centrally in the base end thereof, and    a cushioning structure disposed in said cavity and including a cushioning material substantially softer than that of said body.    
     
     
         11 . The practice round of    claim 10   , wherein said body is formed of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The practice round of    claim 1     1 , wherein said body is formed of aluminum.  
     
     
         13 . The practice round of    claim 12   , wherein said body is anodized a distinguishing color.  
     
     
         14 . The practice round of    claim 10   , wherein said body is formed of metal and said cushioning material is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         15 . The practice round of    claim 14   , wherein said cushioning structure includes a rigid member.  
     
     
         16 . The practice round of    claim 15   , wherein said rigid member has a cylindrical shank and an enlarged-diameter head disposed at the base end of the body.  
     
     
         17 . The practice round of    claim 16   , wherein said cushioning material is plastic and said shank is embedded in said plastic.  
     
     
         18 . The practice round of    claim 17   , wherein said cushioning material includes a plurality of O-rings stacked coaxially in said cavity in encircling relationship with the shank of the rigid member.  
     
     
         19 . The practice round of    claim 17   , wherein said cushioning material includes a helical compression spring disposed coaxially in said cavity in encircling relationship with the shank of the rigid member.  
     
     
         20 . The practice round of    claim 15   , wherein said body is formed of aluminum and said rigid member is formed of brass.