Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2105~1
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FRAGMENTING PROJECTILE WITH HARD PENETRATION
Background of the Invention
Efforts hav,~ previously been made to develop and
construct a pre-fragmented projectile suitable for small
arms that would adequate],y penetrate hard obstacles but
fully expand and fragment when striking 10% 250A ballistic
gelatin which is a suitable imitation of living flesh.
Previously a pre-fragmenting bullet or projectile had
problems with feeding in a semi or fully automatic weapon
10 and problems with accuracy. A typical group of 6 rounds
manufactured with preViQUS pre-fragmented projectile is
between 72 inches to 9 inches fired with the aid of a Ransom
Rest at a distance of 50 feet. The main reason for the
feeding and accuracy problem of a pre-fragmented projectile
15 is poor design, internally and externally. The internal
problem is mainly due to fragments being p],aced in no special
order and the ox~ernal problem is due to unsuitable bullet
nose profile.Another problem with pre-fragmented projectiles
is the inability to penetrate adequately in order to inflict
20 a lethal wound after penetrating hard obstacles such as a
solid wooden door or a car door. It is worthY to note that
a high velocity fragmenting projectile develops more
stopping power than a projectile that doesnr't. A-typical
fragmenting projectile has great difficulty penetrating
25 hard obstacles, thus for example a police constable
carrying a firearm loaded with a conventi,onal pre-fragmented
projectile would be handicapped if a hostile armed target
hid behind a wooden or steel door. Also, the invention will
be classified as a jacketed softpoint, thus the invention
30 will not be prohibited in areas where hollowpoint ammunition
is banned.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the present
invention showing the arrangement of the various fragments.
Figure 2 is a top view of the present invention,
showing the specific arrangement of the various fragments
of a particular caliber.-
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present
invention showing the compressed or swaged fragments inside
a metal bullet jacket.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present
invention showing the arrangement of the fragments of the
completed projectile.
Figure 5 is a view of a block of 10~ 250A ballistic
gelatin after being shot with the present invention.
Figure 6 is a view of 2 pieces of 20 gauge steel
and a block of 10~ 250A ballistic gelatin having been shot
with the present invention.
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21055~1
Detailed Description_of the Invention
The invention is applicable to the manufacturing
of pre-fragmented projectiles for all pistol and revolver
S ammunition, including 25,32,38 and 45 calibers and 9MM
projectiles. The main feature of the present invention is
the arrangement of a number of spheres in a special format
inside a metal bullet jacket to create a stable projectile
having a suitable bullet nose or ojive to feed in all semi
10 and fully automatic weapons. The bullet jackets are prepared
from any suitable metal such as aluminum,copper, alloys of
aluminum, and alloys of copper. The bullet jackets for each
caliber will vary in length in order to increase or decrease
the weight of the projectiles. The fragments will consist of
15 lead shot and a thermoplastic polymer sphere or cylinder. The
lead shot used in this invention vary with the caliber of
the projectile. Generally #5,#6, #9 and BB lead shot are well
suited for the manufacturing of the present projectiles and
a #4Bk. shot is well suited to form the bullet nose (ojive)
20 for all projectiles. The spheres or cylinders have various
diameters and will be manufactured from linear polyethylene,
nylon or any suitable material that will lighten the
projectile and at the same time take the inside shape of
the bullet jacket if placed under pressure. The main purpose
25 for the (plastic) sphere or cylinder is to lighten the
projectile. To lighten the projectile is very important to
the proper function of the invention. In order for the
projectile to expand reliably, the velocity of the invention
must be high enough so that the bullet nose made with a 4Bk.
30 shot expands and break apart the metal jacket apart.
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210~
When this happens, the swaged shot comes apart about 45
degrees from the main bullet path and encircling the main
bullet path. Again, for this invention to function properly,
the velocity must be substantially higher than the velocity
from a conventional projectile . It is noted that the shot
size and (plastic) diameters will vary for each caliber and
also the number of shot will also vary.
Example 1- 9MM
Number 6 shot, #9 shot and #4Bk. shot will be utilized.
10 The diameter of the (plastic) sphere or cylinder will be
small enough so it will fit inside the metal jacket with no
resistance.
Example 2- .44 Caliber
BB shots, #4Bk. shot and a (plastic) sphere or cylinder will
lS be utilized. The diameter of the (plastic) sphere or cylinder
will be small enough so it will fit inside the metal jacket
with no resistance.
Example 3- .45 Caliber
Number S shot, BB shot, #9 shot and a #4Bk. shot and also a
20 (plastic) sphere or cylinder will be utilized. The diameter
of the (plastic) sphere or cylinder will be small enough so
it will fit inside the metal jacket with no resistance.
The #4Bk. shot (hard or regular) is well suitable
for the final nose piece after all other shot pieces and
2S (plastic) sphere or cylinder are in place. A #4Bk. shot is
heavy enough to create a weight forward effect and after
forming a 3/4 inch ojive with the proper die, the invention
will have the proper profile for 100% feed reliability for
both fully automatic and semi automatic weapons.
30 Basically5 the invention is manufactured in the following
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manner: a sphere or cylinder having a specific diameter
manufactured ~rom linear polyethylene or any suitable
thermoplastic material is inserted in a bullet jacket
manufactured from copper,aluminum,alloys of copper and alloys
aluminum. Then a specific number of shot having a specific
diameter will then be placed on top of the inserted (plastic)
sphere or cylinder. The number and shot size will depend
on the caliber of the projectile. At this point the metal
bullet jacket with the inserted (plastic) sphere or
10 cylinder and the various lead shot will be compressed or
swaged in a core swaging die. The size of the core swaging
die will depend on the caliber being swaged. The swaging of
the (plastic) sphere or cylinder and the lead shot will
eliminate any voids that may create stability problems
15 when the projectile is in flight. At this point a #4Bk.
shot is placed on the top of the swaged core of lead shot
and (plastic). Then with a 3/4 inch ojive nose forming die
the #4Bk. shot will form the nose of the projectile. The
end result will be a lightened pre-fragmented jacketed
20 projectile having a conventional length free of all voids
and having a ojive suitable for feeding in all semi and
fully automatic weapons. The invention will be more fully
understood by reference to the drawings.
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Figure 1 shows a cross section of the invention
illustrating a thermoplastic sphere 4 , #6 shot 1 and #9
shot 2 having been inserted in a 9MM jacket 3 . Figure
2 illustrates the correct arrangement of the lead shot
for a 9MM projectile. Number 6 shot 1 and #9 shot 2
have been positioned on top of the thermoplastic sphere
3 . In figure 3, the lead shot (#6 1 and #9 2 ) and the
thermoplastic sphere 4 have been compressed or swaged
in a core swaging die. Then a #4Bk. shot 5 is placed on
10 top of the swaged core of lead and thermoplastic. The
bullet jacket is designated by 3 . In figure 4 the #4Bk.
shot 5 have been swaged in a nose forming die, thus
creating the finished projectile. The total length (L) of
the projectile (9MM) in this example is .528 inch. The
15 length of the metal section of the projectile in figure 4
is .454 inch which is the sum of ~(.119)inch and~3(.335
inch). The length of the exposed lead ~ above the metal
- jacket 3 is .074 inch. The diameter of the flat section
of the nose of the invention d is .080 inch. In this
20 example the finished bullet has a diameter of .355 inch. ~
The compressed #6 shot 1 , #9 shot 2 and the thermoplastic -
sphere 4 are also illustrated. In figure 5 a block of 10%
250A ballistic gelatin 4 having a length of 10 inches L
has been shot with the invention at a distance of 10 feet.
25 The nose piece made with a #4Bk. shot 5 came apart in the
illustrated diagram as it is suppose to. The metal bullet
jacket 3 is sho~ln expanded and the #6 shot 1 and the #
9 shot shot 2 are shown broken apart and having bullet
tracks about 45 degrees from the main bullet path 6 .
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Occasionally metal fragment(s) 7 are spun off from the jacket.
In figure 6, the present invention is demonstrated
penetrating 2 pieces of 20 gauge steel 1 and a block of
10% 250A ballistic gelatin 2 having a lenght L of 15
inches. The typical velocity of a 9MM projectile of the
present invention is 1755 ft/sec with a powder charge of
7.5 grains of smokeless pistol powder.
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