The present invention relates generally to the field of firearm projectiles. More specifically, the present invention is an armor-piercing bullet that comprises a penetrator having an exterior tip and a full-length shaft that fits into a jacket. The present invention also comprises a method for joining the penetrator to the jacket.
Generally, there are two types of AP bullets known in the industry. The first type is composed of three parts: an exterior penetrator tip, jacket, and core. The penetrator tip is usually made of hardened steel and is designed to exert a high amount of energy into the target. Directly behind the penetrator tip is the bullet core, designed to impact the target after the penetrator pierces the armor. A bullet jacket encloses the core and penetrator. The jacket is typically made of copper alloy to avoid damaging the barrel of the rifle. Upon impact, the jacket temporarily softens the front of the armor, thereby cushioning the impact for the penetrator and preventing the tip from breaking apart. The jacket then separates from the bullet at the point of impact, allowing the core and penetrator to penetrate through the armor.
The problem with this type of AP bullet is that after penetrating the armor, the remaining projectile tends to spall or fragment. Although the fragmentation has the potential of hitting the intended target, this level of inaccuracy can also result in missing the target altogether. This is an inherent design flaw based on the internal components and their arrangement within the AP bullet. More specifically, the steel penetrator's tip is designed only for piercing the armor. Once the armor is pierced and the jacket separates, the tip and core tend to lose directional stability and disperse in different directions.
A second type of AP bullet is typically composed of an internal steel penetrator pressed into the rear cavity of a copper jacket. The jacket has an exterior tip and fully encloses the penetrator. A machined cap is then inserted into the rear cavity of the jacket to seal the internal penetrator. Although this type of bullet performs similar to the first type described above, it differs in that the jacket tip is designed to penetrate the armor to some degree and acts to shield the inner penetrator for a short time. This short time gives the penetrator a running start to try and continue to pierce the armor after the jacket separates.
This type of AP bullet (internal penetrator) shares a similar flaw with the first type (external penetrator tip). Although the internal penetrator also acts as the core, it is still shorter in length than the jacket, which can affect the penetrator's directional stability after piercing the armor. In addition, the process of manufacturing each AP bullet can be time consuming, considering the jacket cavity and rear cap have to be precision machined with low tolerances in order to press fit the penetrator into the jacket.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a solution to the aforementioned problems. This invention utilizes a penetrator with an exterior tip and a cylindrical shaft that runs the entire length of the jacket. This invention also includes a unique method of joining the penetrator to the jacket using a temperature-resistant metallic repair paste, which is less time consuming than other known methods in the industry. When the bullet is fired, the metallic paste holds the jacket and penetrator together until impacting the armor. Once the armor is pierced, the penetrator's long shaft assists in directional stability, allowing the penetrator to maintain its trajectory and reach the intended target.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an armor-piercing (AP) bullet that has improved accuracy and improved armor penetration over other AP bullets on the market today. In addition, the present invention also includes a unique method for fabricating an AP bullet that is less time consuming and more cost effective than the standard methods used today. The present invention is an alternate AP bullet that comprises a penetrator, a jacket, and a temperature-resistant metallic paste. A key distinction between the present invention and other AP bullets is (1) the tip of the penetrator is exposed, (2) the shaft of the penetrator extends nearly the entire length of the jacket, and (3) the penetrator and the jacket are bonded together using the metallic paste.
The method for fabricating the alternate AP bullet involves a series of steps. First, the user coats the penetrator with metallic paste, covering all sides. Second, the user fully inserts the penetrator into the bore hole of the jacket until the tip base of the penetrator sits flush with the top surface of the jacket. Third, the user rotates the penetrator with respect to the jacket. This helps distribute the metallic paste evenly along the interior sidewall of the jacket. Lastly, the user applies another coating of metallic paste in a rear cavity formed at the bottom surface of the jacket. Once cured, the metallic paste provides a strong adhesive bond between the penetrator and the jacket.
When the alternate AP bullet is fired from a gun, the metallic paste holds the jacket and the penetrator together until impacting the armor. Once the armor is pierced, the penetrator's long shaft assists in directional stability, allowing the penetrator to maintain its trajectory and reach the intended target.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In reference to
As can be seen in
The penetrator 2 functions as the primary structural component of the present invention, as the remaining components of the present invention are configured upon the penetrator 2. As best seen in
As best seen in
To attach the penetrator 2 to the jacket 3, the bore hole diameter D2 is slightly larger than the shaft diameter D1, as seen in
As best seen in
As best seen in
To seal off the bottom surface 34 of the jacket 3, the bottom opening 36 traverses longitudinally in the direction of the top surface 33 at a predefined bottom opening length L4, as seen in
In a preferred embodiment, the jacket 3 has a jacket length L2 that is slightly longer than the shaft length L1 of the penetrator 2, as seen in
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
932014 | Haase | Aug 1909 | A |
4256039 | Gilman | Mar 1981 | A |
5794320 | Wernz | Aug 1998 | A |
6305293 | Fry et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
8074574 | Riess | Dec 2011 | B2 |
10551154 | Peterson | Feb 2020 | B2 |
10890423 | Stadelmann | Jan 2021 | B2 |
20080092767 | Taylor | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20110252997 | Hoffman | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20180135950 | Agazim | May 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
WO-2017171692 | Oct 2017 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Nammo, 5.56 mm x 45 Armor Piercing 3 (M995), Retrieved from Internet, Retrieved on Jul. 6, 2023, <URL: https://www.nammo.com/product/our-products/ammunition/small-caliber-ammunition/5-56mm-series/5-56-mm-x-45-armor-piercing-3/>. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20240318944 A1 | Sep 2024 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63367858 | Jul 2022 | US |