The present invention is generally relates to cartridges for use with handguns. More particularly, to a cartridge comprising a case with a jacketed bullet with a forward component and a core component.
A cartridge with an improved bullet has desirable penetration capabilities and controlled separation of components upon terminal impact. In embodiments of the invention, the bullet comprises a forward component, a lead core behind it, and a copper jacket. The forward component having a nose portion, a cylindrical mid portion, a rearward body portion that tapers forwardly. The copper jacket encompasses the lead core and extends forward to the cylindrical mid portion of the steel component and terminates at a leading edge portion.
In embodiments of the invention, the bullet comprises a forward component formed of steel, and a copper core integral or unitary with a copper jacket.
A feature and advantage of embodiments is that the forward steel component may be formed with a spin inhibiting feature in the rearwardly facing end surface of the steel forward component. The feature may be protruding or recessed structure that conforms the lead or copper core during assembly to an inverse of such shape providing a locking feature between the core and the steel forward component. The feature on the rearward end may be a projection or an indentation, a plurality of such, or both, on the rearward facing surface of the steel component.
A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that a concavity in the end of the jacket provides enhanced and more stable obturation of the projectile with the barrel resulting in increased accuracy. The concavity allows the propellant expansion to impart a radial force component acting on the rearward end of the projectile to deform the rearward end of the projectile outwardly providing more consistent engagement of the jacket with the barrel along the length of the projectile. Moreover, the rearwardly facing end of the jacket with the concavity provides an increased radial deformation capability compared to a flat end facilitating the radial expansion of the casing facilitating the sealing with the gun barrel.
The concavity allows the projectile to be slightly longer with the same weight, and providing the same propellant load. This is believed to improve accuracy as longer bullets are understood to generally enhance accuracy.
A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the steel component has a forward ogive portion, a unitary cylindrical mid portion, and a unitary rearward portion that increases in diameter rearwardly from the cylindrical mid portion. In embodiments, the rearward portion tapers forwardly and has an abbreviated rearward cylindrical end portion and a rounded end corner. Adjacent the rear end corner is the maximum diameter portion of the steel component; the maximum diameter dimension extends for a minimal axial distance, in embodiments less than 20% of the axial length of the forward component. In embodiments, the maximum diameter portion extends less than 15% of the length of the bullet. In embodiments, the maximum diameter portion extends less than 10% of the length of the bullet. The relative short full diameter portion is believed to keep barrel forces low, such as bullet to barrel friction, potentially reducing barrel wear.
A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the jacket forward edge or lip engages the cylindrical mid portion, allowing an axial extending range on the cylindrical mid portion where the jacket edge may engage providing flexibility and an increased tolerance during manufacturing for the positioning of the forward edge of the jacket.
A feature and advantage of embodiments is that the forward edge of the jacket has a reverse taper, opposite to that of the overall taper of the projectile. This reverse taper positioned at a cylindrical mid portion of forward component, presents a forward facing circumferential scoop which has minimal or no effect on flight characteristics but facilitates the initiation of the outward expansion of the jacket on impact with a fluidic target. This further facilitates the stripping-off of the jacket from the steel component providing advantageous terminal effects such as fragmentation of the projectile and faster yawing. Both are associated with increased stopping power. A further feature and advantage of embodiments is that a forward tapered portion of the jacket may have axially extending skives that may facilitate opening of the jacket upon impact.
A feature and advantage of embodiments is that the forward component is retained in the jacket forward of the lead core, the forward component having a forward ogive portion, a cylindrical mid portion adjoined to and unitary with the forward ogive portion, and a rearward portion adjoined to and unitary with the cylindrical mid portion, the entirety of the rearward portion diametrically larger than the cylindrical mid portion, the entirety of the cylindrical mid portion diametrically larger than the forward ogive portion,
A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is that the forward ogived portion and mid portion of the steel component may have forward and outwardly facing cut-outs or divots that provide for a greater forward facing scooping area further enhancing the initiation of the opening of the jacket, the opening of the jacket, and the stripping off of the jacket from the steel component. The circumferentially arranged divots provide increased terminal performance while maintaining reliability of weapon system because the external profile of projectile is left unchanged, for example, the feed ramp for the cartridges is not impacted by the circumferential divots.
A feature and advantage of embodiments is that a forward steel portion may be used essentially as a punch to conform a ball shaped lead portion to conform to the jacket and the rearward facing surface of the forward component.
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Referring to 2, 5A-6E, and 8, the jacket has a leading edge portion 51, a leading edge 52, and a reverse tapered surface 52.2 that may be a frustoconical concave surface. In embodiments, the leading edge is separated from the steel component such that a recess 53, in embodiments a V-shaped recess, in cross-section, faces forward defining a circumferential scoop. One leg of the V is directly in line with the axis 53.3 of the bullet as well as the trajectory path. The V-shaped recess promotes opening of the jacket when the bullet impacts fluidic material which then urges the jacket to open, essentially by hydraulic force. The opened jacket can release the steel component and also the lead core increasing the damage imparted to the target.
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In embodiments, the forward component is retained in the jacket forward of the lead core, the forward component having a forward ogive portion, a cylindrical mid portion adjoined to the forward ogive portion, and a rearward portion adjoined to the cylindrical mid portion, the entirety of the rearward portion diametrically larger than the cylindrical mid portion, the entirety of the cylindrical mid portion diametrically larger than the forward ogive portion,
In embodiments, the diameter of the cylindrical mid portion is 80 percent or greater of the diameter of the maximum diameter portion of the forward component. In embodiments, the diameter of the cylindrical mid portion is 85 percent or greater of the diameter of the maximum diameter portion. In embodiments, the diameter dl of the cylindrical mid portion is 70 percent or greater of the diameter d of the maximum diameter portion. In embodiments the ratio of the length of the forward component to the diameter of the forward component is in the range of 1.65 to 1.05. In embodiments the ratio of the length of the forward component to the diameter of the forward component is in the range of 1.50 to 1.20. In embodiments the ratio of the length of the forward component to the diameter of the forward component is in the range of 1.32 to 1.40.
In embodiments, the mid portion rather than being cylindrical, may have a slight taper forwardly of, for example, 2 degrees or less, as measured from a line parallel to the axis. In such embodiments, the mid portion is conical. In embodiments the mid portion may be conical with a taper of 5 degrees or less, as measured from a line parallel to the axis. Such conical mid portions may be substituted for all embodiments described or claimed herein.
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In embodiments of the invention, the lead core can weigh about 1.4 to 2.2 times the weight of the jacket. The steel component can weigh 1.3 to 2.4 times the weight of the lead core. Weight may be approximately (within 20%) of the following for a 9 mm bullet:
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All of the features disclosed in this specification (including the references incorporated by reference, including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including references incorporated by reference, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects. The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/866,153, filed on Jan. 9, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Pat. No. 9,863,746, issued Jan. 9, 2018, and U.S. Provisional application 62/196,217 filed on Jul. 23, 2015, U.S. Provisional application 62/217,533 filed on Sep. 11, 2015; and U.S. Provisional application 62/250,786 filed on Nov. 4, 2015; all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62250786 | Nov 2015 | US | |
62217533 | Sep 2015 | US | |
62196217 | Jul 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15866153 | Jan 2018 | US |
Child | 16685413 | US | |
Parent | 15219012 | Jul 2016 | US |
Child | 15866153 | US |