CA2143577A1 - Small arms ammunition bullet and method of manufacturing same - Google Patents

Small arms ammunition bullet and method of manufacturing same

Info

Publication number
CA2143577A1
CA2143577A1 CA 2143577 CA2143577A CA2143577A1 CA 2143577 A1 CA2143577 A1 CA 2143577A1 CA 2143577 CA2143577 CA 2143577 CA 2143577 A CA2143577 A CA 2143577A CA 2143577 A1 CA2143577 A1 CA 2143577A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bullet
jacket
metal
hollow interior
core portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2143577
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Russell P. Leblanc
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BEELINE CUSTOM AMMUNITION Ltd
Original Assignee
BEELINE CUSTOM AMMUNITION Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/323,952 external-priority patent/US5454325A/en
Application filed by BEELINE CUSTOM AMMUNITION Ltd filed Critical BEELINE CUSTOM AMMUNITION Ltd
Publication of CA2143577A1 publication Critical patent/CA2143577A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Abstract

A small arm ammunition bullet has a metal jacket with a first core portion of thermoplastic material filling a closed end of the interior of the jacket and a second core portion projecting through an opposite open end of the jacket. The second core portion is formed of a plurality of individual metal fragments compacted into an at least substantially solid mass. The bullet is made by swaging lead shot and the thermoplastic material into the jacket and combines good expansion on impact with a soft target with the ability to penetrate a hard target.

Description

- 21~3~77 127PlCA

The present invention relates to bullets for use in small arms ammunition and, in particular, to so-called pre-fragmented bullets compri.~ing ajacket co~ g individual metal pieces, and to methods 5 of m~nllf~cturing bullets.

It has previous been proposed to provide a pre-fragmented bullet comprising a copper jacket filled with bird shot, which is intended to rupture on impact so as to create a wound resembling a scaled-down shotgun wound.
One advantage of this prior bullet is that it produces massive tissue damage as deeply as the slug penetrates. This prior bullet also has the advantage that it does not over-penetrate its primary target.
In other words, the bullet does not penetrate a target sufficiently with enough energy to exit from the target, with the risk of hitting an llnint~ntlecl secondary target. Further, the prior bullet is so fragile 15 it bursts upon angular impact against a hard surface and, therefore, does not ricochet. In addition, this prior bullet is less likely than any other bullet to penetrate walls, for example, in a domestic scenario so as to endanger people in adjacent rooms or at the exterior of a building within which the bullet is fired.

20 However, it is also a disadvantage of this prior bullet that it produces only shallow tissue penetration and, therefore, may not sufficiently penetrate in side-to-side shots, shots involving intermediate targets such as upper arms and other shots calling for deep penetration. Also, the prior bullet is readily fr~gment~l by impact against, for example, car glass, car metal or building materials, which a felon is likely to use for cover. Unlike a solid bullet, this prior bullet cannot be caused to bounce 25 or ricochet under, for example, an automobile body so as to hit a felon behind the automobile body.

It is accordingly on object ofthe present invention to provide a novel and improved bullet which acts as a pre-fragmented projectile but which also is capable of penetrating hard obstacles.

According to the present invention, there is provided a small arms ammunition bullet having a jacket with a hollow interior having an open end and a closed end. A first core portion of thermoplastic material is provided within the hollow interior at the closed end. A second core portion projects through the open end and is formed by individual metal fragments compacted into an at least 5 substantially solid mass.

On impact against, for example, water, ballistic gelatin or living tissue, this bullet releases its energy quickly, so that the jacket is upset and the individual fragments separate from one another and spread apart from the main path of the bullet. However, this bullet is also capable of penetrating hard 10 obstacles when required.

By compaction of the individual fragments into a solid mass, the presence of voids within the jacket is avoided and the bullet is therefore more stable when fired and, thus, more accurate.

15 The thermoplastic material fills the space within the jacket between the compacted fragment mass and the closed end of the jacket, and light.-n~ the bullet, thus further improving the ballistics of the bullet.
The bullet is manufactured by inserting the thermoplastic material into the hollow interior at the closed end thereof, and then inserting individual pieces of metal onto the plastic material in the 20 hollow interior. By use of, for example, a swaging die, the thermoplastic material and the metal pieces are compacted in the hollow interior so that the thermoplastic material fills the closed end of the hollow interior and the metal pieces are compacted together into a substantially solid mass. A
further metal piece is then positioned on the solid mass at the open end of the hollow interior of the jacket and is compacted against the mass as a part thereof projecting through the open end, the jacket 25 being collapsed at the open end onto the further metal piece to form a nose therewith.

The present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:-21~3577 ..

Figure 1 shows a plan view of components of a bullet during a first stage of the m~nllf~ctllre thereof;

Figure 2 shows a view taken in cross-section along the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 shows a view taken in cross-section through a swaging die during compaction of some of the components shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 shows a view in vertical cross-section through the bullet components of Figures 1 and 2 during a subsequent step in the m~nllf~ture of the bullet;
Figure 5 shows a view taken in vertical cross-section through the finished bullet;

Figure 6 shows a view in vertical cross-section through a round of ammunition including the bullet of Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows a diagram illu~llaling the penetration of the bullet of Figure 5 into ballistic gelatin.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates generally a metal jacket which comprises a circular base 12 and a cylindrical wall 14 upst~n~1ing from the base 12. The jacket 10 has a hollow interior 16, which has one end closed by the jacket base 12, and an open end 18 opposite from the closed end.

The jacket 10, in the present embodiment of the invention, is made of copper. However it is alternatively possible to substitute a copper alloy, alllminllm, an aluminum alloy or gilding metal instead of copper.

In the m~mlf~tllre of a bullet employing the jacket 10, a ball or sphere 22 of polyethylene is inserted into the closed end of the jacket. However, other thermoplastic materials may, if desired, be ~ul~ ul~d for polyethylene. Six #6 lead bird shot 24 are then placed on top of the thermoplastic ball 2143~77 20 within the jacket hollow interior 16 in a side-by-side arrangement. As can be seen from Figure 1, the shot 24 are arranged with a single shot 24 at the centre of the array, and with the rem~ining five shot 24 evenly spaced around this central shot 24.

5 Next, five #9 shot 26 are arranged in an equally-spaced array, with each of the shot 26 resting on three of the underlying shot 24.

The thermoplastic ball 20 and the shot 24 and 26 are then compacted in a swaging die indicated generally by reference numeral 28 in Figure 3. The swaging die 28 is provided with a cylindrical support 30, which abuts the base 12 of the jacket 10 and which has a diameter substantially equal to that of the jacket 10. A punch 32, having a diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of the jacket 10, is then displaced downwardly against the shot 24 and 26. In this way the thermoplastic ball 20 is deformed into a mass 33 which fills the closed lower end 60 of the jacket 10. Simultaneously the shot 24 and 26 are compacted together to form a substantially solid mass 15 indicated by reference numeral 34 in Figure 3.

In this connection, it is pointed out that the shot 24 and 26 should be arranged in the above-described equally-spaced manner, rather than being simply dropped in a random manner into the jacket 10, in order to avoid the formation of voids in the compacted mass 34 during the swaging operation and, 20 thereby, to avoid impairing the accuracy of the finished bullet in use.

Also, by arranging the shot 24 and 26 in the above-described equally spaced manner, dispersion of the corresponding fragments of the bullet around the main bullet track, on impact of the bullet, is ensured, thus increasing the chances of striking a vital organ or blood vessel that would not have 25 been struck by a similar impact of a non-pre-fragmented bullet.

By the use of swaging to compact the shot 24 and 26, as described, so as to avoid the formation of voids in the compacted metal mass, the stability of the finished bullet when fired, and thus its accuracy, are enhanced. Also, the swaging of the lead shot deforms the shot into a flattened 21~3~77 somewhat disk-like shape which increases the damage caused by penetration of the finished bullet into tissue as compared to conventional round shot. Further, the risk of over-penetration of a target is likewise reduced.

5 Following the above-described swaging operation, a #4 Bk. shot 36 is placed centrally on top of the swaged mass 34 as shown in Fig. 4. The shot 36 and the upper, open end of the jacket 10 are then swaged in a nose-forming die (not shown) to form a nose indicated generally by reference numeral 38 in Figure 5, the nose 38 having a generally ogive shape with a flat circular tip end 39.

The nose 38 of the finished bullet 5, as shown in Figure 5, thus forms a tapered tip, with the shot 36 of Figure 4 deformed to con~tiblte, together with the solid mass 34, a larger solid mass 40 projecting through the upper, open end of the jacket 10, and an upper portion 41 of the jacket wall 14 being collapsed inwardly to penetrate the solid mass 40, as shown.

15 It has been found by experiment that the jacket 10 should advantageously have a wall thickness of 0.017 inch when the jacket 10 is made of copper or gilding metal and 0.021 inch when the jacket 10 is made of aluminum. More palticularly, a thickness greater than this will cause some deterioration of the performance of the bullet when it impacts gelatin, i.e. the bullet will not expand optimally and, therefore, may over-penetrate, whereas if the jacket wall thickness is less than this dimension the 20 bullet may not provide ol~lh~ ll penetration of obstacles.

This wall thickness may extend from the base to the top of the jacket 10. However, the jacket may alternatively be tapered in its wall thickness, provided that the thickness of the jacket has the above dimension from the open end of the jacket over one third of the total length of the jacket.
The total length L of the bullet in the present embodiment is 0.528 inch, the nose 42 projects by a distance L1=0.074 inch beyond the jacket 10 and the tapered wall 41 extends over a distance of L2=0.119 inch, cylindrical portion of the wall 14 extending over a distance L3=0.335 inch.

`- 214357-~

Also, the circular tip end 39 of the nose 42 has a diameter D=0.080 inch, the finished bullet having a diameter 0.355 inch.

Figure 6 shows the bullet in a complete ammunition round indicated generally by reference numeral 44, which includes a brass cartridge 45, a detonator 46 and a propellant 47.

Figure 7 diagrammatically illustrates penetration of the bullet when fired into a block of 10% 250A
ballistic gelatin 50 having a length of ten inches. The bullet has fragmented into a first fragment 52 formed by the nose 42 of the bullet, the jacket 10 being expanded and located behind the fragment 52, and further fr~gment~ 54 and 56, formed from the shot 24 and 26, respectively, being scattered along tracks extending at about 45 from the main bullet path, indicated by reference numeral 58.
Occasionally, metal fragments 60 are spun off from the jacket 10.

It is to be understood that the size of the lead shot may vary, depending upon the calibre of the bullet.
Generally #5, #6, #9 and BB lead shot are well suited for the manufacture of bullets, while #4 Bk.
shot is well suited to form the nose of the bullet.

The thermoplastic m~tçri~l employed for the ball 20 serves to lighten the bullet. By lightening the bullet, the velocity of the bullet when fired is increased and, in this way, the velocity can be m~int~ined sufficiently high to ensure that the bullet fragments, and spreads apart the metal jacket, upon impact. When this happens, the swaged shot come apart at about 45 to the main bullet path 58 as shown in Figure 7, around the main bullet path 58.

As will be apl)al~lll to those skilled in the art, the shot size and the diameter of the plastic ball 20 will vary, depending upon the calibre of the bullet, and also the number of shot employed may vary.

Thus, for example, in the case of a .44 calibre bullet, BB shot and a #4 Bk. shot may be employed, whereas a .45 calibre bullet, #5 shot, #12 shot and #4 Bk. shot may be employed.

21~577 The #4 Bk. shot (hard or regular) is heavy enough to provide sufficient weight at the front of the bullet and, after being formed with a 3/4 inch ogive shape in a swaging die, as described, the bullet will have a suitable profile for reliable feeding in both fully automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

S Also, instead of employing lead shot, it is alternatively possible to substitute bismuth shot.

As will be a~al~lll to those skilled in the art, various other modifications may be made in the above described embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

I CLAIM:
1. A small arm ammunition bullet, comprising:

a jacket having a hollow interior with an open end and a closed end;

a first core portion of thermoplastic material within said hollow interior;

a second core portion projecting through said open end;

said second core portion comprising a plurality of individual metal projectiles compacted into an at least substantially solid mass; and said first core portion being compacted to fill said hollow interior at said closed end thereof.
2. A bullet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metal projectiles comprise lead.
3. A bullet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said metal projectiles comprise swaged shot.
4. A bullet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said jacket comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, copper alloy, gilding metal, aluminum, aluminum alloy.
5. A bullet as claimed in claim 4, wherein said jacket has a wall thickness of substantially 0.017 inches.
6. A bullet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second core portion and a portion of said jacket extending around said second core portion and formed as a nose of ogival shape.
7. A bullet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projectiles comprise a first group of inner projectile abutting said plastic material, a second group of intermediate projectiles pressed onto said first group and a outer projectile pressed onto said second group and forming a tip of said bullet.
8. A method of making a small arms ammunition bullet, comprising the steps of: -providing a jacket having a hollow interior with an open end and a closed end;

inserting a plastic material into said hollow interior said closed end thereof;

inserting individual pieces of metal onto said plastic material in said hollow interior;

compacting said plastic material and said metal pieces in said hollow interior using a swaging die so that said plastic material fills said closed end and said metal projectile fragment are compacted together into a substantially solid mass;

providing a further projectile fragment of metal on said solid mass at said open end; and compacting said further metal projectile fragment against said mass as a part thereof projecting through said open end and deforming said jacket at said open end onto said further metal projectile fragment.
CA 2143577 1994-10-17 1995-02-28 Small arms ammunition bullet and method of manufacturing same Abandoned CA2143577A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/323,952 US5454325A (en) 1993-09-20 1994-10-17 Small arms ammunition bullet
US08/323,952 1994-10-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2143577A1 true CA2143577A1 (en) 1996-04-18

Family

ID=23261424

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2143577 Abandoned CA2143577A1 (en) 1994-10-17 1995-02-28 Small arms ammunition bullet and method of manufacturing same

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2143577A1 (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5454325A (en) Small arms ammunition bullet
US7299733B2 (en) Bullet with spherical nose portion
US6805057B2 (en) Bullet for optimal penetration and expansion
US7162942B2 (en) Bullet
EP0842389A2 (en) Non-toxic frangible bullet
US4336756A (en) Jacketed bullet and method of manufacture
US6024021A (en) Fragmenting bullet
US9562753B2 (en) Upset jacketed bullets
US5528989A (en) Highly separable bullet
US4811666A (en) Solid projectiles
US6176186B1 (en) Subsonic expansion projectile
US20050126422A1 (en) Bullet with booster filling and its manufacture
EA005726B1 (en) Piercing bullet and method for manufacturing thereof
US3862600A (en) Multi-projectile assembly
US5404815A (en) Bullet and process for making same
US7121211B2 (en) Projectile having frangible trailing end barrier and method
US7225742B2 (en) Arrow-shaped bullet, ammunition cartridge using same, and method of manufacturing same
CA2143577A1 (en) Small arms ammunition bullet and method of manufacturing same
EP4214461A1 (en) Bullet
US20050066846A1 (en) Bullet jacket and method for the manufacture thereof
PL192798B1 (en) Armour-piercing bullet
CA2470713C (en) Bullet jacket and method for the manufacture thereof
RU2133006C1 (en) Armor-piercing bullet and process of its manufacture
RU2067283C1 (en) Sporting cartridge bullet for rifled weapon
ZA200403448B (en) Bullet with spherical nose portion.

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead