Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
  • F42B12/72—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the material
  • F42B12/74—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the material of the core or solid body
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B8/00—Practice or training ammunition

Definitions

• the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has added its voice to such a demand and has defined a frangible bullet as one which retains less than 15% of its weight, after striking a three-eighths (3/8) inch steel plate at right angles. It has defined a non-frangible bullet as one which retains at least 75% of its weight after striking such a steel plate at right angles.
• bullets have been made out of lead or a combination of lead and copper. These materials have a number of characteristics and physical properties which make them well suited to bullet manufacturing and use. Low cost, drawability, low casting and annealing temperatures, and high density are a few of these desirable features.
• a growing portion of the ammunition market has initiated requests for a product having performance requirements which cannot be met through the use of lead or copper jacketed/lead core bullets.
• the new requirements are that the bullets must not contain any toxic or heavy metals.
• the new bullet should also have a limited range, compared to a copper- jacketed lead core bullet.
• a solid copper bullet has been proposed to satisfy the non-frangible requirements.
• a plastic/bronze powder, mixed together and molded into a bullet has been submitted to meet the frangible bullet requirements.
• the plastic frangible bullet identified above is not satisfactory because the material from which it is made is very expensive, and its density is so low that the bullet will not function reliably in self-loading firearms.
• the copper bullet proposed above is likewise not satisfactory because the copper material is relatively expensive, it is difficult to machine, and it is harder than a copper jacketed lead/core bullet, which results in a comparably lower velocity for any given pressure generated by the propellant. Thus, a solid copper bullet leaves much to be desired.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,811,966 discloses a solid projectile made of approximately 61.5% copper, 35% zinc, 3% lead and 0.5% tin.
• the high copper content makes it expensive and incorporates the other adverse features identified hereinabove. It is designed to improve and increase penetration. It is intended to be non- expansive and, consequently, would be classed as non-frangible.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,208,424 discloses a hollow point jacketed bullet made of lead or a lead alloy and having a portion of the jacket extending within the hollow open front of the bullet. A plurality of radial slits are formed in the portion of the jacket which extends into the hollow front end of the bullet. Reinforced pointed prongs are positioned between the slits and extend into the opening which extends axially rearwardly beyond the prongs. No suggestion to use zinc in the bullet is contained in this patent.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,164,533 teaches a method for assembling a pyrotechnically initiated projectile. It has a nose incendiary, a penetrator core, a high explosive and an overall jacket.
• the penetrator core 14 is comprised of a tungsten alloy. No suggestion to use zinc, as a substitute, is contained in the patent.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,685,397 discloses a lead-free, plastics- free hunting bullet having a hollow nose which is provided with a cap having wedge-shaped projections which move rearwardly upon impact with a target to cause the bullet to be ruptured and spread into tongues or petals.
• the bullet maintains its weight and, since it is lead-free and plastics-free, it cannot transfer these foreign materials to the body of the animal being hunted.
• the body of the bullet is made of tombac, copper or the like. No suggestion to use zinc, in any form, is made.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,610,061 shows a hollow nosed projectile formed of lead and provided with a cup-like aluminum jacket, the forward open end of which is swaged inwardly over the hollow area of the lead core.
• the jacket is weakened at the nose of the bullet to promote upset of the bullet .
• any material other than lead should be utilized in the core.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,503,777 shows a semi-jacketed molded bullet in which a small portion of the core extends through the hole in the bottom of the jacket and forms a radially outwardly extending flange which secures the core to the jacket.
• the core is made of a soft material, such as lead, and the jacket is made of a relatively hard material such as copper, brass, zinc, bullet gilding material, or equivalent, with bullet gilding material being preferred. No suggestion to use zinc as a core material is contained in the patent.
• the patent also teaches that the base of the core should have a disc or plug of lead into which the turn-over of the envelope is embedded to prevent gas from entering the core and envelope, and to enable the base of the bullet to be set up, "an effect which it is difficult or impossible to obtain with zinc.”
• the invention in its simplest embodiment includes the conception of a non-toxic bullet formed of a metal slug, made up primarily of zinc and having a generally cylindrical rear portion and an inwardly tapering forward portion, and having smooth circumferential surfaces throughout.
• the non-toxic bullet of the invention is capable of functioning either as a non-toxic frangible or a non-toxic non-frangible bullet (as defined herein) with only minor variations in its construction.
• a non-toxic frangible or a non-toxic non-frangible bullet as defined herein
• the non-toxic bullet may be capable of meeting the requirements of both frangible and non-frangible bullets.
• the weight-retaining characteristics of the primarily zinc slug when used as a core within a cup-shaped copper casing, without being weakened, closely approaches currently established lower limits of non- frangible bullets and may indeed meet the requirements of the FBI for same in the future.
• the core of the bullet is made up of at least 94% zinc.
• my non-toxic bullet may be in a non-jacketed form and will function well as a training round. Such a bullet is substantially less expensive to produce.
• the embodiments of my invention may be manufactured by using (1) machining techniques, (2) die-cast techniques, or (3) cold- forming techniques.
• the percentage of alloy which is included with the zinc, in each of the embodiments, depends upon the manufacturing technique which is used. This is true because zinc is a relatively hard material and some manufacturing techniques require slightly softer material.
• each of the embodiments of my invention meets the need for bullets which have sufficient mass to be able to function in automatically loading firearms, which are either gas or recoil operated.
• Plastic bullets are too light to perform satisfactorily in such firearms.
• a comparable metal, copper, is too expensive to produce for such purposes.
• the preferred forms of my invention perform in a highly satisfactory manner in such firearms, and are substantially less expensive and, consequently, are highly desirable for use as non-toxic training rounds, as compared to bullets of other manufacture.
• Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of a conventional cartridge, showing the prior art
• Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with a portion broken away, and showing the bullet shape and smooth circumferential surfaces;
• Fig. 3 is a front end plan view of the bullet shown in
• Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the bullet of Fig. 2 installed within a conventional cartridge casing
• Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of the bullet of Fig. 2 enveloped in a nylon casing;
• Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the bullet of Fig. 2 enveloped in an electroplated copper casing;
• Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the invention, having the rear end portion encased in a cup-shaped copper casing;
• Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of the bullet shown in Fig. 7 installed within a conventional cartridge casing;
• Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the invention, encased within a cup-shaped copper casing, and having weakened areas at its rear end to induce frangibility;
• Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view of the bullet shown in Fig. 9 installed within a conventional casing
• Fig. 11 is a rear end plan view of the core of the bullet shown in Fig. 9, showing the weakened areas provided to induce frangibility;
• Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the bullet shown in Fig. 9 after it has struck a 3/8 inch steel plate and showing its frangibility;
• Fig. 13 is a partial sectional view of another preferred form of the invention which is non-frangible and has the nose of the core completely encased in copper, and with only a portion of the rear end of the core encased;
• Fig. 14 is a partial sectional view of the bullet of Fig. 13 installed within a conventional copper cartridge casing;
• Fig. 15 is a rear end plan view of the bullet shown in Figs. 13 and 14.
• Fig. 1 shows a conventional cartridge identified generally by the numeral 16. As shown, it is comprised of a brass cartridge casing 17 having an open mouth 18 which is crimped inwardly around the lead bullet 19. The casing 17 accommodates a supply of primer 21 and adjacent propellant 22, each of which burns upon firing.
• the brass casing which is utilized in the embodiments of my invention, as shown and described herein, is highly similar to the casing 16 and, therefore, may be numbered accordingly.
• a slug 25 is comprised solely, or at least primarily, of zinc and is characterized by a cylindrical rear portion 26 and a forward portion 27 which tapers inwardly toward its forward end 28.
• the forward end 28 and the rear end 29 extend radially and are, therefore, parallel.
• the bullet 25 is characterized by the fact that it is comprised throughout primarily of zinc, and the fact that it is not encased, and its rear portion being cylindrical in shape and having smooth exterior surfaces throughout.
• the inwardly tapering forward portion 27 similarly has smooth exterior surfaces. Both the rear portion 26 and the forward portion 27 are formed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bullet.
• the overall length of the bullet is .625 inches +/- .003".
• the length of the forward portion 27 is .316 inches +/- .003".
• the diameter of the forward end, prior to being radiused, is .2207 inches.
• the outer surface of the forward portion 27 tapers inwardly at an angle of approximately 24° relative to the longitudinal axis of the bullet.
• the slight bevel 31 at the rear end of the bullet has an axial length of .015 inches +/- .005", and the angle of the bevel 31 is 45°.
• the die-casting zinc alloy which is utilized in each embodiment of my invention is #3 (A.K.A. ZAMACK #3) .
• I have also used an unalloyed zinc #302.
• the composition of these alloys is provided in greater detail in suitable alloy reference material such as Metals Handbook. ® 1985, American Society for Metals, Metals Park, Ohio 44073.
• the angle of taper of the forward portion 27 of the bullet shown in Fig. 2 is 24° off the longitudinal axis of the bullet.
• Fig. 4 shows the bullet 25 of Fig. 2 mounted in a conventional brass cartridge casing 16, which has the usual priming material 21 and propellant 22.
• the bullet 25 of this cartridge has weight-retaining characteristics of approximately 45-65%.
• it is an ideal training round and is substantially less expensive than training rounds heretofore known, in view of the fact that the cost of applying a casing, which surrounds the bullet, has been eliminated.
• Fig. 5 shows the same bullet as is shown in Fig. 2, encased, as a core member, in plastic throughout.
• This core 32 is of the same construction as element 25 of Fig. 2 and is completely enclosed within the nylon envelope 33.
• This construction also functions very well as a training round. Because the core can be encased in nylon at relatively low expense and it functions well when used in training, it also qualifies highly as a training round. It also has weight-retaining characteristics of approximately 45-65%. When used as a training round, this bullet is mounted in a casing such as shown in Fig. 4 and in the same manner.
• Fig. 6 shows a third type of bullet 34, which is likewise designed to be utilized as a training round. As shown, it has a core 35 which is identical to the bullet 25 shown in Fig. 2. The core 35 is completely encased, by electroplating or chemical plating, with an envelope 36, made of copper. This envelope is very thin. Here again, the cost of producing this bullet is relatively low and, since it has weight-retaining functions approximating 45-65%, it too is a highly desirable bullet for use in training rounds. When used, it is mounted, of course, in the mouth of a brass cartridge casing such as is shown in Fig. 4.
• Figs. 7-8 show another preferred form of the invention in which an all-zinc, or primarily all-zinc, core 37 is mounted within the open end of a cup-shaped copper casing 38.
• the core 37 is substantially identical to the core 25 shown in Fig. 2 in that its rear end portion is cylindrical in shape and the entire circumferential surface of the core is smooth.
• the cup-like copper casing 38 is cylindrical in shape and has a closed bottom and open mouth.
• the core 37 is inserted into the casing 38, so that the rear end thereof bears against the bottom of the casing 38, and the upper portion of the casing is then drawn inwardly around the inwardly tapering forward portion 40 of the core.
• the portion 40 has an intermediate circumferential surface 40a which is parallel to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical rear portion of the core, but extends only a short distance axially.
• the upper portion of the casing is drawn inwardly around and against this surface 40a.
• the forward end 41 of the core 37 is parallel to its rear end and to the bottom wall of the casing 38 and is disposed forwardly beyond the mouth of the casing.
• Fig. 8 shows the bullet 39 mounted within a cartridge casing 42 which is substantially identical to the cartridge casing shown in Fig. 4. It is provided with the corresponding primer material 43 and propellant 44.
• This bullet 39 when fired, has weight-retaining characteristics of 45-65%. We believe this bullet has definite possibilities of possibly qualifying as a non-frangible bullet, if and when the FBI lowers its limits as anticipated.
• Fig. 9 shows another preferred form of my invention in which the bullet 45 has a zinc, or primarily zinc core 46, the rear end portion of which is cylindrical in shape and, with the inwardly tapering forward portion, has smooth circumferential surfaces, and is further characterized by the presence of weakened areas at its rear end surface, as best shown in Fig. 11.
• a pair of transverse grooves 47 is formed in the rear end of the zinc core 46. These grooves 47 extend at right angles to each other and have a depth of approximately .250 inches and a width of approximately .010 inches.
• the forward end portion 48 of the bullet 45 tapers inwardly, as best shown in Fig. 9, and the nose is slightly rounded. The degree of taper relative to the longitudinal axis is approximately 24°.
• the rear portion of the zinc core 46 is completely encased within a cup-shaped copper casing 49.
• This copper casing like the one shown in Figs. 7-8, is cylindrical in shape and has smooth circumferential surfaces, a closed bottom, and an open mouth into which the core 46 is positioned. Thereafter, the open mouth portions of the casing are drawn inwardly to enclose the more rear areas of the forward inwardly tapering portion 48 of the core.
• Fig. 10 shows the bullet 45 of Fig. 9 mounted within a copper cartridge casing 50, which is substantially identical to the casing 16 shown in Fig. 4, and includes the usual primer 51 and propellant 52.
• the impact of the bullet striking the target causes the nose portion of the bullet to mushroom.
• the weakened areas defined by the grooves 47 at the rear end of the core 46, as shown in Fig. 12 cause various segments of the bullet to separate from each other.
• a circular disk 53 which previously constituted the bottom wall of the copper casing 49, is cut free and separates from the cylindrical walls of the casing.
• the weight-retaining characteristics of this bullet is approximately 15-35%.
• this bullet qualifies very well as a frangible bullet, when fired at a three- eighths (3/8) inch steel plate. It also qualifies very well as a satisfactory training round.
• Fig. 13-15 show another embodiment of my invention in which the core 55 is, like each of the other embodiments, comprised primarily of zinc.
• the slug or core is comprised of at least 94% zinc and the remaining l%-6% is comprised of alloy metals, none of which are toxic.
• the rear portion 56 of the core 55 is cylindrical in shape, while the forwardly extending more forward portion tapers inwardly at approximately a 24° angle to the longitudinal axis of the core.
• the outer circumferential surfaces of the core are smooth.
• the nose 58 of the forwardly extending portion 57 and the forwardly and inwardly tapering portion 57 and cylindrical rear portion 56, as shown in Fig. 13, are each completely encased in a copper casing 59.
• the casing 59 is of such a depth so that, when the core 55 is positioned therewithin, the rear open end of the casing 59 extends slightly beyond the rear end 60 of the core 56.
• the mouth portion 61 of the casing 59 is swaged inwardly, as shown in Fig. 15, so as to securely retain the core 55 within the casing 59.
• the portions which are swaged inwardly around the rear end of the core 55, and do not cover the same entirely, have been identified by the numeral 61.
• FIG. 14 shows the bullet displayed in Fig. 13 mounted within the mouth 63 of the conventional brass cartridge casing 64.
• the casing 64 is provided with the usual priming mixture 65 and propellant 66.
• the bullet 55 retains 60-80% of its weight upon impact with the target.
• the entire nose of the core is encased within the copper casing 59 and that this casing protects the core 56 so that it remains substantially intact while the casing breaks up and frequently disappears altogether.
• This embodiment of the invention therefore, clearly meets the requirements for a toxic non-frangible bullet.
• it may be used as a non-toxic training round, since it can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.
• the basic construction which does not require a casing, is suitable and much to be preferred as a training round.
• the other embodiments involve the use of a core-encasing material which is non-toxic.
• the resultant bullet is suitable for use either as a training round or as a non-frangible bullet or as a frangible bullet, depending upon the percentage of weight which is retained by the bullet upon impact. The degree of retention is determined by the nature and manner of application of the casing to the core member.
• an added advantage provided by the above embodiments is that they may be manufactured relatively inexpensively. Their manufacture can be accomplished by utilizing any one of die-casting methods, machining, or cold- forming techniques.

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• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
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• 1995
  • 1995-05-12 EP EP95920454A patent/EP0805945A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1995-05-12 WO PCT/US1995/006093 patent/WO1996023193A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-05-12 CA CA002211016A patent/CA2211016A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-05-12 BR BR9510199A patent/BR9510199A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-05-12 AU AU25900/95A patent/AU693557B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-05-12 KR KR1019970705173A patent/KR19980701776A/ko not_active Abandoned
• 1997
  • 1997-07-25 FI FI973119A patent/FI973119A0/fi unknown

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