US1582673A - Rifle bullet - Google Patents

Description

April 27 1926. 1,582673 F. A. FAHRE LD LLLLLLLLL ET Fig. Z

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At-torneys Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

RIFLE BULLET.

Application fi1ed May 21, 1924-.

Be it known thnt I, FRA\*K A. FAHREN- WALD, a citizen otf the United Staates 0f America, and e resident 01 Cleve1zxnd Heighi"s in the counizy 01 Cuyahoga zmd State 0'f Ohio, have invenced certain new und useful 1mpxovements in Rifle B1111e1e, 01 Whi0h the fellowing is 21 fu11, dem, und exact description.

Thie invention re1ates to fire arms and especially t0 projectiles 1"01 use wit-h high p1eseure, high ve1ocity rifies. The objects 01 the invention are the pxovision 0f a new und improved bullet eapab1e of velocities from 2500 feet t0 3500 feet per .eeeond, which sha11 not strip in the bore 01 fuse et the base IlOI break and disintegrate upon impact, 11017 seriously ab1ade the rif1e barre1; the provision of 21 rifle projectile which can be made in one piece anal without jacketing; the provision 01 a rifle projectile which sha11 possess approximately the weight 0f 1e:1d buc Without the hardness of the customary jackets; the provision 01 a cheaper und bettet bu1let; while further objects anal advantages of the invention will become apparent es the description proceeds.

During the period when b1ack powder was usec1 and the velocities did n0t exceed about 1500 =Eeet per second, a p1ain 1ead -bu11et 01 a bullet of lead hardened with a sma11 amounr 01 tin Was perfectly satisfactory. 1Vith the advent 0f h'1gh pressure smokeless powders and the accompanying hi.gh velocities, this p1ain 1ead 01 le-ad-a1loy bu11et cou1d not be. used since its softness caused it to become s tripped in the bete instead of following the 1ifling, the high temperature 01 the ases partia1ly fused it at the base, und the IO1CG 036 hnpact was so terrific that even in soft animal tissues the hullet would fiy inio an infinite number 015 smal1 pieces, sometimes even seeming t0 beco1ne v-aporized. T0 overcome these defects the 1ead was jucketed with a hzuder. tougher and m0re 1ef1actory material, a 1end core still heing ueed because 01. its high c1ensity but this 111' ungement is nneatisfactory f01 larqe gmne shooting since with a strong jacket the bul1et mere1y pierces the tazget o1 animal, punccuring 21 c1eancut, sm-alldi:uneter opening With "er v httle stopping power. 1\1any modificatio1'1s 075 this jacketed bullet have been made, such es to expose the 1ead cm*e at the p0lnt o1 prov1de n 8111x111 cawty 1ns1de the acke 11E211' the pomt W1Ch the 0b eet 0f causing the bu11et t0 mnsh1oon1, thus de1ivering 10 the game =.minmi 01' 0ther tmgefi ehe entire energy 01' the bullet ahd p10dubing 21 mm-e serieus wound. Most hu11ets 0'f this type, hovvexer, fly into many pieces und am 110t nenrly so efi'eetive es some 01: the 1ower velocitgg softer bu11ets which merely sp1ead out up0n impnet "\\'irhnut becoming complete1y disrupted.

1 hexe discovezred that a hul1et made 01 pure copper und thoroughly annealed afier imuningx, behaves a1; high velocity (that is z1t ve1ocities ahove about 2500 feet per second) in er:nctly the same manne1 as does a lea 1 hu1let at the former veloeity of 1500 ieet per eecond. Beinp; extremely (soft L11d uniform it does not injure the b01'8 01 the finest 1'ifl@; being extremely t0ugh und ducti1e it cannot stri.p but engag'es the grooves very closely; its melting point is high enough 130 prevent insion at the base 110 matter whnt the pressure 01 temperature 0f the chiving gas; it is so soft and a1; the same t ime so tough and ductile that it procluces atypical mushroom upon impact und without disintegration'.

Its specific gravity is slightly 1ess than that of 1ead, being apploximaiel3 9.0 as against approximately 11.25, et the average density 0f a steel jacketed bu let is decreased by Ehe fact that the stee1 jacket has a density 0f only about 7.6. As a result the weight 01 a copper bullet ie lass than 10% smaller than that of a steel jacketed bu1ler, 0'f equal size which disparity can easily be made up by lengthening the bullet and without any obse1wab1e efl'@ct upon the firing qualities o1 accuracy 01 the arm with Which it is used since theee longer copper bu11ets seem t0 HLV1 With the szune trajectory 215 a shorter lead bu1let 0f the same weight.

If desired to increase the stabihty 0f the bullet it is possible t0 use lifies with a slightly qicker twist inasmuch es the toughness 0'f the copper W111 permit this t0 be done; although 1 have had 1n0st excellent results by the use of anneuled copper bullets in standard arme.

The cost 01 producing these bullets is lese than that E01 jacketed bnllets. It is essentin1 that very pure copper be used und that the szune be thoroughiy annealed after the final operation; 01 at least that "ery litttle deforming be efl'ected after the annealing. These bul1ets can best be formed by rolling pure copper into the form 01 rods, cutting the rods into pieces 0f requisite length and forming these pie c-es in dies to the shape re qui1ed. These bullecs are then annealed, for example, by being maintained for five minutes at a temperature0f 1400 F. I do not restrict myself as regards either the time 01 tcmpemture of this annealing since a sh0rter time at 11 high temperature Will serve equally we1l as a longer time ab u lower te1npera ture; it essential that some anneix1ing be done since 001d swaged copper is ha1d, brit-- tle, fixes f0 p1eecs 011 nnpaco, nqures the view of one of niy improved bu1lets. 1 represents the body of the bullet Which is preferably made. of a size to fit exactly the rifie lande, the base ortion being preferably formed Wi'h one 0r Inore circumferential 1ibs 2 of a thickness approximately equal to the depth 01 the: rifling. \Vhen used the numbers 01 these ribs may weil va1y with the length 0f the bullet, and be enclosed in the mouth 0I" the Shell (1101; shown). Owing .t0 the extreme sof'tness o1 the annealed copper these are 110i; necessary as the b0dy itself conf'onns so readily 150 the rifling.

Naving thfis describecl my invention what I c1ai1n is: v

A 0n-e-piece bu]let f01 high velocity rifles made of a singlepiece 01 substantially pure coppe1' und annealed after fabrication.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

FRANK A. FAHRENWALD.

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