US3918364A

US3918364A - Bullet

Info

Publication number: US3918364A
Application number: US435037A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris J Duer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-01-21
Filing date: 1974-01-21
Publication date: 1975-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-11

Abstract

A bullet particularly adapted for use in reloading previously fired cartridges, the bullet having retaining portions adapted to engage and seal against the internal surface defining the neck of a previously fired cartridge case to hold the bullet in position without requiring crimping or resizing of the case. The retaining portions function to pilot the bullet into the case and accurately align it with the case and, consequently, with the bore defined by the barrel of the firearm with which the cartridge, including the bullet, is to be used.

Description

United States atet Duel" [45] Nov. 11, 1975 BULLET Prinmry Examiner-$tephen C. Bentley 76 I t I M D 4157 M Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan i 1 men or gzz g i i Mich 55 Attorney, Agent, or FirmMalcolm R. McKinnon [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 Appl. No.: 435,037

[52] US. Cl. 102/921 [51] lm. Cl. F42B 11/02 [58] Field of Search 102/921, 92.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,944,885 l/1934 Gerlich 102/922 3,154,016 10/1964' Frey 3,345,949 10/1967 Nosler 102/922 5 7] ABSTRACT A bullet particularly adapted for use in reloading previously fired cartridges, the bullet having retaining portions adapted to engage and seal against the internal surface defining the neck of a previously fired cartridge case to hold the bullet in position without requiring crimping or resizing of the case. The retaining portions function to pilot the bullet into the case and accurately align it with the case and, consequently, with the bore defined by the barrel of the firearm with which the cartridge, including the bullet, is to be used.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 3,918,364

E j if if Z! BULLET BRIEF SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to bullets for use in ammunition for small arms and, more particularly, to an improved bullet particularly adapted for use in reloading previously fired cartridges.

In the manufacture of new ammunition for rifles, hand guns and other small arms, a bullet is pressed into a metallic cartridge case having a neck portion, the internal diameter of which is smaller than the outside diameter or caliber of the bullet which is to be received. Pressing of the bullet into the cartridge case stretches the metal in the neck portion of the cartridge case slightly and causes it to grip the outer surface of the bullet so that the latter is sealed against the cartridge case and is retained therein. When the new cartridge is initially fired, it becomes customized to the chamber of the particular gun in which it is fired, the initial firing of the cartridge producing a fit in the gun chamber that cannot be duplicated by any other means without prohibitive cost. Many firearms experts do not find mass produced, factory made ammunition entirely acceptable and, in an effort to overcome some of the objections to such ammunition, firearms experts often make or hand load their own ammunition using a previously fired, reusable cartridge case, and either purchase or mold their own bullets which are assembled together with exactly measured charges of explosive and a primer to form a cartridge. During such hand loading, it is usual to use a die to resize the cartridge case of a previously fired cartridge so as to reduce the diameter of the neck portion of the cartridge case which has become enlarged due to the explosive forces during prior discharge in a firearm. When the bullet is pressed into the previously contracted neck portion of the cartridge case, the bullet stretches the metal in the neck portion in the same manner as with factory manufactured ammunition. Thereafter, it is also sometimes common to press or crimp the end of the neck portion of the cartridge case to facilitate gripping and sealing of the bullet and cartridge case. Such resizing to reduce the cartridge neck diameter and its subsequent stretching to.

grip the bullet, although normally conducted under very careful conditions, often lead to some of the same unsatisfactory results in the use of the reloaded cartridge that is experienced with factory manufactured ammunition. Moreover, firearms experts who hand load their own ammunition are interested in reusing the cartridge case a number of times but the repeated contraction of the cartridge case during resizing and the stretching of the cartridge case during bullet loading, lead to a cold working of the metal in the cartridge case which unduly shortens its useful life.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bullet which acts to retain itself in a previously fired cartridge case and which may be loaded in a pre viously fired cartridge case without requiring prior resizing or contraction of the neck of the cartridge case or crimping thereof to retain the bullet in position.

It is another object of thepresent invention to provide an improved bullet of the aforementioned type which may be assembled with a previously fired cartridge case with less force than is usually required for reloading ammunition.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved bullet for use with a previously fired cartridge case which facilitates the making of a reloaded cartridge enabling more precise location in the chamber of a firearm and, consequently, greater accuracy during shooting.

In accordance with the present invention. a novel bullet is provided that is adapted for use with the cartridge case of a previously firedcartridge which. as a consequence of being fired, has been accurately fitted to the chamber of the firearm due to detonation which brings the case into conformity with the walls of the firearm chamber. The bullet embodying the present invention is formed with retaining portions which are adapted to grip the inner diameter of the previously fired cartridge case and to retain the bullet therein without requiring resizing of the cartridge case of subsequent crimping. The retaining portions of the bullet are preferably made ofa material which is more ductile than the material of the cartridge case and also are of a configuration such that they easily deform without applying undue pressure to the cartridge case.

The above as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art type of bullet normally used in the original manufacture of ammunition or in the reloading of cartridge cases;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a bullet embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view, partially in cross section and with portions broken away, showing the assembly of the bullet illustrated in FIG. 2 with a previously fired cartridge case;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the bullet illustrated in FIG. 2.,taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the bullet illustrated in FIG. 2 after the bullet has been fired through the bore of a firearm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a bullet 10 is illustrated of the type which has heretofore been commonly used in the original manufacture of ammunition or during the reloading of previously fired cartridge cases. The bullet 10 includes a nose portion 11 adapted to project from a cartridge case and a butt portion 12 of the desired caliber having a cylindrical surface 13 which is adapted to engage the internal surface defining the neck of the cartridge case. The nose portion 11 and butt portion 12 are separated by a cannelure 14 which is adapted to receive the radially inwardly crimped forward end of a cartridge case to assist in retaining and sealing the bullet within the cartridge case.

In accordance with the present invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 6, a bullet generally designated 16 is provided having a nose portion 18 and a butt portion 20, the nose portion 18 and the butt portion 20 being separated by a cannelure 19. The outside diameter of the butt portion 20 conforms to the desired caliber and is provided with a plurality of

annular ridges

22, 23 and 24, the ridge 22 being disposed near the forward end of the butt portion and the ridge 24 being disposed near the rear of the butt portion 20 while the ridge 23 is disposed intermediate the

ridges

22 and 24. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, each of the ridges is disposed between a pair of

grooves

26 and 28 situated forwardly and rearwardly. respectively, of the associated ridge. The ridges 2 2, 23 and 24 and the

grooves

26 and 28 associated therewith may be formed by rolling the butt portion 20 of the bullet in a die ina manner well known in the art so that the grooves and ridges are formed simultaneously by displacement of metal. The

ridges

22, 23 and 24 protrude beyond the normal outer cylindrical surface 25 defining the caliber of the butt portion 20 and the

grooves

26 and 28 are disposed radially inwardly of the surface 25 of the butt portion. By way of example, with 38 caliber ammunition, the butt portion 20 of the bullet 16 will have a nominal diameter or caliber of 0.357 inches and

ridges

22, 23 and 24 will protrude beyond the surface of the cylinder generated by the butt portion approximately 0.003 inches so that the outside diameter of the ridges is 0.363 inches. The

grooves

26 and 28 may be formed with a depth of 0.010 inches so that the root diameter of the butt portion measured across the bottom. of the grooves is 0.337

inches. I

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 protrude a lesser distance beyond the butt surface 25 than the depth of the

grooves

26 and 28. As a result, each of the

grooves

26 and 28 affords an annular space having a volume greater than the metal in the portions of the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 extending beyond the surface 25 of the butt portion. 7

Referring now to FIG. 3, a previously fired cartridge case 30 is illustrated adapted to receive the bullet 16, the cartridge case 30 having an internal surface 31, the inside diameter of which is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the butt portion 20 of the bullet. The pressuresdeveloped during the firing of a cartridge may well be in the order of 50,000 psi and the explosion tends to expand the metal in the cartridge case to conform to the walls of the chamber of the firearm in which the cartridge has been fired. For example, with 38 caliber ammunition, it has been found that after firing, the internal diameter of the cartridge case 30 is usually in the order of 0.359 inches, larger than the outside diameter of the butt portion 12 of the bullet 10. As a result, the bullet 10, shown in FIG. 1, would have a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the previously fired cartridge case 30 and would slide freely therein. However, the bullet 16 embodying the present invention has a diameter measured across the ridges 22, 23.and 24 which is slightly larger than the diameter of the internal cylindrical surface 31 of the previously fired cartridge case.

When the bullet l6 embodying the present invention is used for reloading into a previously fired cartridge case, it is unnecessary to contract or resize the neck of such a cartridge case. To reload, the bullet 16 is axially aligned with the axis of the cartridge case 30 and is pressed into position so that the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 engage the surface 31 of the cartridge case and are slightly deflected toward the grooves 26, as illustrated in FIG. on an exaggerated scale. I

Each of the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 are identical and, as illustrated in FIG. 4 showing the ridge 23, the ridges are and particularly the explosive charge therein from made with

faces

32 and 34 which have an included angle of approximately 30. This provides a relatively thin portion adjacent the apex of the ridge which is easily deflectable. It has been found that such a configuration is satisfactory for copper clad bullets whereas the included angle may be larger with bullets made of more ductile metals such as lead. The relatively thin portion at the apex of each ridge, in combination with the physical properties of the metal of the bullet insures that the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 will deflect slightly without permanent distortion or expansion of the cartridge case 30.

The

ridges

22, 23 and 24 also function to accurately center the bullet 16 within the cartridge case 30 so that the axis of the bullet and the axis of the cartridge are in proper alignment. Since prior firing of the cartridge has made the case 30 conform accurately to the chamber of the firearm in which the cartridge was fired, reloading of the case 30 with the bullet l6 insures that the bullet will be properly disposed on the axis of the barrel of the firearm when the reloaded cartridge is disposed in the chamber of that firearm. Greater accuracy is thus obtained than with prior art forms of reloadable bullets.

The

ridges

22, 23 and 24 which have been distorted upon pressing the bullet 16 into the cartridge case, act as retaining portions for maintaining the bullet within the cartridge case. As shown in FIG. 5, illustrating the flange 23, the apex of each flange is deflected toward the left or open end of the cartridge case and will resist movement of the bullet 16 relative to the case. The deflected portions of the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 resist removal of the bullet 16 from its case 30 sufficiently so that additional crimping of the case is not required. However, with certain types of high velocity cartridges, it may be desirable to deflect the very forward, formerly open end of the cartridge case into the cannelure 19. Such deformation does not detract from the accurate location of the bullet relative to the cartridge case.

It has also been found that, in addition to retaining the bullet within the cartridge case, the deflected

ridges

22, 23 and 24 afford a seal which protects the cartridge moisture, oil and other deleterious materials thereby permitting storage of a reloaded cartridge for relatively 'long periods of time.

As shown in FIG. 6, upon firing of the reloaded cartridge including the bullet 16, the

ridges

22, 23 and 24 are deformed into the associated

grooves

26 and 28 as the bullet 16 passes through the barrel of the firearm and the deformed ridges function to seal the propelled bullet within the barrel of the firearm so that the hot gases do not escape past the bullet with a resultant loss of propelling force and erosion of the barrel of the firearm. i

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a bullet which may be assembled with a previously fired cartridge case in such a manner that the usual steps of contracting the neck of the previously fired cartridge case and-subsequent deformation in the opposite direction upon pressing of the bullet into the cartridge case are both avoided. In this manner, not only are some of the usual prior steps in the reloading of a cartridge case avoided but also the resultant cartridge with the bullet l6 reloaded therein is more accurate than prior art types of reloaded cartridges.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A bullet for use with a previously fired cartridge case having a neck portion defining an internal cylindrical passageway, said bullet having a nose portion adapted to project from said case and an integral cylindrical butt portion adapted to be received in said internal passageway defined by said neck portion of said cartridge case, said butt portion having an outside diameter corresponding to a predetermined caliber and less than the inside diameter of said neck portion, an annular ridge formed on said butt portion and projecting beyond 'the surface of said butt portion, said butt portion defining an annular groove adjacent to said ridge, said ridge having a diameter greater than the inside diameter of said neck portion, said ridge having a relatively thin section adjacent its outer circumference deflectable upon entry into said internal passageway to retain said butt portion in said passageway without substantially deflecting said neck portion.

2. A bullet as set forth in claim 1 in which the volume v adapted to project from said case and an integral cylindrical butt portion having an outside diameter corresponding to a predetermined caliber and less than the inside diameter of said neck portion, said butt portion being adapted to be received in said internal passageway defined by said neck portion of said cartridge case, at least a pair of annular ridges formed on said butt portion and disposed generally in spaced planes normal to the longitudinal axis of said bullet, said butt portion defining a groove adjacent each of said ridges, said ridges having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said neck portion of said case and being deflectable upon entry into said internal passageway to retain said butt portion in said passageway without substantially deflecting said neck portion, said grooves having a root diameter less than the outside diameter of said butt portion.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said ridges on said butt portion are formed ofa material of greater ductility than the material of said cartridge case.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said butt portion defines an additional groove adjacent each of said ridges and in which said ridges are deformed into said grooves upon discharge of said bullet

Claims

1. A bullet for use with a previously fired cartridge case having a neck portion defining an internal cylindrical passageway, said bullet having a nose portion adapted to project from said case and an integral cylindrical butt portion adapted to be received in said internal passageway defined by said neck portion of said cartridge case, said butt portion having an outside diameter corresponding to a predetermined caliber and less than the inside diameter of said neck portion, an annular ridge formed on said butt portion and projecting beyond the surface of said butt portion, said butt portion defining an annular groove adjacent to said ridge, said ridge having a diameter greater than the inside diameter of said neck portion, said ridge having a relatively thin section adjacent its outer circumference deflectable upon entry into said internal passageway to retain said butt portion in said passageway without substantially deflecting said neck portion.

2. A bullet as set forth in claim 1 in which the volume of said annular groove defIned by said butt portion is greater than the volume of said annular ridge on said butt portion.

3. In combination with a previously fired cartridge case having a neck portion defining an internal cylindrical passageway, a bullet including a nose portion adapted to project from said case and an integral cylindrical butt portion having an outside diameter corresponding to a predetermined caliber and less than the inside diameter of said neck portion, said butt portion being adapted to be received in said internal passageway defined by said neck portion of said cartridge case, at least a pair of annular ridges formed on said butt portion and disposed generally in spaced planes normal to the longitudinal axis of said bullet, said butt portion defining a groove adjacent each of said ridges, said ridges having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said neck portion of said case and being deflectable upon entry into said internal passageway to retain said butt portion in said passageway without substantially deflecting said neck portion, said grooves having a root diameter less than the outside diameter of said butt portion.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said ridges on said butt portion are formed of a material of greater ductility than the material of said cartridge case.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said butt portion defines an additional groove adjacent each of said ridges and in which said ridges are deformed into said grooves upon discharge of said bullet in a firearm.