Frangible slug

• US 20070181031A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R. Stresau Laboratory, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stresau West, Inc.
• Inventors: Romero, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,654,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/506
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/001 Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/10 Ball or slug shotgun cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/16 containing an inert filler in powder or granular form

Abstract

Methods and articles are provided for frangible slugs. A method of manufacturing a frangible slug includes heating substantially spherical metallic powdered particles, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters larger than 125 microns and smaller than 250 microns, to form heated powdered particles. The method includes heating a microcrystalline wax, to form a melted wax. The method also includes combining the heated powdered particles with the melted wax, to form a liquid mixture. The method further includes filling a payload cavity of a frangible slug container with the liquid mixture to form a liquid mixture payload.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a frangible slug, comprising:

heating substantially spherical metallic powdered particles, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters larger than 125 microns and smaller than 250 microns, to form heated powdered particles;

heating a microcrystalline wax, to form a melted wax;

combining the heated powdered particles with the melted wax, to form a liquid mixture; and

filling at least a portion of a payload cavity of a frangible slug container with the liquid mixture to form a liquid mixture payload.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the powdered particles includes heating the powdered particles to a temperature of at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein combining includes combining the heated powdered particles with the melted wax, to form a liquid mixture, in which the heated powdered particles form at least 90 percent of a weight of the liquid mixture.

4. The method of claim 1, including agitating the liquid mixture to wet substantially all of the heated powdered particles with the melted wax.

5. The method of claim 1, including:

overfilling the payload cavity with the liquid mixture to form an overfilled liquid mixture payload; and

floating an excess portion of the melted wax to a top of the overfilled liquid mixture payload.

6. The method of claim 5, including vibrating the overfilled liquid mixture payload to settle the heated powdered particles toward a bottom of the payload cavity.

7. The method of claim 5, including:

cooling the overfilled liquid mixture payload until it solidifies to form an overfilled solid mixture payload; and

removing a portion of the overfilled solid mixture payload that is outside the payload cavity.

8. A frangible slug, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical container with a payload cavity defined, at least in part, by an inside surface of the container; and

a frangible payload including a solid mixture of substantially spherical metallic powdered particles bound in a microcrystalline wax, wherein the frangible payload;

substantially fills the payload cavity;

is exposed on an open end of the container; and

is mechanically retained inside the payload cavity.

9. The frangible slug of claim 8, wherein:

the inside surface includes a rib; and

the frangible payload is mechanically retained, at least in part, by the rib.

10. The frangible slug of claim 8, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters smaller than 250 microns.

11. The frangible slug of claim 10, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters larger than 125 microns.

12. The frangible slug of claim 11, wherein the powdered particles are mild carbon steel.

13. The frangible slug of claim 11, wherein the wax has a drop melt point of at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

14. The frangible slug of claim 13, wherein the powdered particles form at least 90 percent of a weight of the frangible payload.

15. The frangible slug of claim 14, wherein the powdered particles form 96 percent of the weight of the frangible payload.

16. The frangible slug of claim 14, wherein a weight of the slug is within a range of 39.5 grams through 42.0 grams.

17. A firearm cartridge, comprising:

propellant, configured to accelerate a composite projectile package to a particular muzzle velocity, after the cartridge is fired; and

the composite projectile package, including a frangible payload, wherein the frangible payload;

includes a solid mixture of substantially spherical metallic powdered particles bound in a binder, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters larger than 125 microns and smaller than 250 microns; and

is configured to substantially disintegrate, when the package impacts a stationary solid object at a velocity that is substantially equal to the particular muzzle velocity.

18. The firearm cartridge of claim 17, wherein the frangible payload is configured to substantially disintegrate over an area less than 2 inches in diameter.

19. The firearm cartridge of claim 17, wherein the package includes a container, configured to contain the frangible payload from a firing of the cartridge until the package impacts.

20. The firearm cartridge of claim 19, wherein the container is configured to separate from the frangible payload when the package impacts.

21. The firearm cartridge of claim 20, wherein the cartridge is configured as a shotgun shell.