Lead-free projectile

• US 20070204758A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruag Ammotec
• Original Assignee: Ruag Ammotec
• Inventors: Spatz, Peter, Schaer, Fritz, Baumgartner, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/514
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/78 of jackets for smallarm bullets ; Jacketed bullets or projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets

Abstract

A small-bore projectile comprises a ductile outer jacket, a hard core, and a hollow jacket core. Kinetic energy of the projectile is substantially transmitted to the hard core when a target is hit such that said hard core penetrates the target. The outer jacket is supported by the jacket core that is located on the inside and mushrooms up into a deformed state upon impact without fragmenting. The projectile has good flying behavior and great final ballistic performance and can be produced in an entirely lead-free manner.

Claims

1. A small-bore projectile having an ogival or conical front region, a cylindrical central part and a conically extending tail region, further comprising:

an outer jacket of a copper/zinc alloy, the jacket having a tip and enclosing a hollow space;

a hard core made of steel or a sintered material inserted into the hollow space towards the tip;

a jacket core made of a copper/zinc alloy having a front face attached with a form fit to a rear of the hard core and having a interior cylindrical hollow space open through the front face;

the jacket core front face being conical and positively resting against the hard core and sealing said hard core to the front face; and

the jacket core being in contact on a periphery over its entire length with at least the tail region of the jacket and being held with an interference fit.

3. A small-bore projectile according to claim 1, with an ogive-like front region, the tip thereof being configured at least approximately in the shape of a spherical cup;

a front portion of the hollow space being in the shape of a spherical cup;

the hard core having a shape of a spherical cup at a tip thereof, the radius of curvature of the spherical cup of the hollow space being larger than the radius of curvature of the tip of the hard core, whereby an air space portion of the hollow space of the jacket is present between the outer jacket and the hard core.

4. A small-bore projectile according to claim 3, the tail region of the hard core being of conical configuration and the conical tip protruding into the hollow space of the jacket core.

5. A small-bore projectile according to one of claims 1 to 4, a center of gravity of the projectile being located in a longitudinal axis and in a region of the hollow space of the jacket core.

6. A small-bore projectile according to claim 1 or 3, the hard core consisting of alloyed tool steel or sintered material of high density.

7. A small-bore projectile according to claim 1 or 2, the outer jacket and the jacket core consisting of an identical copper/zinc alloy.

8. A small-bore projectile according to claim 1, 2 or 5, the outer jacket comprising a circumferential, peripheral constriction, on which a front end of a cartridge sleeve is flanged.

9. A small-bore projectile according to claim 3, the material of the jacket in its front region, relative to its cylindrical region and its tail region, having a thickening which is at least a factor of 2.

10. A small-bore projectile according to claim 1, 2 or 5, wherein said projectile has a bore of 5.56 mm (0.223″

to 0.224″

).

11. A small-bore projectile according to claim 1, 2 or 5 wherein said projectile is lead-free.

2. A small-bore projectile with an ogival or conical front region, a cylindrical central part and a conically extending tail region, further comprising:

an outer jacket made of a copper/zinc alloy, the jacket enclosing a hollow space;

the hollow space of the jacket solely containing a jacket core having an interior hollow space;

the hollow space of the jacket core comprising an aperture tapering towards a front face of the jacket core, the inner edge regions thereof being at least partially in contact with one another;

the jacket core being in contact on a periphery over its entire length with the jacket and being held with an interference fit.