Frontally guided sabot bullet

• US 5,175,389 A
• Filed: 01/07/1992
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Federal-Hoffman Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Rubatt, Jerry J., Kramer, Robert L., Longren, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US07/817,732
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 102/520-523, 102/508, 102/509
• US Class Current: 102/521
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/064 Sabots enclosing the rear end of a kinetic energy projectile, i.e. having a closed disk shaped obturator base and petals extending forward from said base

Abstract

An improved sabot bullet for use primarily in connection with shotgun shells which includes a slug having a forward portion which radially converges towards the middle portion thereof, and an outer conforming sabot casing which includes a pair of sabot segments which substantially surround and conform to the outer configuration of the slug. Each sabot segment is constructed to be slightly radially spaced from the slug near the constricted middle portion thereof, and to converge and engage the radially diverging portion of the slug near the forward end thereof, so as to cause the slug to be guided mainly at a point adjacent the front end thereof. Each sabot segment is also constructed to extend rearwardly beyond the rear end of the slug to facilitate rearward movement of the slug relative to the sabot, and consequent outward radial wedging of the sabot segments against the inner walls of the gun barrel, upon firing the fireman.

Claims

1. A sabot bullet to be employed within a shotgun shell for use with a firearm, comprising:

(a) an integral bullet structure having an outer surface configuration defined by a generally frustro-conically shaped forward portion and a generally frustro-conically shaped rearward portion which converge to form a radially constricted middle portion between opposite forward and rear ends thereof;

(b) a plurality of sabot segments substantially surrounding at least an intermediate portion of said bullet structure between said opposite forward and rear ends thereof, each of said sabot segments having complimentary forward and rearward inner surface portions with forward and rearward inner surface configurations which conform substantially to said outer surface configuration of said bullet structure;

(c) each of said sabot segments extending rearwardly beyond said rear end of said bullet structure, and being constructed with means for facilitating rearward movement of said bullet structure relative to said sabot segments and consequent wedging of said sabot segments outwardly against the barrel of the firearm upon firing thereof; and

(d) a substantial portion of said forward inner surface configuration of each of said sabot segments being disposed in non-registering relation with said forward portion of said bullet structure so as to define an annular gap therearound adjacent said constricted middle portion thereof, each of said sabot segments drivably engaging said bullet structure in guiding relation mainly at a point adjacent to said forward end thereof upon firing of the firearm.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said forward inner surface portion of each sabot segment is slightly radially spaced from the outer surface of said bullet structure at a point adjacent said constricted middle portion thereof, said forward inner surface portion of each said sabot segment diverging outwardly therefrom toward said forward portion of said bullet structure and engaging said bullet structure near the forward end thereof.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein the angle of divergence of said frustro-conically shaped forward portion of said bullet structure from its said radially constricted middle portion toward said forward end thereof is within an approximate range of 20 to 21 degrees, and the angle of divergence of said corresponding forward inner surface configuration of each of said sabot segments is in the approximate range of 19 to 20 degrees.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said forward frustro-conically shaped portion of said bullet structure converges from a point near said forward end toward said radially restricted middle portion at a slightly greater angle than said conforming forward inner surface configuration of each of said sabot segments, thereby causing said sabot segments to be slightly radially spaced from said bullet structure along a substantial portion of said frustro-conically shaped forward portion thereof.

5. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said forward end of said bullet structure has a centrally disposed anular cavity extending axially toward said rear end thereof with an axially raised center post extending forwardly from the base of said cavity.

6. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein each of said sabot segments extends rearwardly approximately 0.045 inches further than the rear end of said bullet structure.

7. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of said bullet structure is located within said forward portion thereof.

8. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein said rear end of said bullet structure has an enlarged cavity therein within which a plastic plug is securely carried.

9. A sabot bullet to be employed within a shotgun shell for use with a firearm, comprising:

(a) an integral bullet structure having a front end and a rear end with an elongated intermediate portion therebetween, said bullet structure having an outer configuration which is generally cylindrical in shape with a radially constricted middle portion, said outer configuration of said bullet structure diverging outwardly from said radially constricted middle portion towards said front end thereof to define a sabot bearing surface;

(b) a sabot means primarily for guiding said bullet structure through the barrel of the firearm, said sabot means comprising a plurality of sabot segments which cooperate to substantially surround said outer configuration of at lest said intermediate portion of said bullet structure in substantially close conforming relation therewith, each of said sabot segments being radially spaced annularly about the outer surface of said bullet structure at a point adjacent said constricted middle portion thereof, and diverging outwardly therefrom toward the front end of said bullet structure; and

(c) each of said sabot segments propellably engaging said sabot bearing surface of said bullet structure in guiding relation mainly at a point near the front end thereof upon firing of the firearm.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, wherein said bullet structure has a frustro-conically shaped forward portion, said corresponding conforming portions of said sabot segments engaging said bullet structure along said frustro-conically shaped forward portion at a point adjacent said front end of said bullet structure.

11. The structure defined in claim 9, wherein said bullet structure has a substantially cylindrical front end portion disposed forwardly of said sabot bearing surface, said corresponding conforming portions of said sabot segments being slightly radially spaced annularly about a substantial portion of said outwardly diverging portions of said bullet structure.

12. The structure defined in claim 9, wherein each of said sabot segments extends rearwardly approximately 0.045 inches further than the rear end of said bullet structure.

13. A sabot bullet to be employed within a shotgun shell for use with a firearm, comprising:

(a) a relatively rigid generally cylindrical bullet structure having a generally circumferential outer surface with a radially constricted middle portion, a forward portion and a rear portion, said outer circumferential surface of at least a part of said forward and rear portions diverging radially outward from said constricted middle portion toward respective forward and rear ends thereof;

(b) a sabot means substantially surrounding at least an intermediate portion of said bullet structure between said opposite forward and rear ends thereof to form an outer housing for guiding said bullet structure through the barrel of the firearm, said sabot means being disposed in drivable engagement with said bullet structure; and

(c) said sabot means comprising a plurality of sabot segments having complimentary diverging forward and rear inner surface portions which substantially conform to said forward and rear diverging surfaces of said bullet structure, each of said sabot segments extending rearwardly beyond and being devoid of contact with said rear end of said bullet structure, thereby defining an open recess adjacent said rear end of said bullet structure which provides means for facilitating rearward movement of said bullet structure relative to said sabot means upon firing of the firearm.

14. The structure defined in claim 13, wherein said radially diverging outer circumferential surface of said forward position of said bullet structure diverges at an angle slightly greater than said complimentary diverging forward inner surface portion of each of said sabot segments.

15. The structure defined in claim 13, wherein said inner surface portions of each of said sabot segments is radially spaced from said outer circumferential surface of said bullet structure at a point immediately adjacent to said radially constricted middle portion thereof, said complimentary diverging forward inner surface portions of each of said sabot segments converging with said radially diverging outer circumferential surface of said forward position of said bullet structure at a point adjacent said front end thereof.

16. The structure defined in claim 13, wherein said inner conforming surface of each of said sabot segments is slightly radially spaced from said outer circumferential surface of said bullet structure at a point adjacent said constricted middle portion thereof, said inner conforming surface of each said sabot segments diverging outwardly therefrom and drivably engaging said bullet structure in guiding relation near said forward end thereof.

17. The structure defined in claim 13, wherein said diverging forward inner surface portions of each of said sabot segments is disposed at a slight angle relative to said diverging forward portions of said bullet structure which it compliments so as to drivably engage said bullet structure in guiding relation mainly at a point adjacent said forward end thereof upon firing of the firearm.

18. The structure defined in claim 13, wherein the forwardmost and rearmost portion of said bullet structure are cylindrical in shape, and a portion of said diverging forward inner surface of each of said sabot segments is radially spaced annularly about a major portion of said diverging forward portions of said bullet structure which it compliments, so as to drivably engage said bullet structure in guiding relation mainly at a point near the forwardmost point of said forward diverging portion of said bullet structure.

19. The structure defined in claim 13, wherein each of said sabot segments extend rearwardly beyond said rear end of said bullet structure approximately 0.045 inches.