Method of making a non-lead hollow point bullet

• US 6,629,485 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Lowden, Richard A., Vaughn, Norman L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US10/352,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 86/54, 86/55, 102/501, 102/507-510, 102/514-519
• US Class Current: 86/55
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type

Abstract

The method of making a non-lead hollow point bullet has the steps of a) compressing an unsintered powdered metal composite core into a jacket, b) punching a hollow cavity tip portion into the core, c) seating an insert, the insert having a hollow point tip and a tail protrusion, on top of the core such that the tail protrusion couples with the hollow cavity tip portion, and d) swaging the open tip of the jacket.

Claims

1. A method of making a non-lead hollow point bullet comprising;

a) compressing an unsintered powdered metal composite core into a jacket,

b) punching a hollow cavity tip portion into said core,

c) seating a monolithic metal insert in said jacket, said insert having a hollow point tip and a tail protrusion, on top of said core such that said tail protrusion couples with said hollow cavity tip portion, and

d) swaging an open tip of said jacket.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said insert comprises tin.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said unsintered powdered metal composite core comprises tungsten and tin.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said jacket comprises a copper alloy.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said insert consists essentially of 40 grain monolithic tin, said core consists essentially of 80 grain tungsten-tin composite with 75% by weight tungsten and 25% by weight tin, and said jacket consists essentially of 20 grain copper alloy.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said swaged jacket tip is selected from the group consisting of round nose shape and truncated cone shape.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said compressing step is performed at room temperature and 50,000-psig pressure.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said hollow point tip, tail protrusion, and hollow cavity tip portion are essentially tapered.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said hollow point tip, tail protrusion, and hollow cavity tip portion are essentially conical.