Small-calibre deformation projectile and method for the manufacture thereof

• US 6,655,295 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ruag Munition
• Original Assignee: Ruag Munition
• Inventors: Schneider, Rolf, Baumgartner, Hans, Hug, Carl, Meyer, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lofdahl, Jordan
• Application Number:
  US10/295,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 102/510, 102/507, 102/508, 102/500
• US Class Current: 102/510
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type

Abstract

A small calibre projectile has an outer hollow cylindrical base member and a conical or ogive front region constructed to mushroom upon impact. A sleeve core is inserted into the cylindrical base member with a non-positive fit, the core extending beyond the front of the base member with a hollow space between the rear of the core and the rear of the base. Upon impact, the core is displaced axially into the space with its rear in contact with the base.

Claims

1. A small calibre deformation projectile providing high penetration against hard targets with limited mushrooming upon target impact, comprising:

an outer hollow-cylindrical base member with a rear base and an ogive-shaped or conical front region constructed to mushroom upon target impact; and

means for controlling and limiting the mushrooming, said means comprising an at least partly cylindrical sleeve core having an end face inserted with a non-positive fit in, and projecting beyond, the front of the base member in a front position, a hollow space being formed between the sleeve core end face and the rear base of the base member, the non-positive fit being chosen such that at least on target impact of the projectile the sleeve core is displaced axially into the annular space into a rear position with its end face in contact with the base member.

2. The projectile according to claim 1, characterised in that the base member and the sleeve core consist of an identical copper/zinc alloy.

3. The projectile according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a peripheral annular space is provided between the base member and the sleeve core.

4. The projectile according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sleeve core has a cylindrical part with a blind bore and that at least one of the blind bore and the cylindrical part have a conicity.

5. A method for the manufacture of the projectile of claim 1 from a copper/zinc alloy comprising the steps of forming both the base member and sleeve core by separate deep drawing and moulding processes to form cylindrical members, at least the base member being hollow and subsequently pressing the cylindrical sleeve core so formed into the hollow cylinder of the base member with a force fit such that at least between the base and the sleeve core the hollow space is formed, which space extends across the entire inner diameter of the base member.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterised in that the base member is punched as a circular disc of from flat material, the circular disc being shaped in the deep drawing processes to a hollow-cylindrical member and, after a subsequent calibration, being squeezed to a predetermined length of the base member.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterised in that the sleeve core is punched from flat material, the circular disc being shaped in the deep drawing processes to a hollow-cylindrical body and, after a subsequent calibration, being squeezed to a predetermined length of the sleeve core.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the flat material is strip stock and is fed from a roller to a stamping press or stamping and drawing press.

9. The method according to claim 5, characterised in that the step of pressing the sleeve core into the hollow cylinder of the base member comprises the steps of inserting the sleeve core into the base member and pressing both parts together by a shaping die at their end faces to a positive fit and with no transitions therebetween.