Firearm ammunition projectile

• US 7,484,459 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Etat Francais Represente Par Le Ministere De L'Interieur De La Securite Interieure Et Des Libertes Locales Represente Par La Direction Generale De La Police Nationale
• Original Assignee: ETAT Francais Represente PAR Le Ministere de L 'Interieur de La Securite Interieure et Des Libertes Locales Represente PAR La Direction Generale de La Police Nationale
• Inventors: Dorrzapf, Jean-Jacques, Fichot, Christophe, Deloume, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley; David J
• Application Number:
  US10/531,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 102/501, 102/503, 102/518, 102/519
• US Class Current: 102/501
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/22 Projectiles of cannelured type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/52 Nose cones

Abstract

An ammunition projectile for a firearm comprising a projectile having a nose and a cap which is designed to slow down sufficiently, when traveling through air so as to be stopped by a bulletproof vest while the projectile still has a precise and reliable trajectory. The projectile (10) has a generally truncated nose (11) and a cylindrical cap (12). The nose (11) is provided with a central, essentially circular flat section (13) which can be made larger or smaller and which has a diameter of between 10 and 50% of the diameter of the projectile at the base of the nose (11) or the cap (12). The lateral face of the truncated nose (11) is provided with five indentations (14) which are disposed symmetrically in relation to axial planes and which are obtained by one of stamping, milling, or some other suitable machining method.

Claims

1. An ammunition projectile (10, 20), for a firearm, having diminished penetration into a soft medium, said projectile (10, 20) comprising a nose (11, 21) and a cap (12, 22), said nose (11, 21) forming a leading end of the projectile and being essentially conical in shape and comprising at least two indentations (14, 24), each respective indentation being disposed in an external surface of the nose and essentially symmetrically in relation to a respective longitudinal axial plane coincident with a central longitudinal axis of said projectile and bisecting the respective indentation, each indentation having a curved profile from a first edge to a second edge symmetrical with respect to one of the respective central longitudinal axis of the projectiie and the respective longitudinal axial plane, a trailing portion and a leading portion of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24) is curved and a portion of each opposed sidewall of each of the at least two indentations is straight and connects the leading portion and the trailing portion and the portion of each opposed sidewall tapers away from one another upon extending from the leading portion to the trailing portion of the indentation so that said projectile, during trajectory of the projectile through air, is sufficiently slowed so as to diminish penetration of said projectile into a soft medium without significantly altering a trajectory precision of said projectile.

2. The projectile. (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein a perimeter of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24) comprises a curved leading portion, a curved trailing portion, a first straight edge sidewall connecting a first end of the curved leading portion with a first end of curved trailing portion and a second straight edge sidewall connecting a second end of the curved leading portion with a second end of curved trailing portion.

3. The projectile (10, 20) according to claim 2, wherein the indentations are formed of two curvilinear planes whose intersection is defined by a radial ridge, and a radius of curvature of the trailing portion is greater than a radius of curvature of the leading portion of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24).

4. The projectile (10) according to claim 1, wherein the nose (11) comprises a flat central portion (13).

5. The projectile (10) according to claim 4, wherein a diameter of said fiat central portion (13) generally ranges from 10 to 50% of a diameter of the projectile (10) at a base of the nose (11).

6. The projectile (10) according to claim 1, wherein the nose and said cap further comprise a cavity (15).

7. The projectile (10) according to claim 6, wherein the cavity (15) is designed to receive a blocking means (16).

8. The projectile (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is entirely made of soft metal.

9. The projectile (10, 20) according to claim 8, wherein the projectile is made of copper.

10. The projectile (10) according to claim 7, wherein the blocking means (16) is made of hard metal.

11. The projectile (10) according to claim 10, wherein the blocking means (16) is made of steel.

12. The projectile (10) according to claim 7, wherein the cavity (15) comprises a central zone (15b) that is at least partially threaded and said blocking means (16) is a bolt partially engaged in said central zone (15b).

13. The projectile (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is formed of brass.

14. An ammunition projectile (10, 20), for a firearm, having diminished penetration into a soft medium, the projectile (10, 20) comprising a nose (11, 21) and a cap (12, 22), the nose (11, 21) being a leading edge of the projectile and being essentially conical in shape and comprising at least two indentations (14, 24), and each indentation being disposed in an external surface of the nose and symmetrically in relation to a longitudinal plane bisecting the respective indentation and coincident with a central longitudinal axis of the projectile, each indentation having a curved profile from a first edge to a second edge symmetrical to the longitudinal plane, a perimeter of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24) comprises a curved leading portion, a curved trailing portion, a first straight edge sidewall connecting a first end of the curved leading portion with a first end of the curved trailing portion and a second straight edge sidewall connecting a second end of the curved leading portion with a second end of the curved trailing portion such that the first and the second straight edge sidewalls taper away from one another upon extending from the leading portion to the trailing portion so that the projectile, during trajectory of the projectile through air, is sufficientiy slowed so as to diminish penetration of the projectile into a soft medium without significantly altering a trajectory precision of the projectile.

15. The projectile (10) according to claim 14, wherein a leading central portion (13) of the nose (11, 21) is flat and a radius of curvature of the trailing portion is greater than a radius of curvature of the leading portion of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24).

16. The projectile (10) according to claim 15, wherein a diameter of the leading central portion (13) of the nose (11, 21) generally ranges from 10 to 50% of a diameter of the projectile (10) at a baBe of the nose (11).

17. The projectile (10) according to claim 14, wherein the nose and said cap further comprise a cavity (15).

18. The projectile (10) according to claim 17, wherein the cavity (15) receives a blocking member (16).

19. The projectile (10, 20) according to claim 14, wherein the projectile is manufactured from copper.

20. An ammunition projectile (10, 20), for a firearm, having diminished penetration into a soft medium, the projectile (10, 20) comprising a nose (11, 21) and a cap (12, 22), the nose (11, 21) having a flat leading central portion (13) and being substantially conical in shape and comprising a plurality of indentations (14, 24), and each indentation being disposed in an external surface of the nose and symmetrically in relation to a longitudinal plane, bisecting the respective indentation to substantially mirror image sections and coincident with a central longitudinal axis of the projectile, each respective indentation having a curved profile with a leading edge of each indentation being spaced from the flat leading central portion (13), a perimeter of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24) comprises a curved leading portion, a curved trailing portion, a first straight edge sidewall connecting a first end of the curved leading portion with a first end of the curved trailing portion and a second straight edge sidewall connecting a second end of the curved leading portion with a second end of the curved trailing portion and a radius of curvature of the trailing portion is greater than a radius of curvature of the leading portion of each of the at least two indentations (14, 24) such that the first and the second straight edge sidewalls taper away from one another upon extending from the leading portion to the trailing portion so that the projectile, during trajectory of the projectile through air, is sufficiently slowed so as to diminish penetration of the projectile into a soft medium without significantly altering a trajectory precision of the projectile.