Projectile and mold to cast projectile

• US 9,534,876 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ammunition Operations, LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RA Brands LLC (RA Factors, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silvers, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): COOPER, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US14/289,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20150226531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 102/439, 102/503, 102/506, 102508-512, 102514-519, 102/524, 102/526, 86/39, 86/54, D22/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22C 9/06 Permanent moulds for shaped castings moulds for ingots B22D7/06
• CPC Class Codes: B22C 9/22 Moulds for peculiarly-shaped castings
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/70 Arrangements thereon for discharging, e.g. cartridge followers or discharge throats
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/02 characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/02 Driving bands; Rotating bands F42B14/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/00 Manufacture of ammunition; Dismantling of ammunition; Apparatus therefor F42B5/188 takes precedence; manufacturing processes for hollow charges F42B1/036; manufacture of blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/195
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/001 Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/067 Mounting or locking missiles in cartridge cases F42B5/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/28 of metal , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of metal

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to a bullet having a first or proximal end, a second or distal end, and a curved circumferential feature formed between the proximal and distal ends of the bullet. The proximal end comprises a large meplat and a circumferential guidance feature. The circumferential guidance feature is configured to be operable with the rib of an ammunition magazine to help prevent binding and allow for normal alignment in the ammunition magazine. As a result, the bullet has more stability within the ammunition magazine, higher potential accuracy, and ability to have longer and heavier projectiles. The bullet further can be cast in a mold to form the bullet with the desired shape, including the circumferential guidance feature formed therein.

Claims

1. A bullet configured to be fed from an ammunition magazine of an M4 or AR-15, the bullet comprising:

a bullet body comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section;

the first section of the body comprising an ogive portion, a front proximal portion defining a transition between the first and second sections, and terminating in a meplat; and

the second section of the body comprising a guidance feature adjacent the frontal proximal portion defining a transition between the first and second sections, and configured to receive and locate the bullet body along a rib of the ammunition magazine so as to maintain alignment of the bullet as it is fed along the ammunition magazine, wherein a clearance is defined between the rib of the ammunition magazine and guidance feature sufficient to retard binding of the bullet as it is moved along the rib of the ammunition magazine.

2. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the third section comprises a distal portion and at least one cannelure positioned along the distal portion.

3. The bullet of claim 2, wherein the second section of the body further comprises a reducing feature and a middle portion;

and wherein the guidance feature extends circumferentially around the bullet between the middle portion of the second section and the front proximal portion of the first section.

4. The bullet of claim 3, wherein the front proximal portion of the first section of the body has a first diameter, the middle portion of the second section of the body has a second diameter and the guidance feature comprises an inwardly curved depression having a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and the second diameter.

5. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the guidance feature comprises a concave shape that extends inwardly and circumferentially around the bullet.

6. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the guidance feature comprises an arcuate indentation that engages the rib of the ammunition magazine and restricts lateral movement of the bullet when the circumferential guidance feature is engaged with the rib of the ammunition magazine.

7. The bullet of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the bullet body is between approximately 3 mm and approximately 8 mm.

8. The bullet of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the front proximal portion is between approximately 50% and approximately 90% of a total diameter of the bullet body.

9. The bullet of claim 1, wherein a length of the guidance feature along the bullet body is approximately 5% to approximately 25% of a total length of the bullet body.

10. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the bullet is configured to be a component of a 300 ACC Blackout cartridge.

11. A bullet adapted to be fed from an ammunition magazine, the bullet comprising:

a cast bullet body having a metal jacket surrounding a malleable core, the metal jacket comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section,

the first section of the body comprising an ogive portion, a front proximal portion defining a transition between the first and second sections, and terminating in a front end of the bullet body; and

the second section of the body comprising a guidance feature adjacent the frontal proximal portion defining a transition between the first and second sections, and configured to receive and locate the bullet body along a rib of the ammunition magazine so as to maintain alignment of the bullet as the bullet is fed along the ammunition magazine, wherein a clearance is defined between the rib of the ammunition magazine and the guidance feature of the body sufficient to retard binding of the bullet as the bullet moves along the ammunition magazine.

12. A bullet configured to be fed from an ammunition magazine, the bullet comprising:

an elongated body having a selected total length and comprising;

a first section comprising an ogive portion and terminating at a front end of the bullet;

a second section adjacent the first section, and comprising a guidance feature configured to receive and substantially locate the bullet along a rib of the ammunition magazine so as to maintain alignment of the bullet as the bullet is fed along the ammunition magazine, the guidance feature having a complementary profile with respect to the rib of the ammunition magazine that is shaped and dimensioned to substantially retard binding of the bullet as the bullet is fed along the ammunition magazine; and

a third section located between the second section and a rear end of the bullet, wherein the guidance feature is located along the body of the bullet at a distance from the rear end of the bullet of between approximately 30% and approximately 70% of the selected total length of the body of the bullet.

13. The bullet of claim 12, wherein the guidance feature is further positioned along the bullet such that a distance between the guidance feature and the front end of the bullet is between approximately 25% to approximately 50% of the selected total length of the bullet of the body of the bullet.

14. The bullet according to claim 12, wherein a length of the guidance feature along the bullet is approximately 5% to approximately 25% of the total bullet length.

15. The bullet of claim 12, wherein the guidance feature comprises a substantially arcuate, concave, square, elliptical, V and/or hourglass shape that extends inwardly and circumferentially around the bullet.

16. A bullet configured for feeding from an ammunition magazine, the bullet comprising:

a first section comprising an ogive portion;

a second section located rearwardly from the first section and including a guidance feature formed along a portion thereof, the guidance feature configured and comprises a shape that substantially conforms to a rib of the ammunition magazine and is located so as to receive and substantially locate the bullet along the rib of the ammunition magazine so as to align and guide movement of the bullet for substantially consistent feeding of the bullet along the ammunition magazine such that binding of the bullet is substantially arrested; and

a third section positioned rearward of the second section and terminating in a base of the bullet, wherein the guidance feature is positioned along the bullet such that a distance between the guidance feature and a front end of the bullet is between approximately 25% and approximately 50% of a selected total bullet length.

17. The bullet of claim 16, wherein the guidance feature is located along the bullet such that a distance between the guidance feature and the rear end of the bullet is between approximately 30% and approximately 70% of the selected total length of the bullet.

18. The bullet according to claim 16, wherein a length of the guidance feature along the bullet is approximately 5% to approximately 25% of the selected total bullet length.

19. The bullet of claim 16, wherein a diameter of the bullet body is between approximately 3 mm and approximately 8 mm.

20. The bullet of claim 16, wherein the first section of the bullet further comprises a substantially flat, expanded meplat defined at the front end of the bullet, the meplat enabling the bullet to be made with a shorter selected length for a prescribed weight and/or to have improved terminal effects.