Cartridge with improved penetration and expansion bullet

• US 9,863,746 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Bryan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US15/219,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20170052008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 102439, 102464, 102514
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/08 with armour-piercing caps; with armoured cupola
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/78 of jackets for smallarm bullets ; Jacketed bullets or projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets
• 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 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile

Abstract

A cartridge with a steel component bullet has desirable penetration capabilities and controlled separation of components upon terminal impact. In embodiments of the invention, the cartridge comprises a steel component, a lead core, and a copper jacket. The lead jacket having a leading edge portion that extends to the cylindrical mid portion. The steel component bullet may have a forward pointed ogive portion, a cylindrical mid portion, and a tapered rearward portion. The rearwardly facing surface may be concave. The leading edge portion may have a taper oriented in a direction opposite the taper of the ogive portion of the steel component. Structure to inhibit spin is positioned on a rearward face of the steel component. The bullet having a concave rear face.

Claims

1. A pistol cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with an open mouth and an interior, propellant disposed in the interior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the bullet having a length and comprising:

a forward component made of a first metal comprising steel, the forward component having forward ogive portion with a forward tip, a cylindrical mid portion adjoining the forward ogive portion, and a rearward portion adjoining the cylindrical mid portion opposite the forward ogive portion, the rearward portion with a rear end corner, the cylindrical mid portion diametrically larger than the forward ogive portion, the rearward portion having a maximum diameter portion positioned adjacent the rear end corner, the rearward portion having a curved taper extending from the maximum diameter portion to the cylindrical mid portion, the maximum diameter portion extending less than 15% of the length of the bullet and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the cylindrical mid portion;

a jacket formed of a second metal comprising copper and defining a cup, the steel component seated in the cup, the jacket having a leading edge portion positioned at the cylindrical mid portion of the forward component; and

a lead core disposed in the jacket rearward of and in direct contact with the forward component.

2. The pistol cartridge of claim 1, wherein the jacket has a leading edge that is separated from the cylindrical mid portion of the forward component defining a recess between the leading edge portion and the cylindrical mid portion.

3. The pistol cartridge of claim 1 wherein the leading edge portion and the cylindrical mid portion define a forward facing annular recess that facilitates opening of the jacket upon impact with a target.

4. The pistol cartridge of claim 1 wherein a rearward facing end surface of the forward component has structural features thereon that are reflected in a forward facing surface of the lead core inhibiting rotation of the forward component with respect to the lead core.

5. The pistol cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bullet has a rearward facing concavity formed in the jacket facing the propellant.

6. A pistol cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with a forward mouth and an interior, propellant disposed in the interior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the bullet having a length and comprising:

a forward component made of a first metal comprising steel, the forward component having forward ogive portion with a forward tip, a cylindrical mid portion adjoining the forward ogive portion, and a rearward portion adjoining the cylindrical mid portion opposite the forward ogive portion, the rearward portion with a rear end corner, the cylindrical mid portion diametrically larger than the forward ogive portion, the rearward portion having a maximum diameter portion positioned adjacent the rear end corner, the rearward portion having a curved taper extending from the maximum diameter portion to the cylindrical mid portion, the maximum diameter portion extending less than 15% of the length of the bullet and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the cylindrical mid portion;

a lead core rearwardly of the forward component; and

a jacket formed of a second metal comprising copper and defining a cup, the steel component and lead core seated in the cup, the jacket having a rearwardly facing concavity.

7. The pistol cartridge of claim 6 wherein the rearward portion has a rear end corner and then a cylindrical end portion at the rear end corner, the maximum diameter portion being at the cylindrical end portion.

8. The pistol cartridge of claim 6, wherein the jacket has a leading edge portion that engages the cylindrical mid portion and that is separated from the cylindrical mid portion of the forward component defining a recess between the leading edge portion and the cylindrical mid portion that facilitates the opening of the jacket upon impact with a target.

9. The pistol cartridge of claim 6 wherein a rearward facing end surface of the forward component has structural features thereon that are reflected in a forward facing surface of the lead core inhibiting rotation of the forward component with respect to the lead core.

10. The pistol cartridge of claim 6 wherein the component has an axial length and the cylindrical mid portion has an axial length that is 4 to 20 percent of the axial length of the component.

11. The pistol cartridge of claim 7 wherein the component has an axial length and the rearward portion has an axial length that is 35 to 55 percent of the axial length of the component.

12. The pistol cartridge of claim 8 wherein the component has an axial length and the forward ogive portion has an axial length that is 30 to 50 percent of the axial length of the component.