Jacketed Lead-Free Hunting Bullet

Abstract

A lead-free hunting bullet has a hollow copper jacket with a closed rear end, an open front end, a generally cylindrical section adjacent the closed rear end, and a tapering front section adjacent the open front end. A copper core is disposed in the hollow jacket, with its front face spaced rearwardly from the open front end of jacket. A tip is disposed in the open front end of the hollow jacket. The tip has a front face generally tapering to a point, and a rear face generally facing, but spaced from, the front face of the core.

Description

FIELD

[0001] This disclosure relates to rifle bullets and in particular to a lead free rifle bullet.BACKGROUND

[0002] Rifle bullets conventionally have lead cores that deform upon impact of the bullet increasing the disruption of the target. However, use of a lead core in a rifle bullet is not always desirable because of toxicity and other concerns, but substitute core materials are generally not satisfactory in terms cost, properties, and functionality.SUMMARY

[0003] Embodiments of this disclosure provide an improved lead-free hunting bullet. A preferred embodiment of the bullet comprises a hollow jacket with a closed rear end, an open front end, a generally cylindrical section adjacent the closed rear end, and a tapering front section adjacent the open front end. The jacket is preferably formed of copper or a copper alloy,

[0004] A core is disposed in the hollow jacket. The core has a front face spaced rearwardly from the open front end of the jacket. The core is preferably formed of copper or a copper alloy, but it could be zinc, a zinc alloy, bismuth, or a bismuth alloy, or other suitable metal. The jacket and core can have a conventional flat base rear or a boattail rear end.

[0005] A tip is disposed in the open front end of the hollow jacket, with a front face generally tapering to a point, and a rear face generally facing but spaced from the front face of the core. The tip is preferably made of a polymeric material.

[0006] In some embodiments the tip comprises between about 5% and about 40% of the length of the bullet, and more preferably between about 20% and about 40%, still more preferably about 30% and 40%, and still more preferably about 37% of the length of the bullet. The distance between the open front end of the jacket and the front face of the core is preferably greater than or equal to the distance between the front face of the core and the rear end of the tapering forward section of the core. In some embodiments the rear face of the tip is spaced between about 0 inches and about 0.25 inches from the front face of the core, and more preferably between about 0 inches and 0.1 inches from the front face of the core.

[0007] In some embodiments the core comprises between about 60% and about 70% of the total weight of the bullet.

[0008] In some embodiments the area of the open front of the jacket (i.e., the opening receiving the rear of the tip, if one is present) is between about 2% and about 90% of the size of the largest cross section of the core, and more preferably between about 40% and about 90% of the size of the largest cross section of the core, and most preferably between about 80% and about 90% of the size of the largest cross section of the core. In a preferred embodiment, the size of the open front of the jacket is between about 87% of the size of the largest cross section of the core.

[0009] The core preferably comprises a cylindrical rear section and a tapering forward section, and the thickness of the jacket wall over the tapering forward section is thinner than the thickness of the jacket wall over the cylindrical rear section.

[0010] In some embodiments, the center of mass of the bullet is located between about 20% and about 65% of the length of the bullet from the rear end.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a bullet constructed according to a preferred embodiment of this disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a block of ballistic gelatin into which a bullet constructed according to the principles of this disclosure has been fired;

[0013] FIG. 3 is side elevation views of blocks of ballistic gelatin into which a bullet according to the principles of this disclosure has been fired at 0 meters, 65 meters, and 141 meters;

[0014] FIG. 4A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 223 bullet having a core with a conical front face;

[0015] FIG. 4B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 223 bullet having a core with a conical recess in its front face;

[0016] FIG. 4C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 223 bullet having a core with a curved, concave front face; and

[0017] FIG. 4D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 223 bullet having a core with a curved convex or domed front face; and

[0018] FIG. 5A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 30 caliber bullet having a core with a conical front face;

[0019] FIG. 5B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 30 caliber bullet having a core with a conical recess in its front face;

[0020] FIG. 5C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 30 caliber bullet having a core with a curved, concave front face;

[0021] FIG. 5D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 30 caliber bullet having a core with a curved convex or domed front face.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 226 bullet constructed according to the principles of this disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a 30 caliber bullet constructed according to the principles of this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] A improved lead-free hunting bullet constructed according to the principles of this disclosure, indicated generally as 20, is shown in longitudinal cross section in FIG. 1. The bullet 20 comprises a hollow jacket 22 with a closed rear end 24, an open front end 26, a generally cylindrical section 28 adjacent the closed rear end, and a tapering front section 30 adjacent the open front end. The jacket 22 is preferably formed of copper or a copper alloy.

[0025] A core 32 is disposed in the hollow jacket 22. The core 32 comprises a cylindrical rear section 34 and a tapering forward section 36. The portion of the wall of the jacket 22 over the tapering forward section 36 is preferably thinner than the portion the wall of the jacket over the cylindrical rear section 34. The tapering forward section 36 ends in front face 38 spaced rearwardly from the open front end 26 of the jacket 22. The core 32 is preferably formed of copper or a copper alloy.

[0026] The core 32 preferably is preferably between about 55% and about 85% of the total weight of the bullet 20, and the jacket 22 is preferably between about 15% and about 45% of the total weight of the bullet, and more preferably the core is about 60% and about 70% of the total weight of the bullet, and the jacket is preferably between about 30% and about 40% of the total weight of the bullet.

[0027] A tip 40 is disposed in the open front end 26 of the hollow jacket 22, with a front face 42 generally tapering to a point 44 improving the aerodynamics of the bullet. The tip 40 also has a rear face 46 generally facing, but preferably spaced from, the front face 38 of the core 32. The tip 40 is preferably made of a polymeric material, such as polycarbonate. The tip 40 preferably comprises between about 5% and about 40% of the length of the bullet, and more preferably between about 20% and about 40%, still more preferably about 30% and 40%, and still more preferably about 37% of the length of the bullet.

[0028] The distance between the open front end 26 of the jacket 22 and the front face 38 of the core 32 is preferably greater than or equal to the distance between the front face of the core and the rear end of the tapering forward section 36 of the core. In some embodiments the rear face 46 of the tip 40 is spaced between about 0 inches and about 0.15 inches from the front face of the core, and more preferably between about 0005 inches and 0.1 inches from the front face of the core.

[0029] The front face of the core is preferably flat, but could have some other configuration, such as a generally conical projection, and generally hemispherically-sahped or dome-shaped projection, a generally conical recess, or a generally hemispherically shaped dome-shaped recess.

[0030] In some embodiments the area of the open front 26 of the jacket 22 (i.e., the opening receiving the rear of the tip, if one is present) is between about 2% and about 90% of the size of the largest cross section of the core 32, and more preferably between about 40% and about 90% of the size of the largest cross section of the core, and most preferably between about 80% and about 90% of the size of the largest cross section of the core. In a preferred embodiment, the size of the open front 26 of the jacket 22 is about 87% of the size of the largest cross section of the core 32.

[0031] The core preferably comprises a cylindrical rear section and a tapering forward section, and the thickness of the jacket wall over the tapering forward section is thinner than the thickness of the jacket wall over the cylindrical rear section.

[0032] In some embodiments, the center of mass of the bullet is located between about 20% and about 50% of the length of the bullet from the rear end.Example 1

[0033] Dimensions of two bullets constructed according to the principles of this disclosure are shown in FIG. 1. Upon firing into a target, such as ballistic gelatin, the jacket sheds initially with a substantial energy transfer to the target, and the core (>65% of original bullet weight) penetrates 32-34 inches, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] Regardless of distance there is massive damage in the first 25 cm of penetration, and an exit wound formed by the core, as shown in FIG. 3TABLE 1308W Win; 30-08SPRG; 300 WINMAG223 / 556Bullet lengthA1.18in0.940inJacket lengthB0.86in0.704inExposed length of tipC0.320in0.236inDistance between the front of theD0.150in0.089injacket and the front end of coreDistance between the rear end of tipE0.070in0.009inand the forward end of the coreDistance between the front of theF0.080in0.080injacket and the rear end of the tipOutside diameter of the rear portionG0.308in0.224inof the jacketInside diameter of jacket / outsideH0.251in0.181indiameter of coreInside diameter of jacket opening / I0.205in0.157inoutside diameter of Tip shankJacket weight42.65grs19.5grsCore weight80grs34.2grsTip weight2.35grs1.3grsTotal Bullet Weight125grs55grs

Claims

1. An improved lead-free hunting bullet, comprising:a hollow jacket with a closed rear end, an open front end, a generally cylindrical section adjacent the closed rear end, and a tapering front section adjacent the open front end, the jacking being formed of copper or a copper alloy;a core disposed in the hollow jacket, the core having a front face spaced rearwardly from the open front end of the hollow copper jacket, and being formed of copper or a copper alloy; anda tip disposed in the open front end of the hollow jacket, the tip having a front face generally tapering to a point, and a rear face generally facing but spaced from the front face of the core.

2. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1, wherein the tip is made of a polymeric material.

3. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1, wherein the tip comprises between about 30% and about 40% of the length of the bullet.

4. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 3, wherein the tip comprises about 37% of the length of the bullet.

5. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 3 wherein the core comprises between about 60% and about 70% of the total weight of the bullet.

6. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the core comprises between about 50% and about 85% of the total weight of the bullet.

7. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the area of the open front of the jacket is between about 80% and about 90% of the largest cross section of the core.

8. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the area of the open front of the jacket is between about 87% of the area of the largest cross section of the core.

9. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the rear face of the tip is spaced at least 0.1 inches from the front face of the core.

10. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the core comprises a cylindrical rear section and a tapering forward section, and wherein the thickness of the jacket wall over the tapering forward section is thinner than the thickness of the jacket wall over the cylindrical rear section.

11. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the distance between the front end of the jacket and the front face of the core is greater than or equal to the distance between the front face of the core and the rear end of the tapering forward section of the core.

12. The improved lead-free hunting bullet according to claim 1 wherein the center of mass of the bullet is located between about 20% and about 50% of the length of the bullet from the rear end.

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