Rifle cartridge with improved bullet upset and separation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280595-B2
Application number	US-202016736309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2020
Priority date	Jan 20, 2017
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A rifle cartridge with a bullet has desirable penetration capabilities and controlled separation of components upon terminal impact. In embodiments of the invention, the bullet comprises a forward component, a lead core, and a copper jacket. The lead jacket having a leading edge portion that extends to the cylindrical mid portion. The forward component may have a forward pointed ogive portion, a cylindrical mid portion, a mid ogive portion, and a pair of cylindrical portions separated by an annular groove. The jacket having a cannelure at the annular groove and the casing upper lip crimped into the cannelure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rifle cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with a mouth and an interior, propellant in the interior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the bullet comprising:
a forward component, the forward component comprising a forward ogival portion with a forward ogival surface, the forward ogival portion terminating at a forward tip, a mid ogival portion rearward of the forward ogival portion, the mid ogival portion comprising a mid ogival surface, and a rearward cylindrical portion rearward of the mid ogival portion; and
a jacket defining a cup, the forward component seated in the cup, the jacket comprising a leading edge defining an annular scoop, wherein the annular scoop is defined by the leading edge portion and the cylindrical mid portion defining a forward facing annular recess.

2. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 wherein the forward component has a juncture between a forward cylindrical portion surface and the mid ogival portion, and wherein the leading edge of the jacket is positioned adjacent the juncture.

3. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 wherein the leading edge of the jacket is positioned intermediate the forward ogival portion and the mid ogival portion.

4. The rifle cartridge of claim 3 further comprising a lead core positioned rearwardly of the forward component, wherein the lead core has at least two axially aligned portions with a separation plane therebetween.

5. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 , where in the jacket has a thickness that reduces forwardly and wherein the rearward cylindrical portion has a smaller diameter than a mid cylindrical portion accommodating a thicker jacket at the rearward cylindrical portion.

6. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 , wherein an annular recess between the rearward cylindrical portion and a mid cylindrical portion has a radius that extends the entire longitudinal length of the annular recess and the annular recess extends entirely circumferentially around the forward component.

7. The rifle cartridge of claim 6 wherein the recess is at least 0.025 inches deep with respect to the mid cylindrical portion surface.

8. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the leading edge portion of the jacket is positioned between the forward ogival surface and the mid ogival surface of the forward component, the leading edge having a radial width of 0.007 to 0.022 inches exposed axially when viewed from the front.

9. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 wherein the casing and bullet are conformingly sized as a 300 BLK cartridge.

10. The rifle cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a lead core positioned rearwardly of the jacket; and
the jacket comprising a leading edge defining an annular scoop configured to facilitate upset of the jacket upon impact with a target, the casing having a forward lip positioned at the cannelure in the jacket.

11. A rifle bullet comprising:
a forward unitary component, the forward unitary component having a forward tapering portion with a forward tip;
at least one core engaging the forward unitary component; and
a jacket that encompasses the at least one core and tapers conformingly around the tapering portion of the forward component, the jacket having a leading edge spaced rearwardly from the forward tip of the bullet and having a taper opposite that of the tapering portion of the forward component, the leading edge having a radial width exceeding that of the tapering portion, the leading edge exposed axially when viewed from the front of the rifle bullet.

12. The rifle bullet of claim 11 wherein the forward tapering portion comprises two ogival portions, each ogival portion having a different ogival curvature, the two ogival portions meeting at a transition portion.

13. The rifle bullet of claim 11 wherein the forward component is partially contained in the jacket, the forward component having a forward cylindrical surface rearward of a forward ogival surface, a mid cylindrical surface separated from the forward cylindrical surface, a rearward cylindrical surface separated from the mid cylindrical surface.

14. The rifle bullet of claim 11 , further comprising a casing and propellant, the bullet seated in a mouth of the casing with the propellant in the casing, wherein the casing and bullet are conformingly sized as a 300 BLK cartridge.

15. A rifle bullet comprising a forward component partially contained in a jacket, the forward component, when viewed in cross section comprising a forward longitudinally extending first convex region, a longitudinal first concave region adjoining and rearward of the first convex region, a second convex region rearward of and adjoining the first concave region, a second concave region rearward of and adjoining the second convex region, and a third convex region rearward of and adjoining the second concave region;
the jacket comprising a leading edge positioned adjacent the first convex region, the leading edge defining an annular scoop, wherein the annular scoop is exposed axially when viewed from the front of the rifle bullet.

16. A cartridge comprising the rifle bullet of claim 15 , further comprising a casing and propellant, wherein the bullet seated in a mouth of the casing with a propellant in the casing, wherein the casing and bullet are conformingly sized as a 300 BLK cartridge.

17. The rifle bullet of claim 15 wherein the first and second convex regions each have a different ogival curvature, the first and second convex regions meeting at a cylindrical portion.

18. The rifle bullet of claim 17 , wherein the jacket thickens rearwardly.

19. The rifle bullet of claim 15 wherein the annular scoop has a radial width of 0.007 to 0.022 inches.

Assignees

• Vista Outdoor Operations Llc

Inventors

• Peterson Bryan P

Classifications

• F42B10/46

  Streamlined nose cones; Windshields; Radomes {(F42B12/105 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F42B5/067

  Mounting or locking missiles in cartridge cases (F42B5/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B5/025 Primary

  characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile · CPC title

• F42B12/367

  Projectiles fragmenting upon impact without the use of explosives, the fragments creating a wounding or lethal effect (practice or training projectiles disintegrating upon impact F42B8/14; projectiles of high-explosive type with fragmentation-hull construction F42B12/22) · CPC title

• F42B10/22

  Projectiles of cannelured type · CPC title