U.S. patent application number 10/405803 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for cartridge and a method of preparing at least one radial incision in the body of the bullet of the cartridge.
Invention is credited to Vlastimil Libra.
Application Number | 20060027132 10/405803 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29276050 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060027132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Libra; Vlastimil |
February 9, 2006 |
Cartridge and a method of preparing at least one radial incision in
the body of the bullet of the cartridge
Abstract
The cartridge consists of a shell (13) with powder filling (16)
and a bullet (1), where the bullet (1) comprises a body (2) having
a rear base (6) and peripheral walls, in the axis of which is fixed
a piercing core (3). The body (2) of the bullet (1) is adapted for
controlled detachment, in the area of weakening of its peripheral
wall, of at least one of its forward portions after the bullet (1)
impacts with the barrier. The body (2) comprises a guiding forward
portion (5) and a rear portion (17) of greater diameter,
corresponding to the calibre of the gun, for stabilising and
guiding the bullet (1) in the gun barrel. The piercing core (3) is
lodged with radial allowance in the body (2), in the opening (19)
on the front side. Between the forward portion (5) and the rear
portion (17) of the bullet (1), the body (2) has a deforming wall
(10) with reduced thickness, so that the area where it meets the
shouldered rear portion (17) forms the ripper zone of the front
portion of the body (2), while the piercing core (3) comes to a
point at its front end (8) and the hollow between this front end of
the core (3) and the adjacent part of the inner wall of the opening
(19) of the body (2) is filled with a malleable plug (4) whose
outer surface forms at least the greater part of the impacting
surface (20) of the bullet (1). The subject of the invention also
involves a method of preparing at least one radial incision in the
body (2) of the bullet (1) of the cartridge, during which the rear
portion (17) of the body (2) is formed with a greater outer
diameter with at least one radial incision (12) of trapezoidal
section with symmetrical sides. The body (2) is then extruded,
through a stepwise narrowing opening in a calibrating member, to
the required lower calibre, by which the material of the body (2)
in the area of the radial incision (12) becomes non-homogeneous and
deforms so that the front side of the radial incision (12) in the
direction of the extrusion straightens until it is at right angles
to the axis of the body (2), with a simultaneous increase in the
density of the material in this area, and its rear side opens up
still more, with a simultaneous decrease in the density of the
material in this area.
Inventors: |
Libra; Vlastimil;
(Jevisovice, CZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS, DOANE, SWECKER & MATHIS, L.L.P.
P.O. Box 1404
Alexandria
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
29276050 |
Appl. No.: |
10/405803 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/522 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/06 20130101;
F42B 12/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/522 |
International
Class: |
F42B 14/06 20060101
F42B014/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 30, 2002 |
CZ |
PV 2002-1869 |
Mar 5, 2003 |
WO |
PCT/CZ03/00016 |
Claims
1. A cartridge consisting of a shell with powder filling and a
bullet, wherein the bullet comprises a body having a rear base and
peripheral walls, in the axis of which is fixed a piercing core,
wherein the body is adapted for controlled detachment, in the area
of weakening of its peripheral wall, of at least one of its forward
portions aster the bullet impacts with a barrier.
2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a
guiding forward portion and a rear portion of greater diameter,
corresponding to the caliber of the gun, for stabilizing and
guiding the bullet in the gun barrel, where the piercing core is
lodged with radial allowance in the body, in the opening on the
front side and where, between the forward portion and the rear
portion of the bullet, the body has a deforming wall with reduced
thickness, so that the area where it meets the shouldered rear
portion forms the ripper zone of the front portion of the body,
while the piercing core comes to a point at its front end and the
hollow between this front end of the core and the adjacent part of
the inner wall of the opening of the body is filled with a
malleable plug whose outer surface forms at least the greater part
of the impacting surface of the bullet.
3. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a deforming wall is
formed by the base of a rectangular groove, arranged radially in
the body of the bullet, while a rear side wall of this groove,
which is at the same time a forward surface of a shouldered rear
portion, forms a first impacting surface.
4. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a front portion of the
body of the bullet in the direction of the exit from the opening
narrows down in a rounded shape so that a impact surface of the
bullet forms a malleable plug, while a conical front end of the
core of the bullet runs into this impact surface with its
point.
5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the body of the bullet
is adapted for gradual detachment of at least one of its other
parts in the direction from a front wall of the bullet, in the area
of an incision in the peripheral wall of the rear portion.
6. A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the body has at least
one radial incision on the outer periphery of its rear portion.
7. A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the body has at least
one spiral-shaped incision on the outer periphery of its rear
portion.
8. A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the body has evenly
arranged axial incisions spaced out on the outer periphery of its
rear portion.
9. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein two radial incisions
of trapezoidal section are arranged at a distance from each other
in the rear portion of the body of the bullet in the direction of
the axis of a narrowed section, the forward wall of each of the
incisions being at right angles to the axis of the bullet, while
their rear walls are part of second and third impact surfaces
respectively.
10. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the base of the body
of the bullet closes with its surface the inner space in the shell,
which is filled with a compressed powder filling or powder
pill.
11. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the piercing core is
made of a material with a high degree of strength, hardness and
mass, from the group consisting of steel, hardened steel, tungsten
and sintered metal carbides.
12. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a malleable plug of
the body of the bullet is made of a material from the group
consisting of lead, plastic and wax.
13. A method of preparing at least one radial incision in the body
of the bullet of the cartridge according to claim 1, during which
the rear portion of the body is formed with a greater outer
diameter with at least one radial incision of trapezoidal section
with symmetrical sides, wherein the body is extruded, through a
stepwise narrowing opening in a calibrating member, to the required
lower caliber, by which the material of the body in the area of the
radial incision becomes non-homogeneous and deforms so that the
front side of the radial incision in the direction of the extrusion
straightens until it is at right angles to the axis of the body,
with a simultaneous increase in the density of the material in this
area, and its rear side opens up still more, with a simultaneous
decrease in the density of the material in this area.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention concerns the arrangement of a cartridge with
piercing bullet with increased effectiveness in penetrating
bullet-proof vests and other ballistic shields, particularly hard
barriers such as armoured transport means, special glass etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Expanding bullets are known for pistols, rifles, shotguns
and the like, in which the body or jacket of the bullet mushrooms
open to a greater diameter on striking a barrier, thus causing a
greater effect upon that barrier. This effect is to a considerable
degree influenced by the velocity of the bullet and the resistance
of the barrier to the impact of the bullet. The front portions of
the bullet, for attainment of controlled expansion, are arranged by
appropriate methods so that opening of the body of the bullet on
impact with the barrier occurs more forcibly and at lower
velocities. The bodies of the bullets can be furnished beforehand
with outer transverse or longitudinal peripheral incisions (PCT
Application WO 00/79211, U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,731, CZ Patent
289,744) or with inner longitudinal incisions (U.S. Pat. No.
3,881,421) which facilitate controlled opening of the body of the
bullet; for this purpose caps are also used with peripheral
projections which are forced backwards, on impact, into the opening
in the bullet (U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,397, PCT Application WO
00/79211) and the body of the bullet is ruptured internally by
their projections. In the aforementioned PCT application WO 0079211
a bullet is specifically described showing controlled expansion,
where an opening is drilled from the front into the body, in which
there is firmly lodged a core made of a harder and more solid
material, for example steel. The solution is intended for hunting
rifles, and therefore for soft targets. The core is released from
the bullet after opening of its body. The purpose is to facilitate
controlled opening of the body of the bullet on string the target
so that the body does not fragment into more pieces, its enlarged
front surface delivers the essential part of its energy to the
target which, however, remains intact and undamaged as a target
(game). In the given case this is achieved both by outer radial
grooves and by inner longitudinal grooves. In none of these
solutions was the purpose to penetrate a hard material in a
barrier, nor was it a question of unfavourable impact angles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The said purpose is achieved by the solution according to
the invention submitted, by employing several of the already known
features mentioned above, but in a new combination with additional
features. The solution involves a cartridge consisting of a shell
with powder filling and a bullet, where the bullet comprises a body
having a rear base and peripheral walls, in the axis of which is
fixed a piercing core. The basis of the invention lies in the fact
that the body is adapted for controlled detachment, in the area of
weakening of its peripheral wall, of at least one of its forward
portions after the bullet impacts with the barrier.
[0004] Upon impact of the bullet with a hard barrier, for example a
steel plate or a glass or ceramic sheet, the piercing core of the
bullet breaks into the barrier and at the same time there is an
abrupt opening of the peripheral wall of the front portion of the
body of the bullet, which rips off in the area of its weakening
uncovering the piercing core and, due to the inertial mass of the
rear portion of the body, its further penetration into the hard
barrier is significantly increased. Thus only the hard, sharp core
of the bullet breaks into the barrier.
[0005] The body of the bullet comprises a guiding forward portion
and a rear portion of greater diameter for stabilising and guiding
the bullet in the barrel. The diameter of the rear portion
corresponds to the calibre of the gun. The piercing core is lodged
with radial allowance in the body, in the opening on the front
side. Between the forward portion and the rear portion of the
bullet, the body has a deforming wall with reduced thickness, so
that the area where it meets the shouldered rear portion forms the
ripper zone of the front portion of the body. The piercing core
comes to a point at its front end and the hollow between this front
end of the core and the adjacent part of the inner wall of the
opening of the body is filled with a malleable plug whose outer
surface forms at least the greater part of the impacting surface of
the bullet.
[0006] Upon impact of the bullet with a hard barrier, the soft
material of the plug permits the instant fixation of the bullet to
the barrier in the place of contact, without the angle of impact of
the bullet changing. The sharp point digs into the barrier, thus
preventing its glancing off, ricocheting or rupturing. As soon as
the point penetrates the barrier, the material of the plug is
displaced along the conical surface of the point of the piercing
core, the weakened deforming wall of the body of the bullet bulges
outwards and then the whole forward portion of the body of the
bullet breaks off and disintegrates. Its broken-off fragments
scatter in all directions along the surface of the hard barrier,
but the person firing is not struck or endangered by this
disintegration, even when firing at close range. Only the sharp
hard core of the bullet penetrates the hard material of the
barrier, partly by its own inertia and partly by the inertia of the
rear portion of the bullet which increases the penetration of the
core. The piercing core is made of a material with a high degree of
strength, hardness and mass, for example steel, tungsten or
sintered metal carbides.
[0007] The deforming wall can be formed by the base of a
rectangular groove, arranged radially in the body of the bullet,
while the rear side wall of this groove, which is at the same time
the forward surface of the shouldered rear portion, forms the first
impacting surface. The length and depth of the rectangular groove
are dictated by the type and strength of the material used in the
body of the bullet to ensure its manipulating solidity, so that
this weakened part of the body is not deformed as the bullet is
pushed into the shell and in normal manipulation of the cartridge.
After detachment of the whole front portion of the body of the
bullet upon impact with the hard barrier and its disintegration,
the rear side wall of the rectangular groove forms the first impact
surface of the body of the bullet with the barrier.
[0008] The front portion of the body of the bullet in the direction
of the exit from the opening preferably narrows down in a rounded
shape so that the impact surface of the bullet forms a malleable
plug, while the conical front end of the core of the bullet runs
into this impact surface with its point. The rounded front portion
serves to guide the cartridge from the magazine into the cartridge
chamber of the gun. The malleable plug, made of lead or plastic for
example, reduces the dynamic deformational strength of the forward
portion of the body of the bullet. After impact with the hard
barrier it behaves like a fluid in a closed space permitting, as
already mentioned, the instant fixation of the bullet to the
barrier at the point of contact and subsequently causing the
outward bulging of the weakened body of the bullet and the breaking
off of the forward portion of the body of the bullet in the area of
the rear side wall of the base of the rectangular groove, which at
the same time forms the front surface of the shouldered rear
portion.
[0009] The body of the bullet can be advantageously adapted for
gradual detachment of at least one of its other parts in the
direction from the front wall of the bullet, in the area of a
radial incision in the peripheral wall of the rear portion. The
body can have at least one radial incision on the outer periphery
of its rear portion.
[0010] In an alternative embodiment the body can have at least one
spiral-shaped incision on the outer periphery of its rear portion,
or evenly arranged spaced-out axial incisions.
[0011] In a further embodiment two radial incisions of trapezoidal
section can be arranged at a distance from each other in the rear
portion of the body of the bullet in the direction of the axis of
the narrowed section, the forward wall of each of the incisions
being at right angles to the axis of the bullet, while their rear
walls are part of the second and third impact surfaces
respectively.
[0012] At the moment when the core of the bullet penetrates the
hard barrier so deeply that the rear portion of the body of the
bullet touches the barrier, the controlled swift disintegration
occurs of the individual parts of the body, separated from each
other by radial incisions, which easily separate from the remainder
of the body of the bullet and in such a way that the remaining
portion of the body is always lined up on its front portion (in the
direction of the movement of the bullet) in the course of its
disintegration. This facilitates the further gradual controlled
disintegration of the body of the bullet, thus avoiding unnecessary
loss of energy during penetration of the core into the hard
material of the barrier. The outer diameter of the hole of the
shot-through material of the barrier, which is basically
cylindrical in shape, always corresponds to the outer diameter of
the fired core. On the front side of the shot-through barrier an
impression is formed by the controlled disintegration of the body
of the bullet. In a barrier made of soft material, for example soft
steel, the impression is greater, in hard material (for example
steel sheets used for armoured vehicles, walls and the like) it is
almost imperceptible. Upon impact with a hard barrier the piercing
bullet immediately behaves like an under-calibered bullet, since
only the core and not the body of the bullet breaks into the
barrier, with greater firing energy.
[0013] The base of the body of the bullet closes with its surface
the inner space in the shell, which is preferably filled with a
compressed powder filling. This makes it possible for the piercing
bullet to have a high initial velocity, which is achieved by the
low mass of the bullet in combination with the special preparation
and filling of the shell with powdered fill. First of all a
determined quantity of powder is put into the shell or into the jig
and is compressed with a determined pressure (a pill is formed
having the internal dimensions of the shell). Alternatively, a
previously compressed powder pill, whose dimensions correspond to
the shape of the shell, can be inserted into the shell. By this
technique the cartridge is supplied with a large amount of energy
which is released, after ignition by a fuse, during the whole
period of passage of the bullet through the gun barrel, without
dangerously exceeding the maximum permitted pressure in the
cartridge. Quite a different curve thus arises in the course of
combustion of the powdered fill and a basically longer duration of
the pressure needed during the whole period of acceleration of the
bullet in the gun barrel. The pressure at the mouth is thereby
increased compared to normal ammunition, for example in the 9 mm
LUGER cartridge (the most frequently used gun for police and
special army units) there is a twofold increase. In short pistol
cartridges this velocity and energy, which is almost three times
greater than in normal ammunition, cannot be created without
compression of powder. Moreover this method of preparation and
filling of the cartridge ensures, with a light bullet for example
2.9 grams in weight, normal functioning of guns (pistols and
automatic weapons) that is repeating, automatic loading etc.
[0014] A further basic feature of the invention is the method of
preparing at least one radial incision in the body of the bullet of
the cartridge according to any of the embodiments mentioned, during
which the rear portion of the body is formed with a greater outer
diameter with at least one radial incision of trapezoidal section
with symmetrical sides, and subsequently the body is extruded,
through a stepwise narrowing opening in a calibrating member, to
the required lower calibre, by which the material of the body in
the area of the radial incision becomes non-homogeneous and deforms
so that the front side of the radial incision in the direction of
the extrusion straightens until it is at right angles to the axis
of the body, with a simultaneous increase in the density of the
material in this area, and its rear side opens up still more, with
a simultaneous decrease in the density of the material in this
area. This arrangement allows for controlled and gradual
deformation of the rear portion of the body of the bullet after
impact with the barrier. The effect of this non-homogeneous
material of the body of the bullet is the reduction of the dynamic
strength of the body of the bullet, at least on one impact surface,
which after detachment has the shape of a truncated cone, narrowing
in the direction of the front portion of the bullet. Thus the body
of the bullet does not penetrate the material of the barrier.
[0015] A further advantage of the cartridge with the bullet
according to this invention is that the type of cartridge can be
immediately identified and distinguished from ordinary ammunition
by the outer shape of the bullet, and by feel alone under
unfavourable visual conditions, for example at night.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention will be more clearly explained in the examples
by means of the attached drawings and the subsequent detailed
description.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in longitudinal section
of an example of the configuration of the body of the bullet with
radial outer incisions and inserted hard core.
[0018] In FIG. 2 there is a photo of one of the possible
embodiments of the piercing bullet, where not only the outer shape
and configuration of the bullet, whose body is made of brass, are
visible but also the shaped lead plug on the front surface of the
bullet.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a similar embodiment of the bullet as in FIG.
2, the body of the bullet in this case being made of a light metal
alloy, with the possibility of colour differentiation which assists
in the determination and identification of the origin.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows the bullet after hitting the target. FIG. 4A
involves a soft material, for example a living organism, a soft
mass such as clay etc; B involves a target made of a harder
material, for example wood or plywood; C is a soft metal, for
example class 11321 steel and D is a hard metal, ceramic or glass.
The gradual controlled deformation of the body of the bullet can be
seen, depending upon the hardness of the targeted barrier. The body
of the bullet goes through the target matter only in the cases of A
and B; in the case of C and D it glances off the barrier and only
the piercing core penetrates, the remainder of the body of the
bullet being broken up into fragments, which are shown in FIG.
5.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a side view of glued multi-layer glass, for
example of the kind used for protection of bank operations, in the
given case 30 mm thick.
[0022] In FIG. 7 the glass shown in FIG. 6 has been shot through by
the piercing bullet according to this invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 shows a bullet hole in hard material, in this case a
steel sheet of the HARDOX type, 5 mm thick, the view being from the
side where the bullet enters. The impression of the bullet is
minimal here.
[0024] FIG. 9 shows the opposite side to FIG. 8, where the bullet
exits.
[0025] FIG. 10 shows a bullet hole in soft material, in the given
case a class 11375 steel sheet of 10 mm strength; the view is from
the side where the bullet enters, the impression of the body of the
bullet being evident here.
[0026] FIG. 11 shows the opposite side to FIG. 10, where the bullet
exits.
EXAMPLES OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The piercing bullet 1 consists of a cylindrical body 2
generally made of brass, a light metal alloy, plastic and the like,
which is lodged with clearance and in a pre-defined position in the
shell 13 with corresponding dimensions for various types of
cartridges and uses. The body a is inseparably joined to the shell
13 by a conventional method, usually crimped or painted over. In
the production of the body of the bullet 2 its initial outer
guiding diameter is greater than after completion. In its rear
portion (with respect to the direction of the movement of the
bullet 1 after it is shot from the gun), which is preferably inside
the shell 13, the body 2 is furnished on its outer surface with
radial incisions 12 or with spiral-shaped incisions (generally one
to three incisions). The incisions 12 are separated from each other
by the guiding surfaces of the cylindrical part of the body 2 of
the bullet 1, which serve to guide the bullet 1 in the bore of the
barrel and cause its rotation in the barrel. The incisions 12 can
be produced by various methods, for example machining, rolling,
pressing, injection moulding in the case of plastics, and so on.
They are generally trapezoidal in shape, narrowing down in the
direction of the axis of the body 2 of the bullet 1. The depth of
the incisions 12 is dictated by the material used for the body 2 of
the bullet 1 and the requirements for subsequent destruction of the
body 2 after hitting the target. So that the bullet should acquire
the final size of the diameter of the body 2, it is calibrated by
extrusion through a stepped calibrating member in the direction of
the movement (trajectory) of the bullet 1 after firing from the
gun. During this operation a change occurs in the shape of the
incisions 12. The material of the body 2 of the bullet 1 is
deformed in the area of the guiding rings formed by the incisions.
In the forward parts of the rings, with respect to the direction of
their calibration, the material of the body 2 is squeezed backwards
and a non-homogeneous structure arises. The originally slanting
surface of the rear parts of the guiding rings straighten until
they form a right angle with respect to the axis of the body 2 and
the density of the material increases in the area of the base of
the incisions 12. Conversely, in the forward parts of the guiding
rings there is a reduction in the density of the material and an
increase in the angle of their sloping surfaces. This modification
permits a controlled and gradual deformation of the rear portion of
the body 2 of the bullet 1 after its impact with the barrier.
[0028] After insertion of the front portion of the bullet 1 into
the bore of the gun barrel, the outer diameter of the body 2 of the
bullet 1 is reduced at a certain distance before the mouth of the
shell 13. In the direction of the forward portion of the bullet 1
the body 2 is further lightened by the deforming groove 10 formed
in it. The length and depth of the deforming groove 10 are dictated
by the type and strength of the material used in the body 2 of the
bullet 1 to ensure the manipulating strength of the bullet 1. In
other words, to ensure that this weakened part of the body 2 is not
deformed as the bullet 1 is pushed (in preparation and filling)
into the shell 13 and in normal manipulation of the bullet 1 and
the cartridge.
[0029] Connected to the deforming groove 10 in the forward
direction, is the rounded front part or head 5 of the bullet 1,
which corresponds to the type of bullet and serves to guide or
introduce the cartridge from the magazine into the cartridge
chamber of the gun, by the force of the gun breech. Even during
this operation, deformation (misalignment, eccentricity) of the
jacket of the body 2 of the bullet 1 cannot occur in the area of
the deforming groove 10. From the forward side the body 2 of the
bullet 1 is furnished along its axis with a central opening 7 of
circular section, into which is inserted a core 3 made of a
material with a high degree of strength, hardness and mass, for
example steel, hardened steel, tungsten or sintered metal carbides.
The core 3 in its forward part comes to a point A, which can be in
the shape of a cone with a sharp-angled apex. The jacket of the
cone can be flat, rounded or basically of any rotary shape suitable
for the specific uses of the material and the application of the
cartridge.
[0030] The free space of the opening 7 between the point 8 and the
inner wall of the head 5 is filled with a plug 4 of soft material,
for example lead or plastic. Its purpose is to reduce the dynamic
deformational strength of the forward part of the bullet 1. After
impact with the barrier it behaves like a fluid in a closed space,
acting in all directions. After the bullet 1 hits the target
obliquely, there is deflection of the head 5 of the bullet 1 and
gradual deformation of the body 2 in the area of the deforming
groove 10. The soft material of the plug 4 permits the instant
fixation of the bullet 1 to the barrier at the point of contact,
without the angle of impact of the bullet 1 changing. In this
process, the sharp point 8 of the core 3 of the bullet 1 digs into
the barrier, thus preventing its glancing off, ricocheting or
rupturing. As soon as the point 8 penetrates the barrier, the
material of the plug 4 is displaced along the conical surface of
the point 8, the weakened body 2 of the bullet 1 in the area of the
deforming groove 10 bulges outwards and then the whole forward
portion of the body 2 of the bullet 1 breaks off and disintegrates.
Part of the core 3 is thereby uncovered.
[0031] If the barrier is made of a hard material, for example
steel, glass, ceramic, in the shape of a plate or board etc., then
its broken-off fragments glance off and scatter in all directions
along the surface. It is evident particularly when firing at close
range, for example 1 to 2 metres. In no event is the person firing
struck or endangered by this disintegration. Only the hard core 3
of the bullet 1 is forced into (penetrates) the hard material of
the barrier, partly by its own inertia and partly by the inertia of
the rear portion of the bullet 1 which, through the base 6 of the
body 2 of the bullet 1, increases the penetration of the core 3 by
its inertial mass. At the moment when the core 3 penetrates the
hard barrier so deeply that the rear portion of the body 2 of the
bullet 1 touches the barrier, controlled disintegration occurs of
the individual parts of the body 2, for example gradually along the
individual guiding rings which during manufacture (calibration) are
made so that they easily separate from the remainder of the body 2
of the bullet 1 and in such a way that the remaining portion of the
body 2 is always lined up on its front portion (in the direction of
the movement of the bullet D in the course of its disintegration.
This facilitates the further gradual controlled disintegration of
the body 2 of the bullet 1, thus avoiding unnecessary loss of
energy during penetration of the core 3 into the hard material of
the barrier. The outer diameter of the hole of the shot-through
material of the barrier, which is basically cylindrical in shape,
always corresponds to the outer diameter of the fired core 3. On
the front side of the shot-through barrier an impression is formed
by the controlled disintegration of the body 2 of the bullet 1. In
a barrier made of soft material, for example soft steel, the
impression is greater, in a hard material barrier (for example
steel sheets of the HARDOX type used for armoured vehicles, walls
and the like) it is almost imperceptible. Upon impact with a hard
barrier the piercing bullet 1 immediately behaves like an
under-calibered bullet, since only the core 3 and not the body 2 of
the bullet 1 penetrates the barrier, with greater firing energy.
However, as soon as this piercing bullet 1 hits a target matter
like wood for example, it behaves like a normal conventional bullet
1 and frequently does not disintegrate at all. The bullet hole in
such a case corresponds to the diameter of the body 2 of the bullet
1.
[0032] Where it hits a target matter like a human body, there is
penetration of the whole bullet into this matter. With a delay
which corresponds to an ordinary penetration of several centimetres
(2 to 3 cm) the forward portion of the bullet 1 disintegrates. All
the fragments are caught up by the target matter and after about 15
cm almost all the energy of the shot is delivered to the target
matter. There arises a so-called oscillatory hollow with a capacity
of approximately one litre (1 dm.sup.3). The bullet 1 in this case
behaves like ammunition with shock effect and significant damage to
the target matter.
[0033] A further basic feature of the piercing bullet 1 is its high
initial velocity, for example in the 9 mm calibre LUGER with
four-inch barrel v.sub.0=756 m/s, the energy E.sub.0=829 J and the
average pressure in the gun barrel is 297 MPa. This velocity is
achieved by the low mass of the bullet 1 in combination with the
special preparation and filling of the powdered fill in the shell
13. It involves an appropriate ammunition powder which is
compressed. First of all a determined quantity of powder is put
into the shell or into the jig and is compressed with a determined
pressure (a pill is formed having the internal dimensions of the
shell). Alternatively, a previously compressed powder pill, whose
dimensions correspond to the shape of the shell, can be inserted
into the shell. By this technique the cartridge is supplied with a
large amount of energy which is released, after ignition by a fuse,
during the whole period of passage of the bullet through the gun
barrel, without dangerously exceeding the maximum permitted
pressure in the cartridge. Quite a different curve thus arises in
the course of combustion of the powdered fill and a basically
longer duration of the pressure needed during the whole period of
acceleration of the bullet in the gun barrel. The pressure at the
mouth is thereby increased compared to normal ammunition, for
example in the 9 mm LUGER cartridge (the most frequently used gun
for police and special army units) there is a twofold increase.
[0034] In short pistol cartridges this velocity and energy, almost
three times greater than in normal ammunition, cannot be created
without compression of powder. Moreover this method of preparation
and filling of the cartridge ensures, with a light bullet for
example 2.9 grams in weight, normal functioning of guns pistols and
automatic weapons) that is repeating, automatic loading etc.
INDUSTRIAL USES OF THE INVENTION
[0035] The piercing bullet according to this invention is intended
particularly for destroying common ballistic shields for
individuals or vehicles. That includes bullet-proof vests with
kevlar fibre, particularly for invisible wear and for stopping
armoured transport means. At the same time there is no possibility
of these bullets rebounding and threatening the vicinity.
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