Lead free, composite polymer based bullet and method of manufacturing
View Patent ↗A lead-free, composite polymer based bullet and cartridge case and methods of manufacturing the same, wherein the composite polymer material includes a tungsten metal powder, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, short glass fibers, as well as additives and stabilizers. The cartridge case includes a lip lock configured to matingly engage a cannelure formed along an outer circumferential surface of the bullet. The cartridge case also includes resilient walls wherein the case may snap fit onto the bullet. The bullet and cartridge case may be formed in a single step process by injection molding or a two step process including injection molding and a welding process.
1. A lead-free bullet, comprising:
a body made from a composite polymer material and having a front end and a rear end;
a cannelure formed on an outer circumferential surface of the body intermediate the front and rear ends of the body, wherein the composite polymer material includes a tungsten metal powder, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, and glass fibers; and
a specific gravity in a range of 3–10.
2. The bullet according to claim 1 , wherein the tungsten metal powder is 50%–96% of a weight of the bullet body, the nylon 6/6 is 0.5% –15% of the weight of the bullet body, the nylon 6 is 0.5%–15% of the weight of the bullet body, and wherein the glass fibers are 0.5%–15% of the weight of the bullet body.
3. The bullet according to claim 2 , wherein the tungsten metal powder is 60%–95% of the weight of the bullet body, the nylon 6/6 is 1.0%–12% of the weight of the bullet body, the nylon 6 is 1.0%–12% of the weight of the bullet body, and wherein the glass fibers are 1.0%–12% of the weight of the bullet body.
4. The bullet according to claim 3 , wherein the tungsten metal powder is 70%–90% of the weight of the bullet body, the nylon 6/6 is 2.0%–9.0% of the weight of the bullet body, the nylon 6 is 2.0%–9.0% of the weight of the bullet body, and wherein the glass fibers are 2.0%–9.0% of the weight of the bullet body.
5. The bullet according to claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity of the bullet is in the range of 6–9.
6. The bullet according to claim 5 , wherein the specific gravity of the bullet is in the range of 7.5–8.5.
7. The bullet according to claim 1 , wherein the tungsten metal power is encapsulated in the composite polymer material.
8. A method for manufacturing a lead-free bullet having a body made from a composite polymer material including tungsten metal powder, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, and glass fibers, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a mold configured to a predetermined caliber bullet; and
feeding the composite polymer material through an injection molding apparatus into the mold.