Three component bullet with core retention feature and method of manufacturing the bullet
View Patent ↗A three component bullet with a core retention feature and a method of forming the bullet is described. The bullet can include a jacket surrounding a core and a locking band disposed around a circumference of the jacket and the core. The locking band can be received in a circumferential depression formed in the jacket and the core such as by compressing the core to cause the core and the jacket to expand radially fore and aft of the locking band. The circumferential depression can include shoulders that are in compressive engagement with the locking band to help secure the locking band in place. The circumferential depression can include an inwardly-extending annular band of jacket material which embeds itself into the core material with the result that the core is locked inside the jacket.
1. A bullet comprising:
a core having a core body with a first circumferential depression defined therealong;
a jacket comprising a malleable material at least partially surrounding the core, the jacket having a jacket body with a second circumferential depression defined therealong, wherein the second circumferential depression is at least partially received in the first circumferential depression and forms a shoulder along the jacket; and
a locking band at least partially received within the second circumferential depression for at least partially retaining the core with the jacket, with the shoulder being in compressive engagement with an edge of the locking band sufficient to at least partially secure the locking band along the second circumferential depression.
2. The bullet of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder comprises a first shoulder engaging a fore edge of the locking band, and wherein the first circumferential depression and the second circumferential depression form a second shoulder engaging an aft edge of the locking band.
3. The bullet of claim 2 , wherein the jacket is in compressive engagement with the fore and aft edges of the locking band at the first shoulder and the second shoulder.
4. The bullet of claim 2 , further comprising a longitudinal axis defined between a first end of the bullet and a second end of the bullet, wherein the first shoulder and the second shoulder respectively apply a force to the locking band in a direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
5. The bullet of claim 1 , wherein an outside diameter of the jacket adjacent the locking band is substantially similar to an outside diameter of the locking band.
6. The bullet of claim 5 , wherein the outside diameter of the jacket is substantially equivalent to the outside diameter of the locking band fore and aft of the locking band.
7. The bullet of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder extends outwardly from the second circumferential depression in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bullet.
8. A round of ammunition comprising:
a casing;
a propellant charge; and
a bullet comprising:
a first end and a second end;
a core;
a jacket at least partially surrounding the core, the jacket having a jacket body with a circumferential depression defined therealong, wherein the circumferential depression projects inwardly by a distance sufficient to form a corresponding circumferential depression within the core; and
a locking band at least partially received in the circumferential depression of the jacket, the circumferential depression being in compressive engagement with at least one edge of the locking band sufficient to substantially secure the locking band along the jacket, and, wherein the locking band is configured to at least partially retain the core with the jacket.
9. The round of ammunition of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shoulder comprises a first shoulder engaging a fore edge of the locking band and a second shoulder engaging an aft edge of the locking band.
10. The round of ammunition of claim 9 , wherein the circumferential depression is in compressive engagement with the locking band along each of the first shoulder and the second shoulder.
11. The round of ammunition of claim 9 , further comprising a longitudinal axis defined between the first end and the second end of the bullet, wherein the first shoulder and the second shoulder respectively apply a force to the locking band in a direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
12. The round of ammunition of claim 8 , wherein an outside diameter of the jacket is substantially similar to an outside diameter of the locking band fore and aft of the locking band.
13. The round of ammunition of claim 8 , wherein the shoulder extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bullet.
14. A method of forming a bullet, comprising:
inserting a core into a jacket so that the jacket at least partially surrounds the core;
positioning a locking band about a circumference of the jacket; and
compressing the core within the jacket in a longitudinal direction and for a distance sufficient to cause the core and the jacket to expand in a radial direction adjacent the locking band so as to form a circumferential depression in the core and the jacket;
wherein compressing the core forms at least one shoulder in the circumferential depression in compressive engagement with an edge of the locking band for at least partially retaining the core with the jacket.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, after inserting the core into the jacket and prior to positioning the locking band, forming a bottleneck-shaped pre-form by constricting a fore portion of the jacket and the core inwardly so that the fore portion of the pre-form has a smaller diameter than an aft end of the pre-form.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one shoulder comprises a first shoulder and a second shoulder, and compressing the core causes the first shoulder to engage a fore edge of the locking band and the second shoulder to engage an aft edge of the locking band.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein compressing the core causes the first shoulder and the second shoulder respectively to apply a force to the locking band generally in the longitudinal direction.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein compressing the core further comprises expanding the core within the jacket in the radial direction until an outside diameter of the jacket is substantially similar to an outside diameter of the locking band.
19. A bullet having a first end and a second end, the bullet comprising:
a jacket comprising a malleable material and having a wall defining an internal cavity;
a malleable core at least partially received in the internal cavity of the jacket;
a circumferential depression formed in the jacket and the malleable core, the circumferential depression defining at least one shoulder extending thereabout in a generally radial direction; and
a locking band at least partially extending about the circumferential depression for at least partially retaining the malleable core with the jacket upon impact, with the at least one shoulder in engagement with the locking band sufficient in a manner to substantially secure the locking band about the jacket.
20. The bullet of claim 19 , wherein the at least one shoulder comprises a first shoulder engaging a fore edge of the locking band, and a second shoulder engaging an aft edge of the locking band.
21. The bullet of claim 19 , wherein an outside diameter of the jacket is substantially similar to an outside diameter of the locking band fore and aft of the locking band.