Lead-free frangible projectile

Abstract

Frangible projectiles free of heavy metals suitable for use in indoor target ranges comprising tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper. The projectiles are prepared from a mixture of tungsten and iron powders, tungsten and copper powders, or tungsten, iron and copper powders and compacted without sintering.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A lead free projectile comprising a compacted, unsintered admixture of metal particles comprising, by weight, about from 20 to 59% tungsten about from 40 to 80% copper and about from 1 to 15% iron, and wherein the particle size of each metal is about from 25 to 250 microns.  
     
     
         2 . A projectile of  claim 1  wherein the composition by weight of each metal in the admixture is about 29% tungsten, 66% copper, and 5% iron.  
     
     
         3 . A projectile of  claim 1  wherein the particle size of each metal is at least about 100 microns.  
     
     
         4 . A projectile of  claim 1  wherein the particle size of each metal is at least about 150 microns.  
     
     
         5 . A projectile of  claim 1  further comprising an outer jacket.  
     
     
         6 . A projectile of  claim 5  wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of metal.  
     
     
         7 . A projectile of  claim 6  wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, and zinc.  
     
     
         8 . A projectile of  claim 7  wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of copper.  
     
     
         9 . A projectile of  claim 5  wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of polymeric material.  
     
     
         10 . A projectile of  claim 9  wherein the polymeric material is thermoplastic.  
     
     
         11 . A projectile of  claim 10  wherein the thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, and polystyrene.  
     
     
         12 . A projectile of  claim 9  wherein the polymeric material is a thermosetting resin.  
     
     
         13 . A projectile of  claim 12  wherein the thermosetting resin is selected from the group consisting of phenolic, epoxy, and silicone resins.  
     
     
         14 . A projectile of  claim 11  wherein the outer jacket consists essentially of polyethylene.  
     
     
         15 . A projectile of  claim 1  in a bullet configuration.  
     
     
         16 . A projectile of  claim 1  in a shot configuration.  
     
     
         17 . A projectile of  claim 1  in a slug configuration.  
     
     
         18 . A process for the preparation of a lead free projectile comprising placing in a die a powdered admixture of tungsten and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper, wherein the particle size of each metal is about from 25 to 250 microns, and compacting the admixture at a pressure of about from 50,000 to 120,000 psi.  
     
     
         19 . A process of  claim 18  wherein the admixture is compacted at a pressure of about 100,000 psi.  
     
     
         20 . A process of  claim 18  further comprising applying a jacketing material to the resulting projectile.  
     
     
         21 . A process of  claim 20  wherein the jacketing material is polymeric.  
     
     
         22 . A process of  claim 21  wherein the polymeric jacketing material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, or polystyrene.  
     
     
         23 . A process of  claim 20  wherein the jacketing material is metal.  
     
     
         24 . A process of  claim 23  wherein the jacketing material is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, and zinc.  
     
     
         25 . A process of  claim 23  wherein the jacketing material is formed around the projectile.  
     
     
         26 . A process of  claim 23  wherein the jacketing material is plated onto the projectile.