Ammunition

Abstract

Ammunition utilizing sabots that extend more forward than the bullets they at least partially encase. The sabots may be formed from one or more pieces. The one-piece sabots may include one or more arms.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A round of ammunition comprising: 
 a case having a front end, a rear end and an opening in the front end;    a sabot positioned in the opening, the sabot having a front end, a rear end and a cavity, the front end of the sabot positioned forward of the opening; and    a bullet positioned in the cavity, the bullet having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the bullet positioned behind the front end of the sabot.    
     
     
         2 . The round of  claim 1 , the case being metallic.  
     
     
         3 . The round of  claim 2 , the bullet having a metallic jacket covering at least a portion of the bullet.  
     
     
         4 . The round of  claim 1 , the bullet having a rear portion with a contour, and the cavity of the sabot being defined by a rear portion having a contour that matches the contour of the rear portion of the bullet.  
     
     
         5 . The round of  claim 1 , the cavity of the sabot having a side wall and a rear wall, the side wall meeting the rear wall at a right angle.  
     
     
         6 . The round of  claim 1 , the sabot including at least one arm, the arm having an end.  
     
     
         7 . The round of  claim 6 , the sabot including at least two arms, each arm having an end.  
     
     
         8 . The round of  claim 7 , the ends of the arms positioned in a closed formation so as to cover the front end of the bullet.  
     
     
         9 . The round of  claim 7 , the ends of the arms positioned in an open formation so as not to cover the front end of the bullet.  
     
     
         10 . The round of  claim 9 , the cavity of the sabot having a forward portion that includes an ogive shoulder preventing the front end of the bullet from being positioned even with or forward of the front end of the sabot.  
     
     
         11 . The round of  claim 7 , the arms being spaced apart from each other by separators, each separator extending from the front end of the sabot toward the rear end of the sabot and terminating prior to the rear end of the sabot at a separator termination point.  
     
     
         12 . The round of  claim 11 , the sabot including a rear wall and a notch extending from each separator termination point to the rear wall.  
     
     
         13 . The round of  claim 11 , the cavity of the sabot having a forward portion that includes an ogive shoulder preventing the front end of the bullet from being positioned even with or forward of the front end of the sabot.  
     
     
         14 . The round of  claim 1 , the sabot including at least three arms, each arm having an end.  
     
     
         15 . The round of  claim 1 , the sabot being formed from one or more pieces.  
     
     
         16 . The round of  claim 1 , the bullet being a .284-caliber bullet.  
     
     
         17 . The round of  claim 16 , the sabot being a .308-caliber sabot.  
     
     
         18 . The round of  claim 1 , the case being metal and having a main body, a neck positioned near the front end of the case, and a tapered section connecting the main body and the neck.  
     
     
         19 . The round of  claim 1 , the case being metal and having a main body with a length that extends substantially from the rear end of the case to the front end of the case, the main body having substantially a diameter that is substantially constant along the length.  
     
     
         20 . The round of  claim 1 , the opening in the case being defined by a front end edge of the case, the sabot having a groove into which the front edge of the case is crimped.  
     
     
         21 . The round of  claim 1 , the round configured to be fired from a .30-caliber rifle.  
     
     
         22 . A round of ammunition configured to be fired from a rifle, the round comprising: 
 a metallic case having a main body with a rear end, a neck with a front end, a tapered section connecting the front and rear ends and an opening in the front end;    a polymer sabot positioned in the opening, the sabot a having a front end, a rear end and a cavity, the front end of the sabot positioned forward of the opening, the sabot also having at least two arms spaced apart by separators that extend from the front end of the sabot toward the rear end of the sabot; and    a bullet positioned in the cavity, the bullet having a pointed front end and a rear end, the front end of the bullet positioned behind the front end of the sabot.    
     
     
         23 . The round of  claim 22 , the round configured to be fired from a .30-caliber rifle.  
     
     
         24 . The round of  claim 22 , the bullet being at least partially covered by a metallic jacket.  
     
     
         25 . A round of ammunition comprising: 
 a metallic case configured to be fired from a .30-caliber rifle, the case having a main body with a rear end, a neck with a front end, a tapered section connecting the front and rear ends and an opening in the front end;    a polymer sabot positioned in the opening, the sabot a having a front end, a rear end and a cavity with an ogive shoulder, the front end of the sabot positioned forward of the opening, the sabot also having at least two arms; and    a bullet positioned in the cavity, at least a portion of the bullet extending forward of the ogive shoulder, the bullet having a pointed front end and a rear end, the front end of the bullet positioned behind the front end of the sabot, the bullet being at least partially covered by a metallic jacket.