Jacketed ammunition

Abstract

A jacketed projectile, preferably with a unique geometry one-piece steel core to improve penetration of hard targets, provides good performance regarding chamber pressure, barrel wear and accuracy by separating the jacket from a central tapered portion of the core by providing an encircling air gap.

1 . A jacketed projectile comprising a solid central core with a frusto-conical portion which is not in continuous contact with the jacket.  
   
   
       2 . A projectile as in  claim 1  comprising a gap between the jacket and the core along the surface of said fustro-conical portion of the core.  
   
   
       3 . A projectile as in  claim 2  wherein the tapered encircling gap is air-filled.  
   
   
       4 . A projectile in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the steel core comprises carbon steel.  
   
   
       5 . A projectile in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the hardness of the steel core is at least 45 on the Rockwell C hardness scale.  
   
   
       6 . A projectile according to  claim 1  comprising a one-piece core with a forward portion having an ogival front end, followed by said frusto-conical portion, whereby the junction of the ogival front end and the frusto-conical portion provides a relatively smooth transition zone.  
   
   
       7 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the conical angle of the frusto-conical portion of the core is between 0.7 and 1.0°.  
   
   
       8 . A projectile according to  claim 6  further including a short cylindrical parallel portion of the core extending rearwardly from the frusto-conical portion.  
   
   
       9 . A projectile according to  claim 8  wherein the cylindrical parallel portion of the core is less than 30% of the length of than the frusto-conical portion.  
   
   
       10 . A projectile according to  claim 9  further including a rearwardly tapering end portion of the core after the cylindrical parallel portion.  
   
   
       11 . A projectile according to  claim 10  wherein the rearwardly tapering end portion of the core has a conical angle of about 83°.  
   
   
       12 . A projectile in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the jacket material comprises gilding metal.  
   
   
       13 . A projectile in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the gilding metal jacket comprises approximately 90% copper and 10% zinc.