Reinforced core bullet

Abstract

A jacketed bullet has a core of a dense metal or metal alloy, an inner jacket at least partially surrounding and bonded to the core; and an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner jacket and core.

1 . A jacketed bullet comprising:
 a core of a dense metal or metal alloy;   an inner jacket at least partially surrounding and bonded to the core; and   an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner jacket and core.   
   
   
       2 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the inner jacket has a thickness of between about 0.005 inches and 0.02 inches. 
   
   
       3 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the outer jacket is thicker than the inner jacket. 
   
   
       4 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the bond between the core and in the inner jacket is formed by at least partially melting a pre-formed core in a pre-formed inner jacket. 
   
   
       5 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the inner jacket and the outer jacket have longitudinally extending lines of weakness that can separate on impact to form petals. 
   
   
       6 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the lines of weakness in the inner jacket and the outer jacket are aligned, so that the petals formed by the jackets on impact are generally aligned. 
   
   
       7 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the lines of weakness are formed by areas of thinness in the inner and outer jackets. 
   
   
       8 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the lines of weakness are formed by cuts through the inner and outer jackets. 
   
   
       9 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the outer jacket does not upset upon impact in 20% ballistic gelatin at an initial velocity of 1200 fps or less. 
   
   
       10 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  wherein the bullet retains at least 99% mass when fired at an initial velocity of 1800 fps or less at 20% ballistic gelatin. 
   
   
       11 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 1  further comprising a mechanical engagement between the inner jacket and the outer jacket. 
   
   
       12 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 11  wherein the mechanical engagement between the inner jacket results from a shoulder preformed in at least one of the outer jacket and the inner jacket. 
   
   
       13 . The jacketed bullet according to  claim 12  wherein the mechanical engagement between the inner jacket and the outer jacket results form a shoulder pre-formed in the outer jacket, and a corresponding deformation in the inner jacket. 
   
   
       14 . An improved jacketed bullet of the type comprising a core of a dense metal or metal alloy, and a jacket bonded to the core, the improvement comprising a second jacket disposed over the core and the bonded jacket. 
   
   
       15 . A jacketed bullet comprising:
 a core of a dense metal or metal alloy;   an inner jacket at least partially surrounding and bonded to the core, the inner jacket having generally longitudinally extending lines of weakness therein so that the inner jacket forms petals upon impact; and   an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner jacket and core, the outer jacket being thicker than the inner jacket, and having lines of weakness therein so that the outer jacket forms petals upon impact.   
   
   
       16 . A method of making a jacketed bullet comprising:
 bonding a pre-formed core to a pre-formed cup-shaped inner jacket;   inserting the core and the inner jacket into a pre-formed cup-shaped outer jacket; and   forming a bullet by forming a depression in the closed end of the pre-formed cup-shaped outer jacket; forming the closed end of the pre-formed cup-shaped outer jacket into an ogival front portion of the bullet; and forming a hollow point in the front portion of the bullet.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein at least one of the pre-formed cup-shaped inner jacket and pre-formed cup-shaped outer jacket has a shoulder formed therein, and wherein the conforming shoulder is formed in the other of the pre-formed cup-shaped inner jacket and pre-formed cup-shaped outer jacket, as the bullet is formed. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein there is a shoulder formed in the pre-formed cup-shaped outer jacket, and wherein the step of forming a bullet forms a corresponding shoulder in the pre-formed cup-shaped inner jacket.