Traceable Frangible Projectile

Abstract

A frangible projectile useful in a round of gun ammunition wherein, upon striking a target, the projectile selectively disintegrates, leaving intact at least one portion or appurtenance of the projectile which is recoverable for purpose of identification of rifling markings thereon and/or other analysis.

1 . An ammunition projectile adapted to be fired from a gun having a rifled barrel comprising
 at least one frangible powder-based core having a leading end and a trailing end and at least one portion of the projectile capable of being marked by the rifling of the barrel of the gun from which the projectile is fired,   said core disintegrating into individual particulates upon the projectile striking a target, said disintegration commencing at the leading end of the projectile and propagating along the length of the projectile,   at least one limiter factor disposed along the length of the projectile in the path of the propagating disintegration of the projectile,   said limiter factor at least momentarily abating said propagation of said disintegration whereby at least said at least one portion of the projectile which is capable of being marked by the rifling of the barrel of the gun from which the projectile is fired becoming separated from the projectile intact and recoverable for analysis.   
   
   
       2 . The ammunition projectile of the  claim 1  wherein said at least one core comprises at least one powdered metal compacted into a self-supporting compact. 
   
   
       3 . The ammunition projectile of  claim 2  wherein said at least one core comprises at least first and second metal powders and a matrix comprising a polymeric material. 
   
   
       4 . The ammunition projectile of  claim 1  where said projectile comprises at least two individual cores disposed in stacked relationship to one another. 
   
   
       5 . The ammunition projectile of  claim 4  wherein said at least two individual cores are housed within a cup-shaped jacket. 
   
   
       6 . The ammunition projectile of  claim 1  wherein said limiter factor comprises at least one of
 (a) a jacket having a leading end and a trailing end and is of a materially thicker wall thickness from a location about midway between the leading and trailing ends of the jacket and the trailing end of the jacket,   (b) a jacket having a cannelure defined about the outer circumference of said jacket at a location between the leading and trailing ends of the jacket,   (c) a jacket having at least two cores disposed therein in stacked relationship to one another, and a disc interposed between adjacent ones of said at least two cores,   (d) a jacket having a leading first end and a trailing second end and a internal circumferential shoulder dividing said first and said second ends into first and second portions, said second portion having a materially greater wall thickness than the wall thickness of said first portion,   (e) first and second compacted powder based cores disposed in stacked relationship to one another, said first core including a trailing end having a blind bore defined therein and said second core including a leading end and a projection projecting from said leading end and adapted to be snugly engaged within said blind bore,   (f) first and second compacted powder based cores disposed in stacked relationship to one another, and a ring of metallic material interposed between the adjacent ends of said stacked cores, a projection extending from one of said adjacent ends in the direction of the other of said cores, said ring encircling said projection,   (g) first and second compacted powder based cores disposed in stacked relationship to one another, said first core including a trailing end having a blind bore defined therein and said second core including a leading end and a projection projecting from said leading end and adapted to be snugly engaged within said blind bore, said second core having a trailing end and a cup-shaped cap overlying said trailing end and extending partway along the outer surface of said second core in a direction toward said first core,   (h) first and second compacted powder based cores disposed in stacked relationship to one another, said first core including a trailing end having a blind bore defined therein and said second core including a leading end and a projection projecting from said leading end and adapted to be snugly engaged within said blind bore, and including at least one elongated strip of a metallic material mounted on the outer surface of said cores and extending substantially along the length of said stacked cores. and,   (i) a jacket having a leading first end and a trailing second end and an internal circumferential shoulder dividing said first and said second ends into first and second portions, said second portion having a materially greater wall thickness than the wall thickness of said first portion and including a substantially rigid disc embedded within the core at the location of the internal circumferential shoulder.