Bullet and method

Abstract

Provided is a hybrid expanding hollow-point bullet with a very hard, brittle, frangible insert shaped and positioned to facilitate expansion of the hollow-point portion while also fragmenting into sharp pieces upon the bullet impacting a target. A kit is also provided for converting standard hollow-point ammunition, as well as methods of assembly and use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bullet comprising:
 a frangible member having a hardness on the Mohs scale of at least 5 and adapted to fragment into sharp pieces upon the bullet impacting a target, the frangible member having an outer surface tapering from a larger thickness leading end portion to a smaller thickness trailing end portion;   a hollow-point member comprising: a partially hollowed-out leading end portion defining a cavity therein having an inner surface; and a non-hollowed-out trailing end portion; the leading end portion adapted to expand radially outward upon the bullet impacting a target;   the smaller thickness trailing end portion of the frangible member extending into the cavity in the leading end portion of the hollow-point member;   the tapered outer surface of the frangible member adapted to transmit radial outward force to the inner surface of the cavity upon the bullet impacting a target.   
     
     
         2 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow-point member comprises a copper-jacketed hollow-point lead bullet. 
     
     
         3 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer surface of the frangible member defines a conical portion extending into the cavity in the leading end portion of the hollow-point member. 
     
     
         4 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises a body defining a brilliant cut diamond shape, with a conical portion thereof extending into the cavity in the leading end portion of the hollow-point member. 
     
     
         5 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the material of which the frangible member is comprised has a hardness on the Mohs scale of about 6 to about 7. 
     
     
         6 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the material of which the frangible member is comprised has a hardness on the Mohs scale of about 7.5 to about 8. 
     
     
         7 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the material of which the frangible member is comprised has a hardness on the Mohs scale of about 8.5. 
     
     
         8 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the material of which the frangible member is comprised has a hardness on the Mohs scale of about 9 to about 9.5. 
     
     
         9 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the material of which the frangible member is comprised has a hardness on the Mohs scale of about 9.5 to about 10. 
     
     
         10 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the material of which the frangible member is comprised has a hardness on the Mohs scale greater than 10. 
     
     
         11 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: orthoclase, titanium, manganese, germanium, niobium, rhodium, uranium. 
     
     
         12 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: glass, fused quartz, iron pyrite, silicon, ruthenium, iridium, tantalum, opal, peridot. 
     
     
         13 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: osmium, quartz, rhenium, vanadium. 
     
     
         14 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: emerald, hardened steel, tungsten, spinel. 
     
     
         15 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: topaz, cubic zirconia. 
     
     
         16 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: chrysoberyl, chromium, silicon nitride, tantalum carbide. 
     
     
         17 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: corundum, silicon carbide (carborundum), tungsten carbide, titanium carbide. 
     
     
         18 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: boron, boron nitride, rhenium diboride, stishovite, titanium diboride. 
     
     
         19 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible member comprises one or more of the following materials: diamond, carbonado, nanocrystalline diamond, hyperdiamond, ultrahard fullerite. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a bullet, comprising the steps of:
 providing a hollow-point member comprising: a partially hollowed-out leading end portion defining a cavity therein having an inner surface; and a non-hollowed-out trailing end portion; the leading end portion adapted to expand radially outward upon the bullet impacting a target;   inserting at least partially into the cavity a frangible member having a hardness on the Mohs scale of at least 5 and adapted to fragment into sharp pieces upon the bullet impacting a target, the frangible member having an outer surface tapering from a larger thickness leading end portion to a smaller thickness trailing end portion;   affixing the frangible member with the hollow-point member in a position where:
 the smaller thickness trailing end portion of the frangible member extends into the cavity in the leading end portion of the hollow-point member; and 
 the tapered outer surface of the frangible member is positioned to transmit radial outward force to the inner surface of the cavity upon the bullet impacting a target.