Method of Manufacturing a Polymer Jacketed Bullet

Abstract

A method of producing a bullet with a polymer bullet jacket. The method of manufacture is accomplished by an injection operation that injects a molten plastic jacket around a suspended metal core in a simple and certain process.

1 . A method of manufacturing a bullet comprising the steps of:
 positioning a core within a cavity of a mold such that the core is suspended within said cavity so that the entire outer periphery of the core is not in contact with an interior surface of said cavity, supporting said core within said cavity with at least one alignment pin,   injecting a thermoplastic material into said cavity via an injection port such that the injected material covers a portion of the core.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , including the step of heating the thermoplastic material above a melting temperature of the thermoplastic material, and then performing the injecting step as quickly as possible. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein in the injecting step, the injected material only covers a body portion of the core. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein in the injecting step, the injected material does not cover a front end of the core. 
     
     
         5 . A method of manufacturing a bullet comprising the steps of positioning a core within a cavity of a mold such that a spacing is disposed between an entire outer periphery of an outer surface of said core and an interior wall of said cavity; and injecting a thermoplastic material into said cavity such that said injected material covers a body portion of said core, and wherein a front end portion of said core is not covered with said injected material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said core is positioned in said cavity using at least one alignment pin.