Frangible Bullet Tip

Abstract

A bullet tip comprises a body having a tail section and a nose section, the body composed of a partially sintered powdered metal, wherein the nose section comprises an ogive shape, wherein the tail section is configured for insertion into a cavity in a bullet main body, and, wherein the bullet tip is configured to fragment upon impact while exhibiting a penetration capacity of at least 800 joules.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A bullet, comprising:
 a bullet main body comprising a bore extending through a longitudinal axis of the bullet main body, such that upon impact with a soft target the bullet main body exhibits a mushroom effect; and   a bullet tip comprising a body comprising a tail section and a nose section, the body composed of a partially sintered powdered metal;   wherein the nose section comprises an ogive shape;   wherein the tail section is configured for insertion into the bore in the bullet main body; and   wherein the bullet tip is configured to fall away from the bullet main body upon impact with the soft target, and   wherein, upon impact, the bullet is configured to penetrate the soft target and exhibit a controlled penetration distance of about 12-18 inches in the soft target.   
     
     
         2 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the bullet is configured to exhibit a penetration capacity of the soft target of at least 800 joules. 
     
     
         3 . The bullet of  claim 2 , wherein the partially sintered powdered metal further comprises a metal matrix composite including a first metal powder with a first melting temperature, and a second metal powder with a second melting temperature lower than the first melting temperature, and wherein the second metal powder partially liquefies when said metal matrix composite is partially sintered, such that said second powder acts as a binder for said first metal powder. 
     
     
         4 . The bullet of  claim 3 , wherein the tail section comprises a cylindrical shape configured for insertion into the bore in the bullet main body. 
     
     
         5 . The bullet of  claim 2 , wherein the powdered metal is lead-free. 
     
     
         6 . The bullet of  claim 5 , wherein the powdered metal comprises copper. 
     
     
         7 . A round of ammunition, comprising:
 a bullet main body including a bore extending through a longitudinal axis of the bullet main body, wherein the bullet main body is configured to mushroom upon impact with a soft target;   a frangible bullet tip comprising a body composed of a partially sintered powdered metal matrix composite, the body having: a) a tail section with a cylindrical shape inserted into, and secured to, the bore of the bullet main body and b) a nose section with an ogive shape.   
     
     
         8 . The round of ammunition of  claim 7 , wherein the round is configured to exhibit a controlled penetration distance of about 12-18 inches in the soft target. 
     
     
         9 . The round of ammunition of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the partially sintered powdered metal matrix composite includes a first metal   
       powder with a first melting temperature, and a second metal powder with a second melting temperature lower than the first melting temperature, and
 wherein the second metal powder partially liquefies when said partially sintered powdered metal matrix composite is partially sintered, such that said second powder acts as a binder for said first metal powder. 
 
     
     
         10 . The round of ammunition of  claim 9 , wherein the partially sintered powdered metal matrix composite is lead-free. 
     
     
         11 . The round of ammunition of  claim 10 , wherein the partially sintered powdered metal matrix composite comprises copper and tin. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The round of ammunition of  claim 12 , wherein the nose section of the bullet tip and an exterior surface of the bullet main body exhibit a continuous ogive shape. 
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the bullet main body is composed of a solid metal. 
     
     
         21 . The bullet of  claim 1 , comprising a cavity located between a base of the bullet tip and an interior surface of the bore of the bullet main body. 
     
     
         22 . The bullet of  claim 1 , wherein the soft target comprises ballistic gel. 
     
     
         23 . The round of  claim 7 , wherein the bullet main body is composed of a solid metal. 
     
     
         24 . The round of  claim 7 , comprising a cavity located between a base of the bullet tip and an interior surface of the bore of the bullet main body. 
     
     
         25 . The round of  claim 7 , wherein the bullet tip further comprises one or more channels located on an exterior surface of the bullet tip. 
     
     
         26 . The round of  claim 7 , wherein the round exhibits a penetration capacity of at least 800 joules. 
     
     
         27 . A bullet for a small arms weapon, comprising:
 a bullet main body composed of solid metal and comprising a bore extending through a longitudinal axis of the bullet main body, such that upon impact with a soft target, the bullet main body exhibits a mushroom effect; and   a frangible bullet tip comprising a body composed of a partially sintered powdered metal matrix composite, the body comprising: a) a tail section with a cylindrical shape inserted into, and secured to, the bore of the bullet main body, the tail section comprising one or more channels located on an exterior surface, and b) a nose section comprising a pointed shape, wherein, upon impact, the bullet tip is configured to penetrate the soft target and fall away from the bullet main body;   wherein, upon impact, the bullet is configured to exhibit a penetration capacity of at least 800 joules and exhibit a controlled penetration distance of about 12-18 inches in the soft target.