Fin stabilized projectile and loading components

Abstract

A covered projectile that includes a projectile having a nose portion, a middle portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the rear portion, and a jacket that surrounds at least a portion of the projectile and includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. The jacket includes a front cone. A plurality of annular grooves are defined in the exterior surface of the jacket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A covered projectile comprising:
 a projectile that includes a nose portion, a middle portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the rear portion, and   a jacket that surrounds at least a portion of the projectile and includes an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the jacket includes a front cone, wherein a plurality of annular grooves are defined in the exterior surface.   
     
     
         2 . The covered projectile of  claim 1  wherein the middle portion has a greater diameter than the nose portion and the rear portion. 
     
     
         3 . The covered projectile of  claim 1  wherein the projectile defines a projectile axis, wherein each fin includes a front portion that defines a front portion axis and a tail portion that defines a tail portion axis, wherein the front portion axis of each fin extends parallel to the projectile axis, and wherein the tail portion axis of each fin defines an acute angle with the front portion axis. 
     
     
         4 . The covered projectile of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface of the jacket defines a projectile recess and covers the plurality of fins. 
     
     
         5 . The covered projectile of  claim 4  wherein the jacket is comprised of a plurality of jacket sections that are connected by a plurality of seems. 
     
     
         6 . The covered projectile of  claim 4  wherein the projectile recess includes a middle portion, a rear portion, fin portions, and a tail portion. 
     
     
         7 . The covered projectile of  claim 1  further comprising a casing that defines a casing interior, wherein the front cone and the nose portion of the projectile are positioned outside of the casing, and wherein the annular grooves are position in the casing interior. 
     
     
         8 . The covered projectile of  claim 1  wherein each annular groove is defined by a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the front surface is generally perpendicular to an axis defined by the projectile, and wherein the back surface forms an acute angle with the front surface. 
     
     
         9 . A system for loading a covered projectile into a casing, the system comprising:
 a casing die that includes an end protrusion and a central opening extending axially therethrough,   a preload die that includes a central opening extending axially therethrough and a casing die recess defined therein, wherein the casing die recess is configured to receive the end protrusion of the casing die therein,   a receiver die that includes a central opening defined therethrough, a plunger die recess defined in a first end, and a casing die recess defined in the second end, and   a plunger die that includes a main body portion that is sized to be received in the plunger die recess in the receiver die, and a plunger extending from the main body portion that is sized to be received in the central opening of the receiver die and the central opening of the casing die.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the central opening of the preload die is tapered. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein plunger die includes a pusher portion extending outwardly from a first end of the main body portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a projectile assembly that includes a projectile that includes a nose portion, a middle portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the rear portion, a jacket that surrounds at least a portion of the projectile and includes an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the jacket includes a front cone, wherein a plurality of annular grooves are defined in the exterior surface, and a casing that defines a casing interior, wherein the front cone and the nose portion of the projectile are positioned outside of the casing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a barrel that includes threads thereon. 
     
     
         14 . A projectile comprising:
 a front portion that includes a tip,   a middle portion that includes a plurality of annular grooves defined therein, and   a rear portion that includes a tail and a plurality of fins extending outwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         15 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the middle portion has a greater diameter than the nose portion and the rear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the rear portion includes a waist portion and a cone portion, and wherein the diameter of cone portion increases between the waist portion and the tail.