Cartridge with combined effects projectile

Abstract

A cartridge comprising a bullet, the bullet providing a radially expanding array of bullet fragments upon entering a target and also providing an increase in effective surface area of the bullet within the target by structural features that facilitate tumbling or mushrooming in the target. In an embodiment a pair of axial core members are aligned in a bullet jacket with the forward core member being segmented with separation junctures formed by engaged faces of adjacent segments. Impact causing fracturing of the segments from a base portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handgun cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with a mouth and an interior, propellant in the interior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the cartridge and bullet have a central axis, the bullet having an overall length and a maximum diameter, the ratio of the overall length to the maximum diameter is equal to or less than about 2:1, the bullet comprising:
 a jacket member comprising a rearward wall having a generally circular shape and a circumferential wall extending forwardly from the rearward wall, the circumferential wall having a forward margin; a rearward core member disposed inside the jacket, the rearward core member having a cylindrical exterior surface engaging an inside surface of the circumferential wall, a forward facing surface, and a rearward facing surface, the rearward facing surface of the rearward core member being seated against a forward facing surface of the rearward wall of the jacket;   a forward core member disposed inside the jacket forward of the rearward core member;   the forward core member comprising a plurality of core segments extending axially forwardly from a base portion of the forward core member, the plurality of segments arranged circularly around the central bullet axis and defining a bullet tip with an axially extending recess at said tip, adjacent pairs of forward core segments having segment faces engaged with each other defining a separation juncture, whereby when the bullet strikes a target the segments are separable from one another at said separation junctures and are separable from the base portion and dispersible radially outwardly in an array;   wherein the jacket has a plurality of axially extending tear guides extending rearwardly from the forward margin, whereby when the bullet strikes a target the jacket may petal outwardly.   
     
     
         2 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of core segments numbers from 3 to 8. 
     
     
         3 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the bullet has means for retaining the rearward core member to remain with the jacket after the bullet strikes a target. 
     
     
         4 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 3  wherein the means for retaining comprises at least one of a cannelure extending around the rearward core and a bonding of the rearward core to the jacket. 
     
     
         5 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the axially extending recess at the bullet tip has a depth, and wherein the separation planes have an axial length, and the axial length of the separation planes is greater than the depth of the axially extending recess. 
     
     
         6 . The handgun cartridge of any one of  claim 1 , wherein each separation juncture extends axially entirely through the forward core member along the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the forward core member has an exterior circumferential surface and wherein each separation juncture extends entirely the axial length of the forward core member at the central axis and does not extend the entire length of the forward core member at the outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         8 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein one the forward core member and rearward core member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: steel, lead, copper, ETP copper, copper alloys, brass, bronze, carbides, tungsten, tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, tungsten heavy alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, iron, polymers, polymer matrixes, fiber-reinforced polymers, carbon composite materials, and ceramics. 
     
     
         9 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the axially extending tear guides are at least one of skives, folds, and slits. 
     
     
         10 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket, the forward core member and rearward core member are configured for releasing the forward core member and retaining the rearward core member upon impact. 
     
     
         11 . A handgun cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with a mouth and an interior, propellant in the interior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the cartridge and bullet have a central axis, the bullet having an overall length and a maximum diameter, the ratio of the overall length to the maximum diameter is equal to or less than about 2:1, the bullet comprising:
 a jacket member comprising copper and having a rearward wall with a generally circular shape and a circumferential wall extending forwardly from the rearward wall, the circumferential wall having a forward margin;   a rearward lead core member disposed inside the jacket, the rearward lead core member having a cylindrical exterior surface engaging an inside surface of the circumferential wall, a forward facing surface, and a rearward facing surface, the rearward facing surface of the rearward core member being seated against a forward facing surface of the rearward wall of the jacket; and   a forward core member disposed inside the jacket forward of the rearward core member, the forward core member having star shaped separation planes defining a plurality of forward core segments;   wherein the jacket has a plurality of axially extending separation structures extending rearwardly from the forward margin toward the rearward core member, whereby when the bullet strikes a target the jacket may petal outwardly, releasing the forward core segments in a circular array of fragments while retaining the rearward core member.   
     
     
         12 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 11 , the plurality of forward core segments define a bullet tip with an axially extending recess at said tip. 
     
     
         13 . The handgun cartridge of  claim 11  wherein the forward core member is comprised of lead. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with a mouth and an interior, propellant in the interior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the cartridge and bullet have a central axis, the bullet having a forward tip and a length, the bullet comprising a homogeneous material, the bullet having a rearward base portion and a forward ogive portion, the forward ogive portion extending at least 40% of the length of the bullet, the forward ogive portion having a plurality of axially extending cuts defining a plurality of ogive segments that are circumferentially spaced around the ogive portion, the rearward base portion not having any cuts, each axial cut of the forward ogive portion, when viewed axially looking toward the forward tip of the bullet are one of arcuately shaped and V-shaped, the axially extending cuts extending an axial length at least 30% of the length of the bullet, wherein at each cut an inward face of the respective ogive segment confronts an outwardly directed face of a central pillar portion of the ogive portion, the central pillar portion extending from the base portion and including the forward tip of the bullet, wherein upon impact with a target, the ogive segments are configured to break off of the bullet and the pillar portion is configured to remain intact with the base portion. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 14  wherein the inward face of the respective ogive segment is separated from the respective outwardly directed face of the central pillar for the entire length of the cut. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 15  wherein the inward face of each respective ogive segment is separated from the respective outwardly directed face of the central pillar by webbing extending the entire axial length of each respective cut. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the bullet has a maximum radius and each cut extends inwardly toward the central axis more than 20% of the maximum radius and less than 90% of the maximum radius. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 14  wherein the bullet has a three ogive segments and the pillar portion extends axially forward past the three ogive segments. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 14  wherein the bullet is injection molded. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 14  wherein when the bullet hits a fluidic target, the ogive segments fragment in an array and the base portion with the central pillar portion tumbles.