Enhanced Projectile for Modern Pneumatic Sporting Devices /Air Rifles

Abstract

A novel enhanced projectile, designed for use with air rifles and sub-sonic applications is disclosed. The enhanced projectile includes an air core that extends the full length of the projectile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A projectile, comprising:
 a solid metallic cylindrical body with a tapered nose at one end of the body and a blunt or flat base at an opposite end of the body; and   an air core disposed through a length of the body from the nose to the base, the air core centered on a central primary longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1 , further comprising a relief or depression disposed on an outer surface of the body, around at least a portion of the perimeter of the cylindrical body between the nose and the base, the relief or depression resulting in a diameter of the body being reduced at the relief or depression. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 1 , further comprising a taper around at least a portion of the body where the body meets the base, the taper resulting in a diameter of the base being less than a diameter of a largest portion of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body is comprised of solid copper or a copper alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose has a generally rounded shape or ogival shape. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the air core comprises an orifice that extends the entire length of the projectile. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the air core has a circular or polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the air core is not consistent from the nose to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the air core is greater at one of the nose or the base than the other of the nose or the base. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the air core has a conical frustrum shape. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the air core is greater at the nose and the base than a point between the nose and the base. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 11 , wherein the air core has a venturi shape. 
     
     
         13 . A projectile, comprising:
 a solid metallic cylindrical body with a tapered nose at a first end of the body; and   an air core comprising an orifice that extends an entire length of the projectile, the air core centered on a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the cylindrical body.   
     
     
         14 . The projectile of  claim 13 , further comprising a blunt or flat base at an opposite end of the body from the nose. 
     
     
         15 . The projectile of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more aerodynamics-enhancing features on a surface of the cylindrical body, including one or more tapers, recesses, or depressions in the surface of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         16 . The projectile of  claim 13 , wherein a shape of the air core includes one or more aerodynamics-enhancing features, including a diameter that changes size over at least a portion of the length of the projectile. 
     
     
         17 . The projectile of  claim 13 , wherein the air core is configured to pass air through the air core when the projectile travels through air. 
     
     
         18 . The projectile of  claim 13 , wherein the air core is configured to collect a quantity of a material within the air core when the projectile penetrates and travels into the material. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile of  claim 18 , wherein the projectile is configured to tumble or wobble when the quantity of the material is within the air core of the projectile, and wherein the tumbling or wobbling comprises yawing and tilting of the projectile. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile of  claim 19 , wherein the projectile is configured to form an oversized cavity within the material based on the tumbling or wobbling of the projectile while the projectile travels through the material, the oversized cavity comprising a cavity having a diameter greater than a largest diameter of the cylindrical body.