Rifle cartridge with improved bullet upset and separation

Abstract

A rifle cartridge with a bullet has desirable penetration capabilities and controlled separation of components upon terminal impact. In embodiments of the invention, the bullet comprises a forward component, a lead core, and a copper jacket. The lead jacket having a leading edge portion that extends to the cylindrical mid portion. The forward component may have a forward pointed ogive portion, a cylindrical mid portion, a mid ogive portion, and a pair of cylindrical portions separated by an annular groove. The jacket having a cannelure at the annular groove and the casing upper lip crimped into the cannelure.

20 . A rifle 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 bullet comprising:
 a forward component, the forward component comprising an exterior surface and at least one ogival portion;   a jacket, the forward component seated in the jacket, the jacket comprising a jacket exterior surface, a tapered surface extending from the jacket exterior surface to the exterior surface of the forward component, and a leading edge defined at a juncture of the jacket exterior surface and the tapered surface; and   a forward facing annular recess between the tapered surface of the jacket and the exterior surface of the forward component.   
     
     
         21 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , wherein the juncture of the jacket exterior surface and the tapered surface is at an angle of less than 70° extending rearwardly away from the leading edge. 
     
     
         22 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , wherein the leading edge portion of the jacket defines a radial width exposed axially when viewed from the front, the radial width being less than or substantially equal to a thickness of the jacket rearward of the tapered surface. 
     
     
         23 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , the forward facing annular recess being V-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         24 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , the tapered surface of the jacket being concave. 
     
     
         25 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , wherein the forward facing annular recess comprises an acute angle defined by the exterior surface of the forward component and the tapered surface of the jacket. 
     
     
         26 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , the at least one ogival portion comprising a forward ogival portion, a mid ogival portion, and a transition portion between the forward and mid ogival portions, and
 the jacket further comprises an interior surface terminating at a forward end at the tapered surface, the forward end positioned axially adjacent the transition portion,   wherein the leading edge portion of the jacket and the mid ogival portion of the forward component define the forward facing annular recess.   
     
     
         27 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 26 , the forward component further comprising a rearward cylindrical portion rearward of the mid ogival portion,
 wherein at least one of the rearward cylindrical portion and the transition portion comprises a forward taper of 5 degrees or less.   
     
     
         28 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 26 , the forward component further comprising a rearward cylindrical portion and a mid cylindrical portion rearward of the mid ogival portion,
 wherein a diameter of the mid cylindrical portion is greater than a diameter of the rear cylindrical portion, the diameter of the rear cylindrical portion is greater than a diameter of the transition portion, and the diameter of the rear cylindrical portion is within 1-5% of the diameter of the mid cylindrical portion.   
     
     
         29 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 26 , wherein the leading edge of the jacket is positioned rearward of the forward ogival portion. 
     
     
         30 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , the forward component further comprising a mid cylindrical portion between a rearward cylindrical portion and the at least one ogival portion, the mid cylindrical portion having a larger diameter than the rearward cylindrical portion, and
 the jacket comprises a thickness that reduces forwardly, the jacket being thicker at the rearward cylindrical portion than at the mid cylindrical portion.   
     
     
         31 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , the forward component further comprising an annular recessed portion between a rearward cylindrical portion and a mid cylindrical portion, the annular recessed portion comprising a radius that extends the entire longitudinal length of the annular recessed portion, and the annular recessed portion extends entirely circumferentially around the forward component, wherein the leading edge of the jacket is positioned axially closer to a forward tip of the forward component than to the annular recessed portion of the forward component. 
     
     
         32 . A method of manufacturing the rifle cartridge of  claim 31 , comprising:
 forming the annular recessed portion in the forward component;   subsequently deforming the jacket into the annular recessed portion to provide a cannelure; and   subsequently crimping the mouth of the casing into the cannelure.   
     
     
         33 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 31 , the casing comprising a forward lip positioned at the annular recessed portion of the forward component and engaging a cannelure in the jacket. 
     
     
         34 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , further comprising a core positioned rearwardly of the forward component, wherein the core comprises two or more separate portions, the portions being axially aligned with a separation plane therebetween. 
     
     
         35 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , further comprising a core positioned rearwardly of the forward component, the core and jacket being unitarily formed of the same material. 
     
     
         36 . The rifle cartridge of  claim 20 , the jacket further comprising skives extending axially on a forward portion of the jacket. 
     
     
         37 . A rifle bullet comprising:
 a forward component, the forward component comprising a forward tapering portion with a forward tip;   at least one core; and   a jacket that encompasses the at least one core and conforms to the forward component, the jacket having a leading edge spaced rearwardly from the forward tip and comprising a taper opposite that of the tapering portion of the forward component, the leading edge comprising a ring exposed axially when viewed from the front of the rifle bullet.   
     
     
         38 . The rifle bullet of  claim 37 , wherein the forward tapering portion comprises a forward ogival portion and a rearward ogival portion meeting at a transition portion,
 wherein the radius of curvature of the forward ogival portion is less that the radius of curvature of the rearward ogival portion.   
     
     
         39 . A rifle bullet comprising a forward component partially contained in a jacket, the forward component when viewed in cross section comprising a forward longitudinally extending first convex region and a second a region adjoining and rearward of the first convex region;
 the jacket comprising a tapered surface positioned adjacent the first convex region and terminating at a leading edge of the jacket, the tapered surface defining an annular scoop, wherein the annular scoop is exposed axially when viewed from the front of the rifle bullet.