Multi-piece projectile

Abstract

A two-piece firearm projectile includes a jacket and a penetrator. The proximal end portion of the penetrator is received in and mates with a corresponding recess defined in the inside surface of the jacket. A three-piece projectile includes a jacket, a slug, and a penetrator. The slug and at least part of the penetrator are encased by the jacket, where the slug is positioned between the base of the jacket and the proximal end of the penetrator. The proximal end of the penetrator overlaps axially and mates with the distal end of the slug. In one example, a frustoconical end of the penetrator is received in and mates with a frustoconical recess in the distal end of the slug or the jacket as the case may be.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm projectile comprising:
 a jacket extending along a central axis, an inside surface of the jacket defining a recess aligned with the central axis; and   a penetrator extending along the central axis and at least partially retained in the jacket, the penetrator having a proximal end portion received in the recess and having a shape corresponding to the recess, wherein an interface between the proximal end portion of the penetrator and the recess is non-planar and where the recess axially overlaps the proximal end portion of the penetrator.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the recess and the proximal end portion each includes a conical taper. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal end portion defines a frustocone. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 3 , wherein a base of the frustocone is smaller than a body of the penetrator immediately adjacent the base. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrator has a body portion of a first diameter along the inside surface of the jacket and wherein the proximal end portion defines a protrusion extending axially from the body and having a second diameter less than the first diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 5 , wherein the second diameter reduces moving proximally along the protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 5 , wherein the protrusion is cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket completely encases the penetrator. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket comprises copper. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the penetrator comprises in majority part one of steel, tungsten, and titanium. 
     
     
         11 . A firearm projectile comprising:
 a jacket extending along a central axis, the jacket having a closed base and defining a cavity;   a slug in the cavity and contacting an inside distal surface of the closed base of the jacket, wherein a distal end of the slug defines a recess aligned with the central axis; and   a penetrator extending along the central axis and at least partially retained in the jacket, the penetrator having a proximal end portion received in the recess and having a shape corresponding to the recess, wherein an interface between the proximal end portion of the penetrator and the recess is non-planar and the recess axially overlaps the proximal end portion of the penetrator.   
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 11 , wherein the recess and the proximal end portion each includes a conical taper. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile of  claim 12 , wherein the proximal end portion defines a frustocone. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile of  claim 13 , wherein a base of the frustocone is smaller than a body of the penetrator immediately adjacent the base. 
     
     
         15 . The projectile of  claim 11 , wherein the penetrator has a body portion of a first diameter along the inside surface of the jacket and wherein the proximal end portion defines a protrusion extending axially from the body and having a second diameter less than the first diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The projectile of  claim 15 , wherein the second diameter reduces moving proximally along the protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The projectile of  claim 15 , wherein the protrusion is cylindrical. 
     
     
         18 . The projectile of  claim 11 , wherein the jacket completely encases the penetrator. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile of  claim 11 , wherein the jacket comprises copper, wherein the penetrator comprises in majority part one of steel, tungsten, and titanium. 
     
     
         20 . A rifle cartridge comprising the projectile of  claim 11 .