Polymer capsule jacketed projectiles

Abstract

A polymer capsule jacketed projectile includes a preformed core enclosed by a nose capsule and a base capsule. The preformed core has an ogive region tapering into a core nose that is connected to a core base by the bearing surface. The nose capsule engages the base capsule around the bearing surface at a jacket joint to form the polymer capsule jacket. The outer surface of the polymer capsule jacket may be seamless, having no visible edges or protrusions, or a cannelure may be formed in the outer surface at the location of the jacket joint. The nose capsule and the base capsule are dip molded and the preformed core is pressed into engagement with both capsule pieces to form the polymer capsule jacketed projectile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymer jacketed projectile, comprising:
 a preformed core having an ogive region tapering into a nose and a rearward end defining a base, the ogive region connected to the base by a bearing surface;   a nose capsule enclosing the ogive region and extending to partially cover the bearing surface; and   a base capsule enclosing the base and extending forward to engage the nose capsule around the bearing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the nose capsule is in pressed engagement with a distal end of the base capsule to form a seamless polymer jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed core further comprises an annular groove defined around the bearing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the base capsule and the nose capsule are pressed together to engage the annular groove and form a polymer jacket. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer jacket forms a cannelure at a location of the annular groove in the core. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed core further comprises two or more vertical grooves defined in the bearing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 6 , wherein the base capsule and the nose capsule are pressed together to engage each of the two or more vertical grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 7 , wherein the base capsule and the nose capsule form a seamless polymer jacket. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose capsule comprises a forward taper defining an outer ogive region substantially matching the taper of the ogive region on the preformed core. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed core further comprises a boattail forming the base. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 10 , wherein the base capsule further comprises a rearward taper substantially matching the boattail of the preformed core. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed core comprises one or more compressed metal powders. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose capsule and the base capsule comprise one or more polymer materials. 
     
     
         14 . A method for manufacturing capsule jacketed projectiles, comprising:
 preforming a core having an ogive region tapering into a nose and a rearward end defining a base, wherein the ogive region and the base are connected by a bearing surface;   dip molding a nose capsule having a forward end tapering to a jacket nose and an open rearward end;   dip molding a base capsule having an open forward end and a closed rearward end defining a jacket base;   pressing the preformed core into the nose capsule so that the nose engages the jacket nose;   pressing the preformed core engaged to the nose capsule into the base capsule so that the base engages the jacket base forming a loose capsule jacketed projectile; and   die pressing the loose capsule jacketed projectile into an ogive sizing die to lock the nose capsule into engagement with the base capsule around the bearing surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the die pressing step forms a seamless polymer jacket enclosing the core. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein preforming the core further comprises defining an annular groove around the bearing surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein pressing the preformed core into the nose capsule causes a proximal edge of the open rearward end to align with a proximal edge of the annular groove. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein pressing the preformed core into the base capsule causes an edge of the open forward end to align with a distal edge of the annular groove and be enclosed by proximal edge of the nose capsule. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the die pressing step melds the open rearward end with the open forward end around the annular groove to form a cannelure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising trimming each of the capsule jacketed bullets to a length required for a standard bullet of equivalent caliber and profile.