Abstract: A solid projectile useful in a round of gun ammunition wherein, upon striking a target, the projectile selectively disintegrates, leaving intact at least one portion or appurtenance of the projectile which is recoverable for purpose of identification of rifling markings thereon and/or other analysis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of an ammunition projectile having enhanced properties relating to delivery of the projectile along its flight path from a weapon to, and upon striking, a target by reason of the formation of a meplat cavity in the leading end thereof which, from projectile to projectile, exhibits a uniform size, uniform geometry and which is free of extraneous material, and which is concentric with the centerline (spin axis) of the projectile. A round of ammunition is disclosed.

Abstract: A powder-based core having an outboard end, for a gun ammunition projectile, comprising a compressed quantity of a first powdered metal having a first melting point and a first density, and a second powdered metal having a melting point lower than the melting point of said first metal and a second density which is less than the density of said first metal, and a quantity of said second metal in solid form integrally formed with said outboard end of said core. A projectile formed from the core is disclosed.

Abstract: An ammunition projectile comprising a metal jacket containing a powder-based core incompletely filling the trailing end of the jacket, and a disc overlying the trailing end of the core within the jacket, the disc being frangible by reason of a plurality of indentations in at least one face of the disc. A method is claimed.

Abstract: A powder-based projectile useful in the manufacture of gun ammunition comprising a jacket having an inner volume which is tapered from a maximum diameter adjacent the open end of the jacket to a minimum diameter adjacent the closed end of the jacket and a core formed outside the jacket and having a complementary tapered geometry with respect to the inner volume of the jacket. Projections from the outer surface of the core are embedded within the inner wall of the jacket to enhance the spin stability of the jacket/core combination and to enhance the frangibility of the projectile upon it striking a target. A method for the manufacture of the projectile is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a projectile for small-bore weapons ammunition comprising the steps of producing a compact from a mixture of a heavy metal powder and a light metal powder at room temperature, and without further treatment of the compact, introducing the compact into a metal jacket, including pressing the compact into the jacket with a pressure sufficient to ensure substantially complete filling of a selected portion of the jacket by the compact. The compacts fill less that the entire volume of the jacket, leaving a portion of the jacket void of the compact. Prior to the pressing of the compact into the jacket, a disc having an outer diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said jacket adjacent the open end thereof is introduced into the jacket. Thereafter, that portion of the jacket adjacent its open end is infolded toward the longitudinal centerline of the jacket to at least substantially close the open end of the jacket.

Abstract: A frangible projectile for gun ammunition wherein the projectile includes a core 96 formed from one or more metal powders which are pressed into a self-supporting compact and incorporated into a metal jacket 10. The metal jacket is initially cup-shaped (generally cylindrical in overall geometry) with an open end 14 and a closed end 16. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the closed end of the jacket becomes the trailing end of the projectile. In another embodiment, the closed end of the jacket becomes the leading end of the projectile. In either embodiment, that surface 20 of the closed end 16 of the jacket which faces inwardly of the volume of the jacket is indented and stressed over substantially its entire area in accordance with a pattern of indentions 22 which enhances the frangibility of this closed end of the projectile when the projectile strikes a target.

Abstract: A method of forming a gun ammunition projectile 52 including a leading end defined by an ogive 53 including the steps of admixing a quantity of a first powdered metal having a first melting point and a first density, with a quantity of a second powdered metal having a second, and lower, melting point and a second, and lesser, density, pressing a quantity of the admixed metal powders into a self-supporting compact having at least an outboard end disposing the compact in a cup-shaped jacket, heating the compact in the jacket, in a vertical attitude, to a temperature of at least the melting point of the second metal but less than the melting point of the first metal, for a time sufficient to result in a liquefied portion of the second metal migrating to and accumulating at the one outboard end of the compact.

Abstract: An ammunition projectile comprising a metal jacket containing a powder-based core incompletely filling the trailing end of the jacket, and a disc overlying the trailing end of the core within the jacket, the disc being frangible by reason of a plurality of indentations in at least one face of the disc. A method is claimed.

Abstract: A frangible projectile for gun ammunition wherein the projectile includes a core 96 formed from one or more metal powders which are pressed into a self-supporting compact and incorporated into a metal jacket 10. The metal jacket is initially cup-shaped (generally cylindrical in overall geometry) with an open end 14 and a closed end 16. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the closed end of the jacket becomes the trailing end of the projectile. In another embodiment, the closed end of the jacket becomes the leading end of the projectile. In either embodiment, that surface 20 of the closed end 16 of the jacket which faces inwardly of the volume of the jacket is indented and stressed over substantially its entire area in accordance with a pattern of indentions 22 which enhances the frangibility of this closed end of the projectile when the projectile strikes a target.

Abstract: A frangible projectile for gun ammunition wherein the projectile includes a core formed from one or more metal powders which are pressed into a self-supporting compact and incorporated into a metal jacket. The metal jacket is initially cup-shaped (generally cylindrical in overall geometry) with an open end and a closed end. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the closed end of the jacket becomes the trailing end of the projectile. In another embodiment, the closed end of the jacket becomes the leading end of the projectile. In either embodiment, that surface of the closed end of the jacket which faces inwardly of the volume of the jacket is indented and stressed over substantially its entire area in accordance with a pattern which enhances the frangibility of this closed end of the projectile when the projectile strikes a target.

Abstract: A method by which the distribution of the particulates of a plurality of metal powders, the metals of each powder being of different densities, may be uniformly disbursed within a dry mixture of the powders and by which this uniform dispersion of the different density powders can be sustained through subsequent handling and/or storage of the mixture. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a quantity of each of a plurality of metal powders is admixed with a dry stabilizing non-metal powder. One particularly useful non-metal powder is a micronized polymer, preferably micronized polyethylene.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of heavy metal powder-based frangible projectiles which are relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which exhibit a selectable variety of desirable physical and/or performance properties. The projectiles of the present invention are powder-based, preferably including predominately tungsten powder as a heavy metal, particularly a tungsten powder which includes a predominate portion of finely sized particles. Lighter metal powders, also preferably having a predominate portion of finely sized particles, may be employed in combination with the tungsten to achieve certain desired results.