Abstract: A sabot and shotshell combination includes a bullet, a shotshell hull, propellant, a shotshell primer, wadding, and a sabot comprising a molded member having a base portion and a plurality of petal portions each extending from a proximal base root to a distal tip, the base and petals defining a volume for accommodating a bullet. A reinforcement is at least partially embedded in the base, the reinforcement being more rigid than the molded member and having a plurality of apertures with the base portion extending through at least one of the apertures to retain the reinforcement within the molded member upon firing.

Abstract: A projectile according to exemplary embodiments generally includes a jacket with nose, middle, and heel portions. The nose portion includes a forward cavity. The heel portion includes a rearward cavity having sidewalls. A dense core is within the rearward cavity and bonded to the sidewalls. Upon upset of the projectile, the portion of the jacket forming the forward cavity peels generally back toward the heel portion thereby forming petals, and the sidewalls and the dense core axially compress and radially expand to define a bulge portion, with the jacket material substantially covering the dense core material thereby inhibiting exposure of the dense core material to the upset media.

Abstract: A bullet includes at least a mid core and a rear core in tandem alignment. The hardness of the mid core is greater than the hardness of the rear core. A jacket envelops both the mid core and the rear core. The jacket has a generally cylindrical sidewall, which is in contact with the mid core, and a boat-tail, which is in contact with the rear core. The rear core is substantially contained within the boat-tail. The mid core and the rear core may be substantially lead-free. In one embodiment, the bullet includes a front core in tandem alignment with the rear core and in contact with a nose portion of the jacket. In another embodiment, the mid core extends from the nose portion of the bullet to the boat-tail.

Abstract: The present invention is a controlled expansion projectile (20) having a bonded rear core and includes a metal jacket (22), a dense core (24), and a tip (26). Metal jacket (22) includes a nose portion (28), a middle portion (30), and a heel portion (32). Nose portion (28) includes a front cavity (34) and heel portion (32) includes a rear cavity (36) defined by sidewalls (40), an open end (42), and heel (44). Dense core (24) is typically formed from lead but may be formed from lead compounds or other heavy metals. Dense core (24) may be enclosed in rear cavity (36) using a closure disc (48) joined with heel (44) to seal open end (42). Dense core (24) is joined with sidewalls (40) thereby forming a bond (52). Bond (52) may be a metallurgical bond (54), a mechanical bond (56), or an adhesive bond (58). Tip (26) is at least partially inserted in front cavity (34). Sidewalls (40) of rear cavity (36) are softened during either a metallurgical bonding process or other processes.

Abstract: A plastic, cup-shaped, multi-petal sabot housing a sub-caliber projectile for use such as in shotgun cartridges. The sabot engages the rifling of the shotgun barrel and transfers the spin to the projectile. A reinforcement disk is advantageously at least partially embedded in a sabot base and has a central aperture and a plurality of additional apertures. Sabot base material extends through the additional apertures. Advantageously, in its relaxed condition, each sabot petal includes a protrusion from its inboard surface for engaging a projectile ogive. The protrusion and its contact area with the projectile are fractions of the local petal width.

Abstract: A bullet includes a frontward facing aperture. Contained within the aperture is a relatively hard bullet frontal element that provides advantageous bullet impact performance. In one embodiment, the frontal element is a steel sphere that provides advantageous penetration and weight retention when the bullet impacts laminated glass., such as an automobile windshield.

Abstract: A bullet includes a frontward facing aperture. Contained within the aperture is a relatively hard bullet frontal element that provides advantageous bullet impact performance. In one embodiment, the frontal element is a steel sphere that provides advantageous penetration and weight retention when the bullet impacts laminated glass, such as an automobile windshield.

Abstract: A bullet includes a frontward facing aperture. Contained within the aperture is a relatively hard bullet frontal element that provides advantageous bullet impact performance. In one embodiment, the frontal element is a steel sphere that provides advantageous penetration and weight retention when the bullet impacts laminated glass., such as an automobile windshield.