Frangible bullet

Abstract

A frangible hollow point bullet is disclosed. The bullet (or slug) is formed from a frangible material such as sintered copper to provide a bullet-shaped body. A plurality of coaxial, substantially cylindrical cavities having progressively decreasing bore diameters are formed in the nose of the bullet-shaped body, extending rearwardly therefrom, to provide a bullet that both expands and fragments in a semicontrolled fashion upon impact with a target. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the coaxial cavities is multiply scored to provide a substantially symmetric fragmentation pattern and a controlled and uniform fragment size. Controlling the aggregate depth of the coaxial cavities enables the retention of a recoverable base or shank that is suitable for ballistic investigation following bullet impact. Bullets and slugs, made in accordance with the present invention, have standard calibers and, when incorporated into conventional cartridges and shotgun shell casings respectively, may be fired at subsonic, sonic or supersonic velocities by conventional weapons.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to ammunition and more particularly to hollow point bullets or slugs and pellets comprising a cartridge or similar projectile propulsion device.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Recent events, particularly the hijacking of airplanes by terrorists and the subsequent loss of life in the United States of America, most notably in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, have generated a need for new ideas for preventing airplane hijacking. For example, it has been proposed that one or more armed air marshals accompany scheduled airline flights to intervene in the event of an attempted hijacking. Another proposed solution is to arm pilots with weapons capable of selectively and accurately dispensing lethal force against a hijacker. A disadvantage with discharging a conventional weapon on an airplane wherein prior art bullets are the projectile is the danger posed by the bullet passing through the hijacker and striking another person or causing damage to the avionics.

[0005] The nose portion of a hollow point bullet expands upon impact with a target media thereby increasing the energy transfer capabilities of the bullet. Typically, this expansion results in a number of petals of metal being formed as the nose portion folds back upon itself, thereby increasing the effective diameter of the bullet. This expansion and resultant petal formation is referred to as “mushrooming.” A hollow point bullet may be solid or jacketed. A solid bullet typically comprises a solid piece of metal, such as lead or copper. A jacketed bullet typically comprises a lead core surrounded by a harder metal, such as brass. The jacket is relatively hard and slick, compared to the lead of the core, so the bullet is more resistant to mechanical deformation by the action of the gun as compared to the solid bullet.

[0006] Swank, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,749, discloses a bullet comprising a slug of generally solid material having an outer surface and a leading end portion having a cavity therein. A plurality of grooves are formed on the outer surface of the end portion. The end portion of the slug is contoured so that the bullet has a predetermined shape. A plurality of slits may be formed through at least a portion of each of the plurality of grooves. Preferably, the plurality of grooves and slits are formed substantially simultaneously. The slits are formed around a peripheral edge of the leading end portion of the slug. A plurality of projections, may be formed which extend into the cavity adjacent to the slits. Each of the slits may be formed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the slug to form each of the projections. The cavity in the leading end portion has a truncated cone geometry. Hollow Point (HP) projectiles can expand too quickly, resulting in poor penetration, or can only partially expand, leading to over penetration of a target and reduced energy transfer to the target. In addition, hollow point bullets can fail to expand, leading to severe over penetration or pass through.

[0007] Benini, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,798, discloses a frangible bullet and a method for making it. The frangible bullet is formed from a mixture of metal particles and metal or metalloid binder material which is compacted into the desired shape and heated to a target temperature. The target temperature is selected such that it is above the temperature required to form at least one intermetallic compound (but below the temperature of joining of the metal particles by sintering), and below the temperature of formation of substantial amounts of a ductile alloy of the metal of the particles and the metal or metalloid binder material. The bullet is then cooled. When such articles are formed into bullets and fired at a target possessed of substantial mass, they have sufficient strength to maintain their integrity during firing but disintegrate into powder on impact. In addition, the bullet may comprise a variety of metals other than lead.

[0008] Huffman, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,894, discloses an armor-piercing frangible bullet, and provides a historic summary of bullet development as well as a summary of test data obtained for commercially available small arms ammunition. In particular applications, it may be desirable to provide a hollow point, frangible bullet that can be subjected to ballistic inspection following impact with a target. Ballistic testing of a bullet requires that a substantial portion adjacent the base of a bullet (i.e., a shank) remain intact when presented for testing. Thus, it is desirable to provide a bullet that may be designed to possess attributes of both hollow point and frangible bullets and which, upon impact with a target, retains a recoverable shank of predetermined size that is suitable for ballistic characterization and identification.

[0009] Most ammunition projectiles, particularly the newer non-lead frangible projectiles, perform poorly in the sub-sonic range. Many ammunition manufacturers use high velocities to enhance the frangibility (break up) of the bullet upon impact. Prior art frangible projectiles can fail to fragment if the chemical process used to make the bullet is not carefully controlled. In addition, such frangible bullets operate best when fired at very high velocities, and are loaded by ammunition manufacturers at high pressures. Further, the fragmentation pattern is random and generally forms asymmetric clusters with respect to the direction of the primary wound channel.

[0010] While both frangible bullets and mushrooming hollow point bullets are known in the art, and wherein each has unique attributes that recommend it for specific situations, there continues to be a present and urgent need for improved bullets that can be fired by conventional weapons such as pistols and will minimize the danger of collateral damage in the event of a hijacking or similar situation wherein shoot-through injuries to innocent non-target people is probable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a frangible hollow point bullet adapted to be used in conventional small arms cartridges.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a bullet meeting the primary objective, set forth above, wherein a shank portion of the bullet that is suitable for ballistic analysis is recoverable after impact of the bullet with a target.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a frangible hollow point bullet that fragments on impact with a target and wherein the size of the fragments is substantially controllable and uniform.

[0014] It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a frangible bullet that fragments upon impact with a target and wherein the spatial distribution of bullet fragments is substantially symmetric through a solid angle centered on the trajectory of the bullet prior to impact with the target.

[0015] The above objectives of the invention are met by a substantially bullet-shaped projectile having a leading end, a trailing end and a frangible body portion therebetween. The projectile has a hollow cavity opening onto the leading end of the body portion and extending rearwardly therefrom into the body portion. In a first preferred embodiment, the hollow cavity comprises a plurality of coaxial cylindrical cavities, wherein the diameter of each rearwardly adjacent cylindrical cavity comprising the hollow cavity decreases stepwise, in discrete increments, in a direction rearward of said leading end. In the first preferred embodiment of the projectile, at least one of the cylindrical cavities has a cavity wall bearing stress risers thereon. In a most preferred embodiment of the projectile, all of the cylindrical cavities comprising the hollow cavity have a pattern of stress risers on the wall thereof. Examples of suitable patterns of stress risers include a diamond-shaped pattern of grooves, a plurality of parallel grooves, a plurality of horizontal and or vertical grooves and so forth. The depth of the hollow cavity relative to the axial length of the projectile can be varied to control the fragmentation pattern and the size of the intact, recoverable base or shank. The inclusion of stress risers within the hollow cavity provides means for controlling fragment size upon impact. In a second preferred embodiment of the projectiles, the cavity in the leading end of the projectile comprises a plurality of concentric conical cavities having decreasing diameter in the direction of the trailing end of the projectile. Preferred projectiles include bullets and shotgun slugs and pellets. In an embodiment of a shotgun slug having a hollow cavity in the rearward trailing end thereof, the wall of the hollow cavity includes stress risers thereon. The outer lateral surface of the projectile is preferably smooth but may be scored to bear a pattern. In all embodiments, the leading end of the hollow cavity may be conically flared outwardly.

[0016] The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. However the invention itself, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cartridge comprising a bullet in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2 wherein the cartridge is center firing.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2 wherein the cartridge is rim firing.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a frangible hollow point bullet having two coaxial cavities in accordance with a two-cavity embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross-secional view of a frangible hollow point bullet having three coaxial cavities in accordance with a three-cavity embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a three-cavity embodiment of a frangible, hollow point bullet wherein the walls of the cavities have been skived to provide a grooved, diamond-like pattern thereon.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a three-cavity frangible, hollow point shotgun slug wherein the three cavities have been skived by a tap to produce a plurality of parallel slanting grooves on the cavity walls.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a multicavity, frangible, hollow point bullet illustrating a variety of stress riser patterns skived on the respective cavity walls.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a cross-secional view of a frangible hollow point bullet having three coaxial conical cavities in accordance with a three-conical cavity embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a cross-secional view of a frangible hollow point bullet having three coaxial conical cavities in accordance with a three-conical cavity embodiment of the present invention wherein the walls of the conical cavities are skived.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a frangible hollow point bullet having three coaxial conical cavities in accordance with a three-conical cavity embodiment of the present invention wherein the walls of one or more of the respective conical cavities are indented.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a wad used to propel one or more projectiles such as pellets from a shotgun shell wherein the wad comprises a compressible trailing portion and a cup-shaped leading portion that is slit.

[0029] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a wad used to propel one or more projectiles such as pellets from a shotgun shell similar to the wad shown in FIG. 12 wherein the wad comprises a compressible trailing portion and a cup-shaped leading portion that is only partially slit.

[0030] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a wad similar to the wads shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 but wherein the wad comprises a compressible trailing portion and a cup-shaped leading portion that is unslit and contains a foam or a gel.

[0031] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a wad used to propel one or more projectiles such as pellets from a shotgun shell wherein the wad comprises a noncompressible trailing portion and a cup-shaped leading portion that contains compacted particles.

[0032] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a wad used to propel one or more projectiles such as pellets from a shotgun shell wherein the wad comprises a noncompressible trailing portion and a leading portion that contains a foam or a gel.

[0033] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a wad used to propel one or more projectiles such as pellets from a shotgun shell wherein the wad comprises a noncompressible trailing portion and a noncompressible, unslit leading portion.

[0034] FIGS. 18-23 are illustrative of the manner in which the surface morphology of shotgun shell pellets can be modified to produce different effects prior to, during and after impact with a target.

[0035] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of a hollow point shotgun shell projectile or slug wherein an insert within the trailing end of the projectile comprises one or more straight fins to stabilize the trajectory of the slug.

[0036] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a hollow point shotgun shell projectile wherein an insert within the trailing end of the projectile comprises one or more angled fins to rotate the projectile and stabilize the trajectory of the slug.

[0037] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a hollow point shotgun shell projectile wherein an insert within the trailing end of the projectile comprises one or more curved fins to rotate the projectile and stabilize the trajectory of the slug.

[0038] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a shotgun shell having a compressible wad and a plurality of pellets with cavities therein embedded within a gel or a foam.

[0039] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a shotgun shell comprising a compressible wad and a helically finned, hollow point projectile having a conical double cavity with indentations in a leading end thereof.

[0040] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a shotgun shell having a compressible wad and a plurality of hollow point bullets, with or without scoring, laterally enclosed in a sabot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] A cartridge 10 comprising a frangible, three-cavity, hollow point bullet 11 in accordance with a three-cavity embodiment of the present invention is shown in side elevational view in FIG. 1. The cartridge 10 includes a case 12 encasing explosive material for expelling the bullet 11 from the case 12. The case 12 has a leading end 13 which houses the bullet 11 and a trailing end 14 housing a primer 21 (FIG. 2) that explodes upon mechanical impact.

[0042] Turning now to FIG. 2, the cartridge 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in cross-sectional view, taken along section line 2-2. If the cartridge 10 is center firing, the primer 21 is axially disposed on the trailing end 14 of the case 12 as shown. Forward of the primer is an explosive charge 22 such as gunpowder. A bullet 11 is pressure fitted into the leading end 13 of the case 12. The bullet 11 has three cylindrical, coaxial cavities in the nose thereof: an outer cavity 23, a middle cavity 24 and an inner cavity 25, the respective cavities having progressively smaller diameters. A rim fire cartridge 30 is shown in cross-sectional view in FIG. 3. The construction of the cartridge 30 is similar to the cartridge 10 of FIG. 1 except that primer 21 is incorporated into the trailing end 14 of the case.

[0043] A key feature of all embodiments of the frangible bullet of the present invention is the presence of more than one coaxial cavity in the nose of the bullet, such as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, and/or the presence of a scored pattern on the wall of at least one cavity. Prior art hollow point bullets, such as described earlier, have grooves on the outer surface of the nose of the bullet to provide controlled mushrooming. The present inventors have found that for hollow point frangible bullets, the fragmentation pattern can be controlled by skiving the wall of one or more of the cavities comprising the hollow point. The skived pattern may take any of the forms shown in FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 6 shows a three-cavity embodiment of a frangible, hollow point bullet having a diamond-shaped pattern skived on the cavity walls. FIG. 7 shows a three-cavity embodiment of a frangible, hollow point slug 70 for a shotgun shell having a diagonal set of parallel grooves skived on the cavity walls and a diagonal set of parallel grooves in a rearward cavity 71. FIG. 8 illustrated a four-cavity embodiment 80 of a frangible, hollow point bullet having a pattern comprising a plurality of parallel diagonal grooves 81, a plurality of vertical grooves 82, a plurality of horizontal grooves 83 and a diamond-shaped pattern 84 skived on the respective cavity walls. While particular skived patterns are illustrated on the cavity wall, such patterns are provided for the purpose of example. It is contemplated that other patterns may also be skived on the wall of a cavity.

[0044] When drilling, molding, or otherwise creating the cavities in a frangible bullet of the present invention wherein uniform fragment size is an important consideration, and the (multiple) cavities have different diameters and depths, the bore/depth ratio of the cavity is limited. If the cavities are drilled too deep, fragment size may be nonuniform, and the accuracy of the bullet is reduced. The use of multiple cavities in the nose of a bullet, each cavity having a moderate depth and bore diameter, provides a more uniform fragment size. In addition, by increasing the number of cavity sizes employed to create the hollow point, the greater the effectiveness of the stress risers (i.e., the pattern of grooves on the cavity walls) for controlling fragmentation of the bullet. Bullet stability (accuracy) can be adversely affected by an excessive number of cavities in order to minimize the size of the residual base or shank. Reduction of the residual base (shank) to a minimum mass (even to zero) can be achieved with multiple diameter holes, however a loss of bullet accuracy may occur. The inclusion of stress risers on the interior wall of the cavity(ies) of a frangible bullet in accordance with the present invention, by scoring, forming or skiving a pattern of grooves thereon, or forming a pattern of indented “dimples” thereon greatly enhance the uniformity of fragment size upon impact. The leading end of the hollow cavity may be conically flared. A hollow point projectile having a hollow, axially symetric cavity that comprises three cylindrical cavities with decreasing bore diameters, that include stress risers on the cavity walls, provides a controllable breakup pattern as desired. Since the fragmentation of a frangible, multicavity hollow point bullet in accordance with the present invention will not substantially extend rearwardly of the axial cavity, the residual mass of the base (shank) can be determined by the total depth of the cavity.

[0045] The embodiments of a frangible bullet described herein allows consistent and controllable performance as to penetration, frangibility, and fragment size and shape for hollow point bullets comprised of various materials at sub-sonic, sonic, and super-sonic velocities and in various ammunition types. The frangible bullet/projectile in accordance with the present invention may comprise, but is not limited to any sintered, unsintered, cold compacted, cast, or cured bullets. Frangible, hollow point bullets in accordance with the present invention have an axially symmetric hollow cavity comprising a pattern of intersecting (diamond pattern) and/or non-intersecting stress risers skived or otherwise formed on the cavity wall. The shape of the nose cavity and pattern of the stress risers can be used to pre-determine fragment size, fragmentation pattern and action. In addition, the leading end of the hollow cavity may be conically flared without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0046] With reference now to FIGS. 9-11, a bullet 11 having a plurality of conical cavities in a leading end thereof is illustrated in cross-sectional view. FIG. 9 illustrates a bullet 11 having two coaxial conical cavities 90 and 91 in the leading end thereof. The innermost cavity 90 has a smaller outer diameter than the outermost cavity 91 with a step 94 therebetween. The advantage of hollow point bullets having conical recesses therein is that the cavities 90 and 91, as well as the flared leading edge 92, can be easily molded into the bullet during the manufacturing process. The walls 93 of the cavities 90 and 91 are smooth in FIG. 9, skived 100 in FIG. 10, or may bear a pattern of indentations as shown at 110 in FIG. 11. The skiving 100 and indentations 110 can be formed in the wall of cavities 90 and 91 by molding (the skived pattern) or by forcing a conical scoring tool thereinto (indentations).

[0047] When constructing shotgun shells, a thickness of wadding material is normally interposed between the projectile(s) and the powder propellant. Some examples of a suitable wadding material in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention are illustrated in cross-sectional view at numeral 120 in FIGS. 12-17. With reference to FIG. 12, a thickness of wadding 120 comprises a compressible portion 121 housed within a substantially noncompressible cup portion 122. The noncompressible cup portion, usually plastic, may have at least one slit 123 therein to permit the cup-shaped leading portion of the wad to open when it is ejected from the shell, thereby increasing its cross-sectional area and slowing it down to lag behind the projectile(s) (not shown in FIGS. 12-17) housed therewithin after the wad leaves the barrel of a shotgun. The depth of the slit 123 as well as the number of slits may be varied in order to control the pattern of pellets propelled from the shotgun shell. An example of a wadding 120 that comprises a compressible portion 121 and a noncompressible cup portion 122 that has partial slit(s) 123 therein is illustrated in cross-sectional view in FIG. 13, and a shotgun shell having an unslit noncompressible cup portion filled with a foam or gel 163 and a compressible portion 121 is shown in FIG. 14.

[0048] The wad 120 may also comprise a noncompressible portion 151 and a noncompressible cup-shaped portion 122 as shown in FIGS. 15-17. The pellets 152 may be packed in the noncompressible cup-shaped portion 122 with a particle buffer 153 or a foam or gel buffer 163 therebetween as shown in FIG. 16, or with no buffer therebetween as shown in FIG. 17. For clarity, the pellets are not shown in FIGS. 12-17. As with the previous embodiments of a wad shown in FIGS. 12-14, the cup portion 122 may be slit, partially slit or unslit, depending on the application.

[0049] Examples of frangible pellets that are suitable for use as projectiles that can be housed within the noncompressible cup portion 122 of a shotgun shell are shown in plan view in FIGS. 18-23. A pellet having a plurality of dimples 180 in the surface thereof is shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 19 shows a pellet having three orthogonal bores 190 drilled therethrough. FIG. 20 shows a pellet having a plurality of conical cavities 200 in the surface thereof. The wall of the cavities 200 may be smooth, skived or bear indentations thereon. A pellet having two orthogonal circumferential grooves 210 on the surface thereof is illustrated in FIG. 21. FIG. 22 shows a pellet having an outer surface bearing a pattern such as polygons 220 or similar geometric patterns. A pellet having a plurality of cylindrical cavities 230 in the surface thereof is illustrated in FIG. 23. Again, as with the pellet shown in FIG. 20, the wall of the cavities can be smooth, skived or bear indentations thereon. Such modifications of the pellet surface as, for example, shown in FIGS. 18-23, can be used to alter the aerodynamic behavior of the pellet(s) and/or serve as stress risers to establish a predetermined pattern of disintegration of the pellet(s) upon impact with a target.

[0050] The aerodynamic behavior of hollow point projectiles such as the shotgun slug 240 illustrated in FIG. 24, or the solid-nosed shotgun slugs 250 illustrated in cross-sectional view in FIGS. 25 and 26, may be modified by the addition of fins to the trailing end thereof. With reference now to FIG. 24, a hollow point shotgun slug 240 has a pair of conical cavities 91 and 90 coaxially disposed on a leading end of a body 245 and an insert 241 affixed to a cavity 242 in a trailing end of the body 245 by means of an adhesive 243. The trailing end of the insert 241 has a plurality of fins 244 projecting rearwardly therefrom that serve to stabilize the trajectory of the slug 240 through the air. A solid-point slug is indicated at 250 in FIG. 25 having an insert 241 that screws into the cavity 242, a thread 251 providing means for attaching the insert 241 to the body 245 of the slug 250. The insert 241 has a plurality of tilted fins projecting rearwardly therefrom to impart rotary motion to the slug 250. FIG. 26 shows a slug similar to the slug illustrated in FIG. 25 but wherein the fins 262 are helical and project rearwardly from the slug to impart rotary motion thereto when propelled through the air. The insert is attached to the body 245 by means of a “C-ring” or hog ring 261 that fits within an annular groove 260 in the body 245. It will be understood and appreciated by the artisan that finned inserts can be used with either hollow point or solid point bullets and that various methods may be used to attach the fins to the body of the slug.

[0051] An example of a shotgun shell 270 comprising a plurality of pellets such as plain spherical pellets or the novel pellets illustrated in FIGS. 18-23 is shown in cross-sectional view in FIG. 27. The shotgun shell 270 comprises a case 271 having a base 272 that supports an impact-ignitable primer 273. A charge of explosive 274 is disposed between the primer 273 and a compressible wad 275. A plurality of pellets 276 embedded in a foam or a gel 277 is disposed between the wad 275 and the leading end of the case 271. A further example of a shotgun shell in accordance with the present invention is indicated at numeral 280 in FIG. 28. As with the shotgun shell 270, discussed above, the shotgun shell 280 comprises a case 271 having a trailing end 272 that supports a primer 273, and houses an explosive charge 274 and a wad 275. A hollow point slug having double conical cavities 90 and 91 in a leading end thereof is disposed between the wad 275 and the open leading end of the case. The slug 281 has a finned insert 241 affixed via threads to a cavity in the trailing end of the slug. The helical fins 262 cause the slug 281 to spin when fired.

[0052] A further application of the frangible, hollow point projectiles of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 29. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a shotgun shell 290 having a wad 120 comprising a compressible portion 121, a noncompressible cylindrical sabot 293 and a plurality of hollow point slugs 294 and 295 bounded laterally by the sabot 293 within the shell 290. The sabot 293 is a tubular sleeve, usually plastic, having a slit 297 coextensive with the length thereof and an axial bore 296 equal to the outer diameter of the slugs or bullets 294 and 295. The sabot enables small diameter projectiles to be fired from a gun having a larger bore.

[0053] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the lateral outer surface of any of the frangible, hollow point projectiles disclosed herein may be scored or otherwise patterned. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A substantially bullet-shaped projectile comprising a body having a leading end, a trailing end and a frangible body portion therebetween, and a plurality of cavities having cylindrical walls extending rearwardly into said body portion from said leading end, the diameter of said cylindrical walls of each cavity comprising said plurality of cavities being progressively smaller in a direction rearward of said leading end.

2. The projectile in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of grooves on said cylindrical wall of at least one of said plurality of cavities.

3. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said projectile is a bullet.

4. The projectile of claim 2 wherein said projectile is a bullet.

5. The projectile in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of grooves on said cylindrical wall of each cavity comprising said plurality of cavities.

6. The projectile of claim 5 wherein said projectile is a bullet.

7. A projectile in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body portion has a smooth outer surface.

8. A projectile in accordance with claim 2 wherein said body portion has a smooth outer surface.

9. A substantially bullet-shaped projectile having a leading end, a trailing end and a frangible body portion therebetween, and a hollow cavity in said leading end of said body portion, said hollow cavity comprising a plurality of coaxial cylindrical cavities extending rearwardly into said body portion from said leading end, the diameter of each cylindrical cavity comprising said plurality of cavities decreasing stepwise in discrete increments in a direction rearward of said leading end.

10. A projectile in accordance with claim 9 wherein at least one said cylindrical cavity comprising said hollow cavity has a cavity wall bearing stress risers thereon.

11. A cartridge comprising a projectile in accordance with claim 9.

12. A cartridge comprising a projectile in accordance with claim 10.

13. A substantially bullet-shaped projectile having a leading end, a trailing end and a frangible body portion therebetween, and a hollow cavity in said leading end of said body portion, said hollow cavity comprising a plurality of coaxial conical cavities extending rearwardly into said body portion from said leading end, the diameter of each conical cavity comprising said plurality of cavities decreasing stepwise in discrete increments in a direction rearward of said leading end.

14. A projectile in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least one said conical cavity comprising said hollow cavity has a cavity wall bearing stress risers thereon.

15. A cartridge comprising a projectile in accordance with claim 13.

16. A cartridge comprising a projectile in accordance with claim 14.

17. A shotgun shell comprising a plurality of pellets wherein each pellet comprising said plurality of pellets has an exterior surface with a plurality of cavities thereon.

18. A shotgun shell comprising a plurality of pellets embedded within a foam or a gel.

19. A shotgun shell comprising a projectile having a leading end and a trailing end wherein said trailing end has a plurality of fins attached thereto.