MECHANICALLY ADAPTABLE PROJECTILE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

A mechanically adaptable projectile includes, in one example embodiment, a projectile body, the body including structure adapted to secure thereto one of multiple projectile components, and multiple projectile components each sized to be releasably secured to the projectile body, each of the multiple projectile components structurally dissimilar from all others of the multiple projectile components.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Projectiles, such as bullets and missiles, may be fired from a variety of delivery devices such as hand guns, rifles, rocket launchers, and the like. Each projectile will have penetration, fracturing and other characteristics particular to that type and make of projectile. An end user may purchase a projectile based on the penetration, fracturing and other characteristics of the projectiles available for sale. However, the end user is not able to customize projectiles to achieve particular characteristics as may be desired. There is a need, therefore, for a projectile that may be mechanically adapted by an end user so as to achieve desired penetration, fracturing or other characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Mechanically Adaptable Projectile of the present invention can be propelled from a cartridge, shell, or vessel by various means, to include but not limited to, explosion, air, spring, magnetic energy, vacuum, or gravity for the purpose of using the projectile for impacting objects in applications similar to, but not limited to, hunting, law enforcement use of force and tactics, target practice, self defense, firearms training and recreational shooting. The projectile will generally be created in the form and shape of a bullet, missile, or ballistic projectile of many different dimensions to be used in firearms and launching devices of a variety of styles to include, but not limited to, rifled and smooth bore firearms, rail guns, tubes, and devices used for launching or firing projectiles. Using a series of Core Projectile Module the manufacturer can customize the projectiles by adding or omitting Interchangeable Component that will alter the size, mass, shape, internal ballistics, external ballistics, and mechanical characteristics of the projectile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exterior schematic view of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a mechanically adaptable projectile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definition as used in this description include: Mechanics (Mechanically, Mechanical)—deals with the action of forces on the bodies and with motion, comprised of kinetics, statics, and dynamics; Reactive Qualities—How the projectile reacts when striking a target medium; Mechanical Characteristics—The relationship of the reactive qualities and mechanics; and, Mechanical Design—Visible characteristics of the component.

The present invention is novel in the ammunition and gun related industry by introducing manufacturer and end user adaptability and customization to a range of projectiles that may be used in modern rifles, pistols, guns and other projectile launching devices.

A first embodiment includes a Core Projectile Module of varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than that of water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water; tensile strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch; compressive strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch; and a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.3. The Core Projectile Module is capable of being fitted with Interchangeable Components (See FIGS. 1-10, as will be discussed in detail below), or of being used as a projectile in many of its basic unaltered forms. The design of the Core Projectile Module may include varying mechanical designs to facilitate a range of mechanically adaptable options depending on the intended use of the projectile. In one embodiment, The Interchangeable Component may be added or omitted to alter the rate of fracturing. The Core Projectile Module has its own mechanical qualities that may be altered by the Interchangeable Component. Altering the rate of fracture will predictably alter the depth of penetration and propagation of pressure waves upon impact with a given medium, therein maximizing the intensity of ballistic pressure waves relative to a specified animal target; causing remote cerebral effects as well as remote effects on the spine and internal organs of an animal. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “hydrostatic shock.” The present invention is specifically designed to embody chosen qualities and characteristics to efficiently deliver a hydraulic reaction and explosive effects on tissue and organs. The Interchangeable Components enable the manufacturer or the end user to customize the round to perform differently according to varying distances, varying weights and varying hide thickness of different animals.

A second embodiment includes a Core Projectile Module of varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than that of water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water, tensile strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch, compressive strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch, and a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.3. The Core Projectile Module is capable of being fitted with Interchangeable Components (See FIGS. 1-10), or of being used as a projectile in many of its basic unaltered forms. The design of the Core Projectile Module may include varying mechanical designs to facilitate a range of mechanically adaptable options depending on the intended use of the projectile. The Core Projectile Module is specifically designed to embody chosen qualities and characteristics to propagate energy efficiently enough to induce ballistic shock waves through the target medium, causing the target medium to react violently to the ballistic pressure waves with or without the use of the Interchangeable Components. The unique utilization of the described materials, varied manufacturing and assembly methods, varied velocities, varied sizes, and varied designs of Interchangeable Components enables the creation of a wide variety of projectile design combinations. This novel feature will allow the manufacturer or end user to create a projectile that efficiently and predictably penetrates and propagates energy into specified target mediums. The manufacturer can alter a Core Projectile Module by adding or omitting Interchangeable Components (see FIGS. 1-10) to achieve desired penetration and reactions between the projectile and the intended non-animal target. Among other desirable outcomes, the manufacturer can create a projectile that prevents over penetration of the projectile through an intended target whether animal, vegetable or other materials, thus preventing it from striking unintended animals or things that may be behind the intended target. The qualities of the Core Projectile Module and Interchangeable Components, in their array of configurations, enable the manufacturer or end user to create a projectile that will efficiently fracture when striking a known material, which fracturing causes rapid propagation of pressure waves into the target, causing the materials to react violently to the pressure wave. The projectile pulverizes building materials commonly used in constructing walls in buildings. This may cause significant damage and flying debris within the room beyond the wall. This is a desirable condition in instances of covering fire and suppression fire used by law enforcement and military. It is also desirable that the projectiles used in covering fire be of the type that reduces the incidents of over penetration. Current projectiles used in conventional firearms, in this kind of situation, present a significant risk of over penetrating and striking a subject or object beyond the wall structure.

A third embodiment includes a Core Projectile Module of varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than that of water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water, tensile strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch, compressive strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch, and a coefficient of friction no more than 0.3. A Core Projectile Module manufactured from the specified materials will have a bearing surface with a low friction coefficient enabling it to pass down the barrel of a rifle or gun more easily, which lowers heat and pressure within the barrel, enabling higher muzzle velocities and faster external ballistic speed passing through the air, while simultaneously reducing recoil relative to the caliber and mass of the projectile and the powder charge. These material characteristics enable the projectile to achieve higher flight speeds than previous art made from materials with a higher friction coefficient and an equal ballistic coefficient.

A fourth embodiment includes an Interchangeable Component (See FIGS. 1-10) which may be made from numerous materials including but not limited to copper, brass, aluminum, ceramics and polymers. Interchangeable Components may be designed to interchange with a varying range of calibers and designs of Core Projectile Module of previously discussed embodiments. The Interchangeable Component may allow the manufacturer or the end user to alter the size, mass, shape, and style of the projectile for the purpose of customizing the internal and external ballistics of the Mechanically Adaptable Projectile according to the materials or specified medium the projectile will be striking. The Interchangeable Component may be added or omitted to facilitate a predictable rate of fracturing, penetration and propagation of pressure waves upon impact with a specified medium, therein maximizing the intensity of ballistic pressure waves. The optional Interchangeable Component may alter the mechanical characteristics of a projectile. Altering the rate of fracture may change the propagation of ballistic pressure waves and depth of penetration of the projectile into a specified medium. The ability to alter the reactive characteristics of the projectile may enable the user to customize the rounds for a desired effect on a specified target medium.

In a fifth embodiment, the mechanical characteristics of the projectile are affected by the techniques used in manufacturing, such as utilizing specified materials, pressures and heat to enable different manufacturing techniques. Each unique manufacturing method will be used to predictably alter the mechanical characteristics of the various components comprising a Mechanically Adaptable Projectile, thereby altering the characteristics of the pressure wave that is introduced into the specified target upon impact of the projectile. The methods include, but are not limited to, injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, extrusion molding, lathe/mill machining, and stamping. The chosen method of manufacturing alters the performance of the projectile in a predictable and marketable manner. This enables a manufacturer to use the same material and change the marketable characteristics of the end product by altering the method of manufacturing and not changing the physical design or type of material. For example, a projectile of identical style, shape and size can have two distinct mechanically functional qualities if one is made through a machine lathe process and another is made by an injection molding process. This manufacturer design flexibility allows adjustment of the number of mechanical characteristics for a projectile of identical size, style and shape.

A sixth embodiment a Core Projectile Module includes varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water, tensile strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch, compressive strength properties no less than 10,000 pounds per square inch, and a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.3. The unique utilization of the specified range and combination of materials, varied velocities, varied sizes, varied mass and varied mechanical designs of a Core Projectile Module enables the manufacturer to create a projectile that efficiently and predictably propagates ballistic pressure waves into specified targets. The rapid fracturing causes the energy from the projectile to rapidly propagate into the animal being impacted by the projectile. This reduces the depth of wound channels. There is a direct connection to the depth of the wound channel and the amount of traumatic vascular tearing. In other words, the present invention allows the end user to choose components of a projectile so as to provide a desired depth of projectile channel upon impact. Previous art relies on vascular injuries and blood loss to increase their incapacitative capabilities. More vascular tearing requires more significant surgical repairs to prevent blood loss. This present invention allows the manufacturer to create a projectile that relies on ballistic pressure waves and remote cerebral effects from ballistic pressure waves that shock the system into incapacitation, rather than vascular injuries and blood loss. By design this projectile will penetrate less and therefore create less vascular tearing associated with a wound channel, thus decreasing the surgical complexity of repairing vascular injuries related to a wound channel. This present invention, therefore, departs from the prior art by changing the mechanism of incapacitation from vascular tearing and trauma, which causes massive bleeding, to relying primarily on ballistic shock waves that cause remote cerebral effects as well as remote effects on the spine and internal organs of an animal. This phenomenon is commonly known as “hydrostatic shock.” Each of the mechanisms of incapacitation has their lethal concerns, but incapacitation by hydrostatic shock may provide more minutes for medical intervention, thereby increasing combat effectiveness while pushing back the margin of lethality.

In a seventh embodiment, the Interchangeable Components can be assembled onto or into a Core Projectile Module using ultrasonic welding. This method of manufacturing is unique to the manufacturing of projectiles. No known prior art utilizes this assembly process to alter the performance of a projectile. Ultrasonic welding of Interchangeable Components to the Core Projectile Module enables press fitting of precision Interchangeable Components of varying materials to the Core Projectile Module, forming a precision projectile such that the projectile will withstand the extreme pressures of gun barrels, rifling, and flight through air, additionally affecting how the specified components react with each other upon impact. The fit tolerance of the Interchangeable Component to the Core Projectile Module alters the mechanical characteristics of the entire projectile by pre-stressing or compressing the Core Projectile Module. As the tolerances change from interference fit to varying press fit tolerances, the interaction of individual components upon each other changes as the mechanical interaction of each component is altered by the tightness of the fit tolerance. The mechanics of fracturing upon impact will change based on the fit tolerances of the Interchangeable Component to the Core Projectile Module. The ballistic pressure waves propagate through the target differently based on changes in the fracturing characteristics of the projectile when impacting a specified target. Also, the varied fit tolerances will alter the reactive qualities of the projectile based on the manner in which impact energy propagates through the projectile upon striking a specified target medium. That in turn alters how the pressure wave propagates from the projectile into the target being impacted by the projectile. This produces desirable and predictable qualities in a projectile that are identifiable and marketable. The use of ultrasonic welding is unusual in the bullet manufacturing industry and is novel and unique to the utility of this art.

In an eighth embodiment, the Interchangeable Component (see FIGS. 1-10) can be fitted inside of the Core Projectile Module, or on the outside of the Core Projectile Module. This enables the Mechanically Adaptable Projectile to be customized to withstand extreme barrel pressures, rifling friction, and extreme velocities as well as preloading stress on the Core Projectile Module. The projectile may also be customized by altering the internal structures to change the rate of fracturing upon impact.

In a ninth embodiment, the interchangeable Component can be added or omitted to the Core Projectile Module to reduce the friction coefficient and mass. This will enable the manufacturing of low recoil cartridges and safe rounds for indoor ranges and other target applications. It will also optimize the projectile's ability to fly through the air for long range shooting (see FIGS. 1-10). The ability to alter the external and internal ballistics of the Core Projectile Module enables the manufacturer or the end user to customize the projectile to accommodate different shooters or different launching mechanisms requiring similar calibers but utilizing varied pressures.

In a tenth embodiment, the Interchangeable Component can be added to or omitted from the Core Projectile Module (see FIGS. 9-10) to alter the style of the tip, ogive, base, heal, meplat, or bearing surface of the projectile (see FIG. 1). The Interchangeable Components may include, but are not limited to, various metal tips, polymer tips, varied hollow point tips, boat tails, flat bases, varied bearing surfaces with varying friction coefficients, as well as many other alterations to the basic Core Projectile Module.

In an eleventh embodiment, the Interchangeable Component can be added to the Core Projectile Component to change the length, shape, mass, flight characteristics, rifling twist requirements and specific density of the projectile.

In a twelfth embodiment, the Interchangeable Component can be added to the Core Projectile Module to optimize the projectile to match the barrel twist of a firearm.

In a thirteenth embodiment the adaptable qualities of a given Mechanically Adaptable Projectile can be changed after the cartridge is fully completed without removing the projectile from the casing.

The Core Projectile Module will now be described. Prior art projectiles may include a clad projectile which may have an exterior shape (FIG. 1) similar to the exterior shape of inventive projectile 10 (FIG. 3). One may note that the inventive projectile may include many similarities in outward appearance to a prior art projectile (FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown, projectile 10 includes three major features, an end 22, a body 32 and a nose 12. Additional nomenclature includes a tip 13, bearing surface 14, head or ogive 16, meplat 18, heel 20, base 22, boat tail or tail 24, cannelure 26 and shoulder 28. This inventive projectile is one amongst many mechanical designs of projectile or missles 10 which may be manufactured (FIG. 3). Even though the external shape of the inventive projectile may look similar to the shape of the prior art projectile, in the Mechanically Adaptable Projectile components can be adapted by the manufacturer or the end user to facilitate the adaptation of the internal and external ballistics of the projectile. In particular, the end user may opt not to alter the Core Projectile Module as manufactured if it already meets the requirements of the end user or the manufacturer. However, the end user or manufacturer may insert an Interchangeable Component into the nose (hollow point) to alter the depth, mass, shape of the tip, or apply an Interchangeable Componet to the exterior to alter the size (caliber), friction coefficient of the bearing surface, the length or aerodynamic shape of the projectile. These abilities also enable the end user to adapt the projectile to the optimal riffling twist and other stabilization features relative to the distance it will need to travel and the medium it will be striking. This enables the projectile's mechanical qualities to be adapted to the needs or intent of the manufacturer or user, whether the projectile is being used by military or law enforcement to provide covering fire, breaching a door, shooting an animal, target shooting (indoor or outdoor), or by others who may be teaching a new shooter by using reduced recoil rounds in a specific gun until the new shooter learns how the gun functions, or other non military or law enforcement applications.

Prior art projectiles may include toxic materials as their base component, whereas the new Mechanically Adaptable Projectile utilizes a non toxic polymer that reduces complications of soil contamination and risk to pregnant shooters. The low friction coefficient of the Core Proectile Module (FIG. 2) will reduce barrel wear and enables higher velocities compared to old art with a similar ballistic coefficient. The Core Projectile Module example shown in FIG. 2 is one of many potential mechanical designs. An example was lathe turned, but may be manufactured by other means to include, but not limited to, injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, extrusion molding, hydro forming, and stamping. The method of manufacturing depends on the mechanical characteristics desired.

A Core Projectile Module impact analysis will now be described. When the Core Projectile Module strikes a medium with lower specific gravity than water, the depth of penetration is deeper than in mediums with a specific gravity of water or greater. This is a predictable quality due to the specifications of the material, manner it is manufactured, combination of mechanical qualities and internal and external ballistics. The adaptability of the inventive projectile enables the changing or adding of Interchangeable Components to the Core Projectile Module by the end user or manufacturer for the purpose of adapting the mechanical qualities, thus altering the propagation of ballistic pressure waves, such as by altering the Core Projectile Module by adding Interchangeable Components with varying specific gravities, friction coefficients and shapes.

For example, when viewing a hole in a material, such as a piece of wood, through which a projectile has traveled, the shape of the hole may indicate that there is a slight projectile instability with the rifle used. The inventive projectile could be used with such a rifle and fitted with an Interchangeable Component that alters the overall specific gravity of the projectile thereby causing stabilized rotation of the projectile fired from that particular rifle. In this manner, the user of the particular rifle could adapt the projectiles fired from his rifle to provide a more stable projectile travel path from the rifle.

In another example of use, a material, such as a piece of wood, may show splitting on the backside of the board around the projectile path of the inventive projectile. The board may be split in a conical pattern outward from the centerline of the projectile path. At the center of the pressure pattern there may be more crushing of the wood material as the pressure wave propagates through the wood. The depth of the damage along the centerline of the projectile's path may be deeper and grows shallower as the pressure wave propagates outward from the centerline. This demonstrates how the building material violently reacted to the ballistic pressure wave which results in crushing and fragmenting of the material from the inventive projectile. A typical projectile path of the inventive projectile through a medium will show a widening damage path as the ballistic pressure wave propagates through the wood.

The Specific Gravity, Projectile Fracturing, and Ballistic Pressure Wave Propagation properties will now be described.

When a ballistic pressure wave impacts an object with a specific gravity nearly equal to that of water, the crushed particles from the medium will ride on the pressure wave as it blows back toward the direction from which the projectile originated. In one test conducted on the inventive projectile, the remaining particles from a Core Projectile Module that was fired into a wood medium were examined. The original Core Projectile Module weighed 151 grains (0.345 ounces). The recovered fragments from the Core Projectile Module weighed 11 grains (0.025 ounces). Such an efficient fracturing and crushing of the Core Projectile Module enables efficient propagation of ballistic pressure waves through the medium.

In one embodiment including a Core Projectile Module with the addition of an Interchangeable Component, the Interchangeable Component is designed to delay the fragmentation of the Core Projectile Module, allowing the projectile to enter the medium more deeply before fragmenting and propagating the ballistic pressure wave into the medium. The Interchangeable Component is altering the mass, tip, meplat, ogive, ballistic coefficient and overall length of the projectile. All of these changes combine to alter the mechanical characteristics, external ballistics and internal ballistics of the projectile when it impacts varying mediums. The end user or the manufacturer is able to adapt the projectile to optimize specific qualities depending on the use of the projectile.

Additionally, in a particular embodiment, the components are lathe turned from Delrin® 150E and 6061 T6 aluminum. This provides for known ductility of the material components, thereby creating a predictable, marketable quality. Annealing one or both of the components will alter the ductility of the components. This can be done before assembling or as an assembled projectile. Changing the ductility of one or both of the components provides a change in fracturing characteristics, which in turn provides a predictable performance change in the Mechanically Adaptable Projectile. Also, the predictable performance of this exact configuration can be altered by changing the method of manufacture, thereby increasing the applications of a single mechanical design by the number of alternate manufacturing methods.

In an embodiment where the projectile is machine lathed instead of utilizing injection molding and investment casting, the fit tolerances of the Interchangeable Component (such as 6000 series T6 aluminum with a sharp point and small meplat) can be altered from interference fit to varying degrees of press fit. By increasing the tightness of the fit, the manufacturer can preload stress on the Core Projectile Module. This will reduce the amount of impact needed to cause the Core Projectile Module to fracture, thereby reducing the amount of velocity needed to cause the necessary fracturing for efficient release of ballistic pressure waves into the target object. This in turn enables the use of the projectile in low recoil scenarios and low efficiency barrels. Thus, the inventive projectile enables the use of an identical mechanical design in a greater array of applications while maximizing efficiency. The use of an Ultrasonic Welder will enable the manufacturer to maximize the limits the projectile can be pre-stressed for this application.

FIG. 2 shows that insertion of an Interchangeable Component 30 into the Core Projectile Module 32 reduces the size of the hollow point 34, having a diameter 35 of the cavity within the hollow point, and, depending on material changes mass and depending on fit tolerance, can be used to preload stress on the projectile 10 to alter reactive qualities upon impact. It will also increase the size of the meplat 18 and will alter the length of the projectile. Inserting an Interchangeable Component 30 into the nose of the Core Projectile Module 32 changes the nose 12, ogive 16 and meplat 18.

FIG. 3 shows a Core Projectile Module 32 having an interior cavity 36 for receiving a Interchangeable Component 30 (FIG. 2), such as a hollow point 34 (FIG. 2), whereas cavity 36 has a smaller diameter 40 than a cavity 36 of component 32 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows insertion of an Interchangeable Component 30 into the base 22 of the Core Projectile Module 32. Changing the base 22, shoulder 28 (FIG. 2), length 42 (FIG. 3) and mass of projectile 10. Depending on the fit tolerance, this insertion method of component 30 can preload stress on a portion of the projectile to alter its reactive qualities upon impact.

FIG. 5 shows insertion of an Interchangeable Component 30 to alter the tip 12 so that it is pointed, thereby altering the size of the meplat 18 and the ogive 16 of projectile 10. This Interchangeable Component 30 can be made of a material that alters the mass of the projectile. It can also have a fit tolerance that preloads stress by pressing outward on the projectile; thereby changing the reactive qualities of the projectile upon impact.

FIG. 6 shows that insertion of an Interchangeable Component 30 into the Core Projectile Module 32 reducing the size of the hollow point 36 and, depending on material changes mass and depending on fit tolerance, can be used to preload stress on the projectile 10 to alter reactive qualities upon impact. It will also alter the size of the hollow point 36 without altering the length of the projectile.

FIG. 7 shows that insertion of an Interchangeable Component 30 into the Core Projectile Module 32 may alter the nose 12 and the size of the hollow point 34 and, depending on material changes mass and fit tolerance, can be used to preload stress on the projectile 10 to alter reactive qualities upon impact. It will also alter the shape of the shoulder 18 while adding to the length of the projectile 10.

FIG. 8 shows that insertion of an Interchangeable Component 30 into the Core Projectile Module 32 may increase the size of the tip 12 while reducing or eliminating the hollow point and, depending on material changes mass and fit tolerance, can be used to preload stress on the projectile 10 to alter reactive qualities upon impact. It will also alter the shoulder 18 while adding to the length of the projectile.

FIG. 9 shows an Interchangeable Component 32 being fitted to the outside of the Core Projectile Module 30. The Interchangeable Component 32 may be sized to have an external diameter 46 greater than, equal to, or less than the external diameter 44 of the Core Projectile Module 30.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of an Interchangeable Component 30 being fitted to the outside of the Core Projectile Module 32. The Interchangeable Component 30 may be fitted to the Core Projectile Module 32 by any means, such as press fit, adhesive, or welding, for example.

In the above description numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced using other equivalent designs.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a projectile, comprising:

providing a projectile body, said body including an aperture adapted to receive therein one of multiple projectile components;

inserting a projectile component into said aperture of said projectile body; and

releasably securing said component to said body.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said body has a specific gravity at least equal to a specific gravity of water and less than 270% greater than a specific gravity of water.

3. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said body has a tensile strength of at least 10,000 pounds per square inch.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said body has a compressive strength of at least 10,000 pounds per square inch.

5. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said body has a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.3.

6. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said projectile body includes an exterior bearing surface and a base region and wherein said projectile component includes a nose and defines a meplat.

7. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said projectile body includes a nose and defines a meplat and wherein said projectile component includes a base region.

8. The projectile of claim 1 wherein projectile body includes an exterior bearing surface and wherein said projectile component includes a base, a nose and defines a meplat.

9. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said projectile component includes a hollow interior region.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said projectile component is chosen to have a specific gravity that is equal to a specific gravity of a medium into which the projectile will be fired.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said projectile component is chosen to have a specific gravity that will maximize a ballistic pressure waves created by said projectile upon impact with a medium into which the projectile will be fired.

12. A mechanically adaptable projectile set, comprising:

a projectile body, said body including an aperture adapted to receive therein one of multiple projectile components;

multiple projectile components each sized to be releasably received within said aperture of said projectile body, each of said multiple projectile components structurally dissimilar from all others of said multiple projectile components.

13. The projectile set of claim 12 wherein said multiple projectile components include a first projectile component including a solid elongate body having a projectile nose, a second projectile component including a hollow elongate body having a projectile nose, and a third projectile component including an elongate body having a projectile base.

14. The projectile set of claim 12 wherein said first, second a third projectile components each have a unique specific gravity.

15. The projectile set of claim 12 wherein each of said multiple projectile components may be positioned within and removed from said projectile body aperture prior to filing of said projectile body from a projectile launcher.

16. The projectile set of claim 12 claim 1 wherein said body has a specific gravity at least equal to a specific gravity of water and less than 270% greater than a specific gravity of water, wherein said body has a tensile strength of at least 10,000 pounds per square inch, wherein said body has a compressive strength of at least 10,000 pounds per square inch, and wherein said body has a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.3.

17. A mechanically adaptable projectile set, comprising:

a projectile body, said body including structure adapted to secure thereto one of multiple projectile components;

multiple projectile components each sized to be releasably secured to said projectile body, each of said multiple projectile components structurally dissimilar from all others of said multiple projectile components.

18. The projectile set of claim 17 wherein said multiple projectile components include a first projectile component including a solid elongate body having a projectile nose, a second projectile component including a hollow elongate body having a projectile nose, a third projectile component including an elongate body having a nose region and an external diameter equal to an external diameter of said projectile body, and a fourth projectile component including an elongate body having an external diameter larger than an external diameter of said projectile body.

19. The projectile set of claim 17 wherein one of said projectile components is secured to said projectile body by ultrasonic welding.

20. The projectile set of claim 17 wherein one of said projectile components includes at least one of a metal nose, a polymer nose, a hollow point nose, a boat tail, a flat base, and a bearing surface.