Muzzle-loader projectile with a plastic insert

Details Muzzle-loader projectile with a plastic insert Muzzle-loader projectile with a plastic insert

2001-02-08

2002-06-18

Tudor, Harold J. (Department: 3641)

Ammunition and explosives

Projectiles

Composite

C102S501000, C102S510000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06405654

ABSTRACT:

The invention relates to ammunition for muzzle-loader guns, and more particularly to muzzle-loader ammunition having a higher velocity, flatter trajectory, and higher kinetic energy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recognizing the central role that hunting played in the historical development of the United States, sporting enthusiasts and the regulating bodies governing the sport, have overseen a huge interest in hunting using black powder, muzzle-loader guns. In many states, special hunting seasons have been created for the exclusive use of muzzle-loader rifles. The ammunition used in muzzle loaded rifles has evolved from a projectile that is a round ball, to projectiles that have incorporated features of modern bullets. Within the latter category, bullet shaped projectiles can be further subdivided into those that are fired with a sabot, and projectiles that are lubricated slugs. A sabot is an encasing plastic cup that falls away from the projectile after it exits the gun. The sabot eliminates the need for a lubricating means and assures that there is a good seal between the projectile and the bore of the muzzle. Sabots, while generally creating much higher muzzle velocities, can negatively influence the trajectory of the projectile if the sabot does not break away cleanly, and can obstruct the barrel especially, in cases where the rifling ratio is lower than 1:48. A larger caliber gun is required to fire a sabotted bullet. For instance to fire a 50 caliber projectile with a sabot, a hunter needs a 54 caliber gun. Additionally, when using sabotted ammunition, the hunter has to deal with safety issues arising as a consequence of the plastic sabot. If the bullet and sabot are not compatible or properly fitted by size, a sabotted bullet can produce barrel obstruction.
Most states regulate the size of a muzzle-loader projectile to a maximum height of twice the diameter. This regulation has an amplified effect on sabotted bullets, in that compensating length cannot be added to overcome the effect of using a smaller caliber bullet. Another consideration is the growing consensus among muzzle-loader enthusiast and regulators that sabots, which were originally developed for launching large artillery, do not reflect the sporting nature of using a muzzle-loader rifle, and some states are considering banning sabotted bullets. Lubricated slugs are much closer in concept to the original muzzle-loader ammunition. Typically, the lubricated slug is a longitudinally symmetrical solid that is substantially a banded cylinder capped with a conical head. The lubrication is retained by the circular bands, hereinafter referred to as bearing bands, and the lubrication is usually either a natural product such as one of the vegetable or animal fatty oils, or a petroleum based oil. The lubricated slug is usually homogeneously comprised of a metal that is predominately lead. Lead is preferred because it is soft enough that the rifling graves it easily, and because lead represents a good balance of properties between weight and resistance to deformation. Ideally, the muzzle-loader projectile should distort very little until it impacts the target. It is know in the art that the shape of the head of the projectile can effect how much expansion occurs on impact. Jeffrey W. Stone of Remington® Arms Company describes in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,723 a bullet having superior expansion. The tip of the bullet has a hollow point. In a related patent, Halverson of Olin®, U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,532 addresses the issue of aerodynamics of hollow point bullets, in that their performance is inferior to a solid conical bullet. He discloses methods that result in improved properties, by increasing the aspect ratio (length to diameter) and increasing the curvature of the nose of the bullet. This modification to Stone's invention, in effect trades off reduced expansion, which is reflected in lowered killing efficiency, for greater accuracy. What is desired is a projectile having the performance of a full hollow point without the accompanying reduction of accuracy. Furthermore, if the degree of hollowing can be increased over Stone's invention, without loss of aerodynamic properties, the resulting projectile would have even greater expansion, and would be an improved muzzle-loader projectile. Greater expansion or mushrooming would result in a projectile having improved transference of the kinetic energy into the target. Precision Rifle advertises on their web site that filling the hole of a sabotted hollow point bullet with plastic causes the bullet to have greater expansion. The issue is somewhat clouded by the fact that sabotted bullets have a high velocity, and expansion is not generally considered a problem.
A recognized favorite ammunition of muzzleloaders hunters are the Maxi-Ball® and the Maxi-Hunter® of Thompson Center Arms®. The Maxi-Ball has a blunt tip and three bearing bands. The diameter of the two posterior bearing bands is slightly less that the top bearing band, where the top bearing band is substantially equal to the diameter of the inner bore of the corresponding rifle. F. Rodney's U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,089 reads on typical dimensions of the gun with rifling. Often, the inner bore, which is the diameter of the rifling, is approximately 20 mils narrower than the outer bore. The configuration of the bearing bands described for the Max-Ball enables this muzzle-loader projectile to be aligned properly when loaded into the gun. The top bearing band actually graves during loading, assuring a very good seal. The Maxi-Hunter, which is a heavier projectile, has a fourth bearing band that acts primarily as an additional seal. The additional bearing band suggest that heavier projectiles need another seal, because the chamber pressure builds so high as to allow some of the explosive gases to seep past the first two bands. The implication of the additional bearing band is that within the constraints of hunting rules using muzzle-loader rifles and ammunition, heavier projectiles are not necessarily efficiently imparted with higher kinetic energy, because of the design restraints placed on the sport. In fact, a projectile propelled by black powder, that is lighter than a similar dimensioned heavier projectile, is known to have a significantly higher muzzle velocity. Energy, and specifically kinetic energy, are a function of one half times the mass times the velocity squared (KE=(½)·m·v
2
). A 10% increase in mass results in a 10% increase in kinetic energy, while a similar 10% increase in muzzle velocity results in a 100% increase in kinetic energy. Additionally, a projectile having a higher muzzle velocity will have a flatter trajectory. By way of illustration, a projectile weighing 23% lighter than another, will, theoretically, have a trajectory fall that is 21% less, assuming that both projectiles have the same kinetic energy. A desired second improvement is a muzzle-loader projectile having a lower weight with substantially the same overall dimensions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a muzzle-loader projectile that is a very high impact bullet, having a flattened trajectory. The invention, while having significant performance improvements, is designed to remain within the scope of the technology employed in the sport of muzzle-loader hunting, and this is a central theme to the invention. It is anticipated that the invention will result in quicker knock-downs, and fewer wounded animals due to higher kinetic energy and increased hunter accuracy. The muzzle-loader projectile can be appropriately sized to fit all muzzle-loader firearms, including pistols and shot guns, but most especially rifles. The invention includes all caliber ammunition (i.e. 22, 32, 44, 45, 50, 54, 58; shot gun sizes 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, .410 and metric sizes, i.e. 6, 9 mm). Muzzle-loaders are typically sized in the 32 to 58 caliber ammunition size range.
It is a first object of the invention is that the muzzleloader projectile can be made up to 60% lighter than conventional muzzle-loader projectiles of the same caliber, and

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Muzzle-loader projectile with a plastic insert does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Muzzle-loader projectile with a plastic insert, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Muzzle-loader projectile with a plastic insert will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2969625