# US 11,079,207 B1 · Plated expanding bullet and method of manufacturing the bullet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,207 B1 - Document ID: US11079207B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/073,490 - Filed: 2020-10-19 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-20 - Applicants: Thomas J. Burczynski - Inventors: Thomas J. Burczynski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079207B1 ## CPC - F42B 12/34: expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type - B21K 21/06: Shaping thick-walled hollow articles, e.g. projectiles - C25D 3/38: of copper - C25D 7/04: Tubes; Rings; Hollow bodies - F42B 12/74: of the core or solid body - F42B 12/78: of jackets for smallarm bullets {; Jacketed bullets or projectiles} - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - B21K: MAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS (making particular articles by working sheet metal without essentially removing material B21D; processing wire B21F; making pins, needles or nails B21G; making particular articles by rolling B21H; forging machines, pressing machines, hammering machines, in general B21J; making chains B21L; plating B23K) - C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR ## Abstract A fully plated hollow-point bullet and a method of manufacturing the bullet wherein a malleable metal precursor core having a central cavity and a surrounding wall is divided into a series of petals, each petal being separated from one another by an air space, and all interior and exterior surfaces of the precursor core, including individual petals, are thereafter electroplated with a second metal and final formed in a hollow-point pointing die, ultimately producing a more robust bullet and one that expands easier and faster on impact than plated bullets of conventional manufacture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plated expanding bullet, comprising: a core comprising a malleable material of a first hardness, the core having a nose and an aft; a plurality of petals at least partially defining the nose of the core, wherein each petal is integrally formed and extending from a peripheral portion of the aft and taper inward such that the plurality of petals form a hollow-point cavity, each of the petals is independently bendable, each of the petals further comprising a first inflection point and a second inflection point wherein the second inflection point is positioned closest to the aft and is the thickest portion of the petal; and a bonded metal jacket of a second hardness completely encapsulating the core, each of the petals, and the hollow-point cavity and wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, the hollow-point cavity is frusto-conical. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, the hollow-point cavity is cylindrical at a first end and curved at a second end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, wherein the aft comprises a base, wherein the base is truncated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, wherein the aft comprises a base, wherein the base is flat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, the core comprises between three and eight petals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, the jacket thickness being between 0.0035 inches and 0.030 inches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, the core being made of lead or lead alloy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bullet of claim 1, the core being made of tin, zinc, bismuth or alloys thereof. ### Claim 10 A plated expanding bullet, comprising: a core comprising a malleable material of a first hardness, the core having a nose and an aft; a plurality of petals at least partially defining the nose of the core, wherein each petal is integrally formed and extending from a peripheral portion of the aft and taper inward such that the plurality of petals form a hollow-point cavity, each of the petals is independently bendable, each of the petals further comprising a first inflection point and a second inflection point wherein the second inflection point is positioned closest to the aft and is the thickest portion of the petal; and a bonded metal jacket of a second hardness completely encapsulating the core, each of the petals, and the hollow-point cavity and wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness, further wherein the jacket comprises a first thickness and a second thickness. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bullet of claim 10, the hollow-point cavity is frusto-conical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The bullet of claim 10, wherein the aft comprises a base, wherein the base is truncated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The bullet of claim 10, the petals further comprise a base, and wherein the jacket encompassing the base of the petals is a second thickness. ### Claim 14 A process having steps for forming a plated hollow-point expanding bullet, the steps comprising: forming a cylindrical core having a central cylindrical cavity and a continuous surrounding wall at one end from a cylindrical core using a cavity-forming/knockout punch; swaging the cylindrical core to form a series of circumferentially-spaced petals in the wall of the core wherein each petal is formed using a petal-forming die containing a multi-armed dividing insert while simultaneously separating the petals by a longitudinal air space; electroplating all internal and external surfaces of the divided pre-form; and forming the plated pre-form into a plated hollow-point expanding bullet with plating completely encasing all internal and external surfaces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of alternatively forming a cylindrical core having a central cylindrical cavity and a continuous surrounding wall using an injection mold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of alternatively forming a cylindrical core having a central cylindrical cavity and a continuous surrounding wall using a gravity cast. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of alternatively forming a cylindrical core having a central cylindrical cavity and an interrupted surrounding wall using an injection mold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of chemically cleaning the core. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of tumbling the core to smooth stepped areas and/or create radii or enlarge existing radii. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of tumbling the bullet to polish its surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising the step of coating the bullet surface with an anti-corrosion material.