# US 12,007,210 B2 · Extended range bullet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,210 B2 - Document ID: US12007210B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/994,606 - Filed: 2022-11-28 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-12 - Assignees: Federal Cartridge Company - Applicants: Federal Cartridge Company - Inventors: Justin A. Carbone; Jared Kutney; Shawn Fitzsimonds; Lawrence P. Head; Bryan Peterson; Richard Hurt; Joel J. Foley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007210B2 ## CPC - F42B 10/44: Boat-tails specially adapted for drag reduction - F42B 10/46: Streamlined nose cones; Windshields; Radomes {(F42B12/105 takes precedence)} - F42B 12/34: expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) ## Abstract A cartridge with an expanding bullet that has advantageous terminal effects over an extended range. The expanding bullet including a bullet body including a metal jacket extending from a tail portion to a nose portion and surrounding an interior solid core and defining a forward opening and interior cavity. A tip has an exterior surface substantially flush with an exterior surface of the metal jacket. The tip has a main portion forward of the opening and a tip retention portion that at least partially fills the interior cavity. In certain embodiments the tip retention portion includes one or more fluid entry facilitation means such as a fracture regions configured to, upon impact of the bullet with a target, fracture or deform to expose one or more fluid pathways into the interior cavity and to a forward facing interior surface for initiating expansion of the expanding bullet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge comprising: a casing comprising a rearward primer, propellant, and a bullet, the bullet comprising: a bullet body comprising a tail portion and a nose portion comprising an annular forward edge defining an opening to an interior cavity extending from the opening in a rearward direction to a forward facing interior surface of the bullet body; a polymer tip mounted in the interior cavity, the polymer tip comprising: a main portion forward of the opening, the main portion extending from a rearward portion to a forward tip portion; and a tip retention portion configured as a stem at least partially filling the interior cavity, the tip retention portion comprising an axially extending central cavity extending through the tip retention portion and into the main portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bullet body comprises a metal jacket extending from the tail portion to the nose portion and surrounding an interior solid core formed of a malleable material, the metal jacket tapered at the nose portion in a forward direction to an annular forward edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the metal jacket of the bullet body defines a rearward boattail portion adjoining a mid bearing portion, the mid bearing portion adjoining an ogive portion, the tip extending forward from the ogive portion, the mid bearing portion comprising an axial length that is 44% or less of an axial length of the bullet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the main portion defines a continuous exterior surface there between, the continuous exterior surface substantially flush with an exterior surface of the metal jacket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the metal jacket of the bullet body defines a rearward boattail portion adjoining a mid bearing portion, the mid bearing portion adjoining an ogive portion, the tip extending forward from the ogive portion, wherein the bearing portion defines a circumferential groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the body comprises a forward wall portion, a bottom wall portion, and a rearward law portion, all defining the circumferential groove, the rearward wall defining a ramp portion extending between the bottom wall portion and the exterior surface of the bearing portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cartridge of claim 6, wherein the circumferential groove is axially positioned at a rearward end of the core. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the circumferential groove is located in a forward half of the bearing portion of the bullet. ### Claim 9 A cartridge, comprising: a casing comprising a rearward primer, a propellant; and a bullet, the bullet comprising: a bullet body comprising a bearing portion, an ogival portion, a tail portion, and a nose portion comprising an annular forward edge defining an opening to an interior cavity extending from the opening in a rearward direction to a forward facing interior surface of the bullet body; and a polymer tip mounted in the interior cavity, the tip comprising a main portion forward of the opening and a tip retention portion configured as a stem at least partially filling the interior cavity, the main portion extending from a rearward portion to a forward tip portion and defining a continuous exterior surface therebetween, the tip retention portion comprising an aft face facing the interior bullet body, the tip retention portion comprising an axially extending central cavity; the bearing portion comprising at least one non-symmetrical circumferential groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the bullet body comprises a metal jacket extending from the tail portion to the nose portion and surrounding an interior solid core formed of a malleable material, the metal jacket tapered at the nose portion in a forward direction to an annular forward edge, wherein the main portion defines a continuous exterior surface there between, the continuous exterior surface substantially flush with an exterior surface of the metal jacket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the axially extending central cavity extends through the tip retention portion and into the main portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the rearward facing lead-in angle is acute and greater than the forward facing angle of a rearward wall portion as measured from a line on the exterior surface of the bearing portion parallel to a bullet axis.