# US 2006/0107863 A1 · Frangible powdered iron projectiles

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- Number: US 2006/0107863 A1
- Document ID: US20060107863A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/285,010
- Filed: 2005-11-23
- Published: 2006-05-25
- Earliest claimed: 2004-11-23
- Assignees: Precision Ammunition, LLC
- Inventors: Daniel Powers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060107863A1

## CPC

- F42B 12/72: characterised by the material (heat treatment for explosive shells C21D9/16)
- F42B 8/12: Projectiles or missiles (F42B10/48, F42B12/36, F42B19/36 take precedence)
- F42B 33/00: Manufacture of ammunition; Dismantling of ammunition; Apparatus therefor (F42B5/188 takes precedence; manufacturing processes for hollow charges F42B1/036; manufacture of blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/195)
- F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)

## Abstract

Frangible projectiles for firearms and processes for making such projectiles are disclosed. The projectiles include a sintered, compacted iron-based mixture of particles. The disclosed projectiles produce a similar feel and mimic the ballistic properties of lead projectiles of similar size and caliber, yet readily break-up upon impact with a hard surface in order to minimize ricochet or splatter. The disclosed projectiles and processes for making the projectiles meet the need for inexpensive, lead-free frangible projectiles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lead-free, frangible, sintered firearm projectile, comprising:
a projectile core formed from cold compacted powder, wherein the cold compacted powder is selected from the group consisting of: a mixture of powdered iron particles and powdered copper particles; and a mixture of powdered iron particles, powdered copper particles and powdered tin particles.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The firearm projectile of claim 1, wherein the cold compacted powder is a mixture of powdered iron particles and powdered copper particles, comprising 80% powdered iron particles by volume and 20% powdered copper particles by volume.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The firearm projectile of claim 1, wherein the cold compacted powder is a mixture of powdered iron particles, powdered tin particles and powdered copper particles, comprising 70% powdered iron particles by volume, 20% powdered copper particles by volume and 10% powdered tin particles by volume.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The firearm projectile of claim 1, comprising a jacket plated on the projectile core.

### Claim 5

A process for making a lead-free, frangible, sintered firearm projectile, comprising:
admixing powdered iron particles with other powdered metal particles;
cold compacting the admixed powders in a mold to form a projectile core; and
sintering the projectile core at a temperature of 850° F.-1450° F. (454° C.-788° C.).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5, further comprising:
sealing the projectile core; and
plating the projectile core to form a jacket over the core.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process of claim 6, wherein the step of sealing projectile core is by impregnating the core with a silicone solution.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The process of claim 6, wherein the step of sealing the projectile core is by dipping the projectile core in a metal solution.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5, wherein the other powdered metal particles comprise copper particles or tin particles or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The process of claim 9, wherein powdered iron particles and powdered copper particles are present in volumetric percentages of 80% and 20%, respectively.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The process of claim 9, wherein powdered iron particles, powdered copper particles are powdered tin particles are present in volumetric percentages of 70%, 20% and 10%, respectively.