US 5,175,389 AGranted

Frontally guided sabot bullet

AssigneeFederal-Hoffman, Inc. d/b/a Federal Cartridge Co.

InventorsRobert L. Kramer, David C. Longren, Jerry J. Rubatt

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Abstract

An improved sabot bullet for use primarily in connection with shotgun shells which includes a slug having a forward portion which radially converges towards the middle portion thereof, and an outer conforming sabot casing which includes a pair of sabot segments which substantially surround and conform to the outer configuration of the slug. Each sabot segment is constructed to be slightly radially spaced from the slug near the constricted middle portion thereof, and to converge and engage the radially diverging portion of the slug near the forward end thereof, so as to cause the slug to be guided mainly at a point adjacent the front end thereof. Each sabot segment is also constructed to extend rearwardly beyond the rear end of the slug to facilitate rearward movement of the slug relative to the sabot, and consequent outward radial wedging of the sabot segments against the inner walls of the gun barrel, upon firing the fireman.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A sabot bullet to be employed within a shotgun shell for use with a firearm, comprising:

(a) an integral bullet structure having an outer surface configuration defined by a generally frustro-conically shaped forward portion and a generally frustro-conically shaped rearward portion which converge to form a radially constricted middle portion between opposite forward and rear ends thereof;
(b) a plurality of sabot segments substantially surrounding at least an intermediate portion of said bullet structure between said opposite forward and rear ends thereof, each of said sabot segments having complimentary forward and rearward inner surface portions with forward and rearward inner surface configurations which conform substantially to said outer surface configuration of said bullet structure;
(c) each of said sabot segments extending rearwardly beyond said rear end of said bullet structure, and being constructed with means for facilitating rearward movement of said bullet structure relative to said sabot segments and consequent wedging of said sabot segments outwardly against the barrel of the firearm upon firing thereof;
and
(d) a substantial portion of said forward inner surface configuration of each of said sabot segments being disposed in non-registering relation with said forward portion of said bullet structure so as to define an annular gap therearound adjacent said constricted middle portion thereof, each of said sabot segments drivably engaging said bullet structure in guiding relation mainly at a point adjacent to said forward end thereof upon firing of the firearm.

2 more elements

A sabot bullet to be employed within a shotgun shell for use with a firearm, comprising:

(a) an integral bullet structure having a front end and a rear end with an elongated intermediate portion therebetween, said bullet structure having an outer configuration which is generally cylindrical in shape with a radially constricted middle portion, said outer configuration of said bullet structure diverging outwardly from said radially constricted middle portion towards said front end thereof to define a sabot bearing surface;
(b) a sabot means primarily for guiding said bullet structure through the barrel of the firearm, said sabot means comprising a plurality of sabot segments which cooperate to substantially surround said outer configuration of at lest said intermediate portion of said bullet structure in substantially close conforming relation therewith, each of said sabot segments being radially spaced annularly about the outer surface of said bullet structure at a point adjacent said constricted middle portion thereof, and diverging outwardly therefrom toward the front end of said bullet structure;
and
(c) each of said sabot segments propellably engaging said sabot bearing surface of said bullet structure in guiding relation mainly at a point near the front end thereof upon firing of the firearm.

1 more element

A sabot bullet to be employed within a shotgun shell for use with a firearm, comprising:

(a) a relatively rigid generally cylindrical bullet structure having a generally circumferential outer surface with a radially constricted middle portion, a forward portion and a rear portion, said outer circumferential surface of at least a part of said forward and rear portions diverging radially outward from said constricted middle portion toward respective forward and rear ends thereof;
(b) a sabot means substantially surrounding at least an intermediate portion of said bullet structure between said opposite forward and rear ends thereof to form an outer housing for guiding said bullet structure through the barrel of the firearm, said sabot means being disposed in drivable engagement with said bullet structure;
and
(c) said sabot means comprising a plurality of sabot segments having complimentary diverging forward and rear inner surface portions which substantially conform to said forward and rear diverging surfaces of said bullet structure, each of said sabot segments extending rearwardly beyond and being devoid of contact with said rear end of said bullet structure, thereby defining an open recess adjacent said rear end of said bullet structure which provides means for facilitating rearward movement of said bullet structure relative to said sabot means upon firing of the firearm.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.