Rapid expansion bullet

A high energy rapid expansion bullet for handguns, rifles and the like with greater killing power and protection from excessive gas pressures due to overloading of powder or obstruction in the gun barrel and without over penetration which could endanger bystanders. A standard bullet (e.g., 45 caliber, 9 MM) is provided with a through bore (draft hole) from the tip to the base of the bullet. The inner end of the bore has a conical seat spaced from the central portion of a malleable disc seal surrounded by an annular seat for the rim of the disc. Gases generated by firing of the bullet deform the disc into contact with the conical seat and wedge the base of the bullet outward to seal the gases in the barrel of the gun and pull the rim of the disc inward to aid in separating the disc from the bullet as soon as the bullet leaves the barrel. Excessive gas pressure such as could come from overloading (too much powder), ruptures the disc and vents the gases to the atmosphere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This unique small arms bullet was designed for the serious handloader, 
hunter, and law enforcement agencies. Also, being an excellent 
self-defense round. 
What makes this most desirable is the fact that bullets through the years 
have been designed with much trial and error, to function or feed 
flawlessly in autoloading guns, both rifles and handguns. For example, the 
9 MM Parabellum Bullet is favored for its trouble free feeding in the 
autoloader, but it lacks good expansion and usually over penetrates, 
creating less shock or stopping power, yet the round has great potential. 
The Rapid Expansion Bullet in 9 MM Parabellum Design is devastating in 
expansion and stopping power and will still feed flawlessly because the 
external part of the bullet has not been changed, except for a small hole 
in the nose. Another example is the 45 Caliber ACP round nose or military 
hardball. 
The Rapid Expansion Bullet turns the table on over penetration, leaving the 
energy mass in the target, yet contributes no problems to the feeding 
cycle of autoloader. 
As a Law Enforcement bullet, the Rapid Expansion Bullet excels in stopping 
power and could save innocent people from being struck by over penetrating 
bullets. 
To the hunter and handloader, the Rapid Expansion Bullet would mean quicker 
kills and less game loss. 
The handloader could customize their favorite loads for extreme accuracy, 
expansion and penetration with little worry if ever high chamber pressure 
is encountered due to the built in safety valve, which vents high pressure 
gases out the barrel. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The Rapid Expansion Bullet was field tested first on liquid filled 
containers. The results were very impressive. The Rapid Expansion Bullet 
in the 44 Mag Caliber pushing a 200 grain lead bullet out of a 6" barrel 
was seen to have the same destructive force at 25 yards as the 243 Rifle. 
The Rapid Expansion Bullet was then tested on live wild boar in the State 
of Tennessee. These animals are heavy boned, heavy skinned, thick muscled 
and hard to kill. Seven of us used the 44 Mag handgun with barrel lengths 
ranging from 6" to 9". 
The Ruger 44 Mag autoloading carbine was used to increase knowledge of 
kinetic energy, mass and increased velocity. Using live tissue, a one shot 
kill dropped the 150 pound boar in its tracks, severing the neck from the 
shoulder, killing it instantly. The gas operated autoloader cycled 
perfectly. Recoil was very light and no over pressure showed on the spent 
case. The bullet stayed in the target. No exit hole was found. The 
handguns used were all revolvers and did an outstanding job. One large 
boar weighing 250 pounds was shot a little high behind the front shoulder, 
showing a fist size hole. No exit hole was found. This revolver only had a 
6" barrel; range about 10 yards. Eight boar, eight kills with no over 
penetration. Wounds measured 31/2" diameter and over. The eight boar 
ranged in weight from 100 to 300 pounds. This was a limited test on 
hunting bullets of 44 caliber class which proved very impressive and in 
some cases simply awesome. These Rapid Expansion Bullets fired from a 
handgun seem to have the energy and devastation of the high powered Rifle. 
The Rapid Expansion Bullet with its safety, simplicity and versatility in 
design is applicable to all caliber bullets and could revolutionize the 
bullet industry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIGS. 1a through 4a show conventional small arms bullets without draft 
holes. FIGS. 1a, 2a, 4a show bullets with jackets, FIGS. 1b through 4b 
show the bullets of FIGS. 1a through 4a with a central draft hole b, c, d 
from the nose through the base sealed at the base by a malleable or a 
deformable disc e sealed at rim f to the base of the bullet and having a 
center section spaced from section d. 
Section b of the draft hole may range from 0.030" to 0.200" diameter. 
Section c has a shallow taper e.g., 3.degree. to 7.degree.. Section d has 
a more abrupt angle e.g., 30.degree. to 60.degree. providing a conical 
seat for the disc e. The supporting angle of the conical seat controls the 
amount of gas pressure the disc can handle. 
The taper of the seat d allows the disc under pressure to follow that angle 
and change shape, which is the key for allowing the disc to break away 
from the bullet later on in flight. Also, it is this supporting angle that 
controls the amount of pressure the disc can handle. 
If a rupture in the disc occurs as shown in FIG. 5f, high pressure gases 
will be vented through the bullet and out the barrel; a safety factor no 
other bullet claims. A 90 degree angle is cut or formed at f into the base 
of the bullet allowing a solid aluminum disc e ranging in thickness from 
0.030" to 0.080", again depending on bullet weight, diameter, and 
application, to be fitted snugly against the base of the bullet. 
A sealant may be used at f to secure the bullet from water and other 
contaminents. The bullet is then lubricated at g (when non jacketed 
bullets are used) and seated into a powder charged and primed conventional 
cartridge h of proper size. Upon firing or at time of ignition, the high 
pressure gases push evenly at the flat disc e of the bullet ensuring good 
alignment. When the bearing surface of the bullet contacts the rifling i 
of the bore, the pressure increases and more resistance is met, the disc 
begins to yield and change shape as shown at j following the angled 
contour inside the bullet. At this point, the disc is concave in shape and 
smaller in diameter. As the thrust or push continues, the disc exerts 
pressure on the inside radius of the bullet, acting like a low profile 
wedge at k enlarging or expanding the outside base of the bullet, stopping 
any blow by gases, therefore, increasing efficiency, velocity and 
accuracy. Less recoil is felt due to the yielding disc, which responds 
somewhat like a shock absorber. When the bullet exits the barrel and 
pressure at the base of the bullet diminishes, the disc which is now 
vulnerable to the incoming stream of air from the center hole b quickly 
falls away as illustrated at 1.