Improvements in Bullets for Firearms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bullets for Firearms.
I, CHARLES RIGBY ALLPORT, of 72 St. James. Street, London, Gunmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :—
These iniprovements relate to that kind of bullet for firearms, and more especially
for rifles, which are made of a lead or other comparatively soft core covered with a
casing of nickel or other metal harder than the core. These bullets when used in
rifles properly adapted for their use have a very high muzzle velocity, and conse-
quently great penetrating power, which renders them very suitable for military
purposes; but more or less unsuited for sporting purposes because for killing game
it is preferable that the bullet shall expand and lodge in the body of the animal
rather than that it should pass through. The object of my invention is to provide
means whereby bullets of this kind striking an animal at the usual high velocity
aro caused to expand laterally or radially so that their virtual cross section is
considerably increased at the moment of impact, and the resistance to their passage
proportionally increased, so as to absorb their energy within the body of the animal
and prevent them from passing through it.
For this purpose I cut or slit the outer casing at the front part of the bullet,
with a saw or otherwise, either wholly or partly through to the lead core. These
cuts or slits may be made parallel to the axis of the bullot, obliquely, or at right
angles thereto or spirally round the surface of the bullet and there may be any
number of them according to circumstances. The effect of the said cuts or slits is
to weaken the front part of the casing so that when the bullet strikes, the said front
part expands or spreads out, and increases the sectional area with the result above
described.
Instead of cuts or slits for weakening the front part of the casing, a similar effect
may be produced by forming holes through the same or by thinning it at various
points by cutting recesses or flats on the surface, or by making it of various
thicknesses at different points, the essential feature of my invention consisting in
making the front part of the casing in such a manner that on striking an object the
said front part is easily distorted or spread out to a larger diameter than the normal
diameter of the bullet.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bullets for Firearms.
1, CHARLES RIGby Allport, of 72 St. James Street, London, Gunmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
These improvements relate to that kind of bullet for firearms, and more especially
for rifles, which are made of a lead or other comparatively soft core covered with a
5 casing of nickel or other metal harder than tho core, These bullets when used in

page_text: rifles properly adapted for their use have a very high muzzle velocity and conse-
quently great penetrating power, which renders them very suitable for military
purposes; but more or less unsuited for sporting purposes because for killing game
it is preferable that the bullet shall expand and lodge in the body of the animal
rather than it should pass through. The object of my invention is to provide
means whereby bullets of this kind striking an animal at the usual high velocity
are caused to expand laterally or radially so that their virtual cross section is
considerably increased at the moment of impact, and the resistance to their passage
proportionally increased, so as to absorb their energy within thọ body of the animal
and prevent them from passing through it.
For this purpose 1 cut or slit the outer casing at the front part of the bullet,
with a saw or otherwise, either wholly or partly through to the lead core. These
cuts or slits may be made parallel to the axis of the bullet, obliquely, or at right
angles thereto or spirally round the surface of the bullet and there may bo any
number of them according to circumstances. The effect of the said cuts or slits is
to weaken the front part of the casing so that when the bullet strikes, the said
front part expands or spreads out, and increases the sectional area with the result
above described.
Instead of cuts or slits for weakening the front part of the casing, a similar effect
may be produced by forming holes through the same or by thinning it at various
points by cutting recesses or flats on the surface, or by making it of various
thicknesses at different points, the essential feature of my invention consisting in
making the front part of the casing in such a manner that on striking an object
the said front part is easily distorted or spread out to a larger diameter than the
normal diameter of the bullet.
In the accompanying drawings
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are elevations of bullets illustrating my improvements.
Figures 14, 24, 34 and 4 are corresponding longitudinal sections, and Figures 1B,
2, 3 and 4 are respectively transverse sections taken at the lines X X of
Figures 1, 23 and 4.
A is the lead or other soft metal core, B the casing of harder metal, C are the
cuts or slits in the front part of the outer casing, which cuts or slits pass wholly or
partially through the said outer casing according as it is desired that the bullet
shall expand with greater or less ease on striking an object. In Figure 1 the cuts
or slits are shown parallel to the axis of the bullot, in Figure 2 they are shown
oblique thereto, in Figure 3 at right angles thereto, and in Figure 4 holes D are
shown instead of cuts or slits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is:-
First. The construction of bullets having cores of comparatively soft metal and
outer casings of harder metal, with cuts, slits or holes passing either wholly or
partially through the said outer casing, substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, and for the purpose specified.
Second. The construction of bullets having cores of comparatively soft metal
and outer casings of harder metal, with the front part of the outer casing weakened
at various points in such manner that ou striking an object the said front part of
the outer casing is easily distorted or spread out to a larger diameter than the
normal diameter of the bullet, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
C. R. ALLPORT,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.