Patent ID: 7487727

Claim:
A method for defeating a barrier utilizing a bullet having a body having a diameter between 0.22 and 0.50 inch (0.56 and 1.27 cm) and a spherical frontal element accommodated at least partially within a front compartment and having a specific gravity of at least 2.5, said method comprising: forming said bullet to have a generally cylindrical rear portion and an ogival front portion that terminates at a forward rim, said ogival front portion having a profiled side wall that defines a coaxial front compartment extending inwardly from said forward rim and terminating at a rear surface, said side wall having a profiled thickness that is thin at the forward rim and gradually increased in thickness towards the rear surface of the front compartment, said thin wall thickness at the forward rim being configured to provide expansion at low impact velocities, and said increased thickness being configured to resist fragmentation of material from the bullet; locating said spherical frontal element at least partially in said front compartment whereby on impact said spherical frontal element has initial contact with said barrier; and impacting the bullet against the barrier at a velocity and angle relative to normal so that the frontal element initiates a crushing of an outer of the barrier and permits a full penetration of the barrier by at least 90 percent of an initial mass of the bullet.