An aerodynamic nose cone capable of imaging through the nose cone is accomplished by forming the nose cone as an Afocal Axicon lens. Under a condition of RI≈cos(X)/cos(3X) where RI is an effective refractive index and X is a cone half angle of the solid right-circular cone. EMR incident on a front portion of the cone undergoes a total internal reflection (TIR) and exits a trailing surface of the cone with approximately the same parallelism with which it entered the cone. EMR incident behind the front portion of the cone that exits the trailing surface with different parallelism than it entered may be directed to a light dump or through a frustum of a cone to re-establish the correct parallelism. The entire optical system may be monolithically integrated into the nose cone to eliminate alignment issues and moving parts.

An aerodynamic nose cone capable of imaging through the nose cone is accomplished by forming the nose cone as an Afocal Axicon lens. Under a condition of RI≈cos(X)/cos(3X) where RI is an effective refractive index and X is a cone half angle of the solid right-circular cone. EMR incident on a front portion of the cone undergoes a total internal reflection (TIR) and exits a trailing surface of the cone with approximately the same parallelism with which it entered the cone. EMR incident behind the front portion of the cone that exits the trailing surface with different parallelism than it entered may be directed to a light dump or through a frustum of a cone to re-establish the correct parallelism. The entire optical system may be monolithically integrated into the nose cone to eliminate alignment issues and moving parts.

A system for retaining an optical member about a mount can comprise a mount, an optical member having a first end and a second end, a primary retention system operable to secure the second end of the optical member to the mount, and a secondary retention system operable to secure the second end of the optical member to the mount. The secondary retention system can comprise a mount retention groove formed in the mount, an optical member retention groove formed in the optical member, the mount retention groove in the mount and the optical member retention groove in the optical member forming a retention channel upon the optical member being secured to the mount via the primary retention system, and a retention wire disposed within the retention channel. The secondary retention system activates to cause the retention wire to engage the mount retention groove of the mount and the optical member retention groove of the optical member upon movement of the optical member and at least partial failure of the primary retention system to retain the optical mount securely coupled to the mount.

A projectile designed to be lead-free and have a ballistic coefficient ranging from about 0.13 to about 0.80 or greater for enhanced energy/performance at extended ranges may have an elongated body formed with a jacket including a wall having an end defining an ogive portion and a cavity or recess defined within the jacket and in which a core is received. The projectile can be configured in various calibers and sizes. The projectile core may be formed from a plurality of core sections, and at least one of the plurality of core sections may include tungsten powder and a lead-free binder material pressed together to form a substantially cylindrical shape or compact. One or more of the core sections further can be sintered, and the one or more core sections may be received in an end-to-end relationship within the cavity defined by the jacket to form a stacked, sectional core.

A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile the projectile including a core, a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, and extending past a forward end of the core to form an open space inside the jacket between the forward end of the core and the forward end of the jacket, and a plurality of ventilation ports formed proximate the forward end of the jacket, each of the ventilation ports having a first opening on an inner surface of the jacket defining the open space, and a second opening on an outer surface of the jacket.

A projectile for use in a firearm ammunition cartridge, and a method of forming the projectile the projectile including a core, a jacket in which the core is disposed, the jacket having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, the forward end tapering inwardly toward a longitudinal centerline of the jacket to define an ogive portion of the projectile, and extending past a forward end of the core to form an open space inside the jacket between the forward end of the core and the forward end of the jacket, and a plurality of ventilation ports formed proximate the forward end of the jacket, each of the ventilation ports having a first opening on an inner surface of the jacket defining the open space, and a second opening on an outer surface of the jacket.

The invention relates to a bullet which includes a bullet-shaped body having a forward-facing central cavity with at least one concentric socket formation defining an inverted frusto-conical shoulder and an elongated insert having a longitudinal trailing shaft portion receivable in a mouth of the forward-facing central cavity of reduced diameter. The elongated insert includes an expansion portion being defined by at least one ball-shaped segment extending forward from the trailing shaft portion, of which the expansion portion fits into the concentric socket formation.

The invention relates to a bullet which includes a bullet-shaped body having a forward-facing central cavity with at least one concentric socket formation defining an inverted frusto-conical shoulder and an elongated insert having a longitudinal trailing shaft portion receivable in a mouth of the forward-facing central cavity of reduced diameter. The elongated insert includes an expansion portion being defined by at least one ball-shaped segment extending forward from the trailing shaft portion, of which the expansion portion fits into the concentric socket formation.

A supercavitating cargo round comprises an energetic payload and an electronic payload. The electronic payload includes programmable circuitry suitable for implementing a digital delay of arbitrary length. The supercavitating cargo round is programmable while in a barrel or loader of a weapon.