Bullets for Beginners

Bullets for Beginners: "Flechette type APFSDS projectiles utilizing high strength or high density rod penetrators have been developed for small caliber 5.56 and 7.62 millimeter rifle systems, but without allowance for a tracer cavity in the flight projectile. Fin stabilized APFSDS projectile designs incorporating an adequate tracer cavity and developed for larger caliber systems do not efficiently scale down to small caliber projectiles due to the complexity of their sabot geometries which were optimized for the unique parameters of the larger caliber systems. Early fin stabilized APFSDS projectile designs for smaller caliber 5.56 and 7.62 millimeter guns did not provide for a tracer cavity in the rear of the flight projectile.
A more effective and efficient fin-stabilized, discarding sabot projectile incorporating an adequate tracer cavity with a deep armor penetrating projectile for small arms applications design overcomes many of the shortcomings inherent in earlier small arms APDS and APFSDS projectiles, such as: faulty structural design, poor sabot discard, reduced projectile accuracy at long range, low muzzle velocity due to high sabot parasitic weight, and inadequate armor penetration. Although a good start in the right direction for small caliber APFSDS projectiles, this design requires the use of several high precision manufactured obturator components, to ensure adequate performance and safety reliability. Reducing the complexity of the current state-of-the-art in obturator design will result in greater projectile performance, achieved with less expensive components, assemblies, and manufacturing processes.
Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide an armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) projectile for small caliber guns which minimizes sabot parasitic weight and structural complexity, facilitates rapid sabot sepa"