Delay discarding sabot projectile

Claim 1

A low dispersion delay discarding sabot projectile comprising: (a) a full caliber right circular cylindrically shaped pusher having a preselected longitudinal length and having a cup-like forward facing recess substantially concentric with the external surface of said pusher, said pusher having an aft end portion and a front end portion and said recess having a preselected longitudinal extent; (b) a right circular cylindrically shaped subcaliber penetrator of dense material and having a preselected longitudinal length, an aft end, a front end nose portion, and positioned in said recess of said pusher so that (i) said penetrator aft end is in abutting relationship with said aft end portion of said pusher and (ii) the pusher and penetrator longitudinal axes are aligned, said recess further having an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said penetrator so that, when said penetrator is positioned in said pusher, as aforesaid, an annular gap is defined therebetween, and said longitudinal extent and length of said recess and penetrator being respectively preselected, as aforesaid, so that, the longitudinal extent of said recess (i) is at least 75% of the longitudinal length of said penetrator, but (ii) is not as great as the longitudinal length of said penetrator, thereby, when said penetrator is positioned in said recess, as aforesaid, said nose portion of said penetrator projects beyond said front end portion of said pusher; (c) a sabot of non-resilient material disposed in said annular gap substantially the entire longitudinal length of said penetrator; and (d) expulsion means in said aft end portion of said pusher for axially separating said penetrator from said pusher at a preselected time.