Different projectiles and their use?

calaper · 05-07-2008, 07:56 AM

Hi all,

Just wondering if one of you knowledgable lads would be able to tell me what different projectiles are available for rifle shooting and what their purpose is.

I am aware there are match-grade projectiles - obviously for target....

Soft point, boat tails and so on but what are they used for?

Care to help?

samuel · 05-07-2008, 09:01 AM

You are asking for something that would be such a large volumn that it would virtually be a book on here.If you go to the bullet web sites they explain all of this.Quickly:Flatbase softpoint,get more weight in a shorter bullet so it stabilises good and expands well at intermediate ranges.Boattail hollowpoint:more aerodynamic,higher BC so it flies further,faster,flatter.Match bullets:Have verry high BC and stronger jackets up front because they are only for targets and dont need expansion.Some have softer jackets to get a better gas seal,but are not designed for expansion.And then there are the cast bullets which would take another volumn. sam.

mym1a · 05-07-2008, 09:34 AM

many different types of bullets but have only 2 real purposes to stop another living creature in its tracks or punch holes in paper targets which realy is a simulation of the first, different bullets and weight for different criters???????????????

Ron AKA · 05-07-2008, 10:58 AM

Pretty complicated subject. Some quick thoughts. Flat point or blunt nose bullets are really made for tubular magazines so the point of one bullet does not set off the primer of the next. They also impress some hunters by the big end, but all in all probably the poorest bullet design and should not be used unless you have a tubular magazine.

Spitzer or pointy bullets are an improvement becase they have a better ballistic coeficient, and hold the velocity better at distance. This is probably the most common hunting bullet.

The next improvement is a boat tail. This reduces drag and again improves BC. Match bullets made for long distance typically have a boat tail to improve BC. For shorter distances match bullets are more likely to be flat at the back. It is thought that a boat tail if not made perfectly concentric can push the bullet sideways. So you will find match bullets of both types depending on the distance they are designed for.

For hunting the true value/design of a bullet is in how well it controls expansion especially when the distance (thus velocity) varies greatly. The ideal bullet will open up to double or more the original diameter and not lose any mass at low speeds and high speeds. The classic design with that intent is the Nosler Partition.

Suggest you poke around the Sierra, Nosler, and Berger websites. Lots of info there to look at. These are three quality bullets (Berger more so for match).

You can find some info on some of the more specialty bullets here:

6mmBR.com Bullet Comparator -- 6mm BR and 6BR Norma Bullet tests and Ballistics BC, custom bullets, ogive and 6mm reloading info with powder, primers and Lapua 6mm BR Norma brass for benchrest, NBRSA, high power and varmint shooting

Ron

calaper · 05-08-2008, 05:01 AM

Ron, you're a legend....exactly the information i was after. thanks

05-07-2008, 07:56 AM	#1
calaper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 106	Different projectiles and their use? Hi all, Just wondering if one of you knowledgable lads would be able to tell me what different projectiles are available for rifle shooting and what their purpose is. I am aware there are match-grade projectiles - obviously for target.... Soft point, boat tails and so on but what are they used for? Care to help?

05-07-2008, 09:01 AM	#2
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	You are asking for something that would be such a large volumn that it would virtually be a book on here.If you go to the bullet web sites they explain all of this.Quickly:Flatbase softpoint,get more weight in a shorter bullet so it stabilises good and expands well at intermediate ranges.Boattail hollowpoint:more aerodynamic,higher BC so it flies further,faster,flatter.Match bullets:Have verry high BC and stronger jackets up front because they are only for targets and dont need expansion.Some have softer jackets to get a better gas seal,but are not designed for expansion.And then there are the cast bullets which would take another volumn. sam.

05-07-2008, 09:34 AM	#3
mym1a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,313	many different types of bullets but have only 2 real purposes to stop another living creature in its tracks or punch holes in paper targets which realy is a simulation of the first, different bullets and weight for different criters???????????????

05-07-2008, 10:58 AM	#4
Ron AKA Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 704	Pretty complicated subject. Some quick thoughts. Flat point or blunt nose bullets are really made for tubular magazines so the point of one bullet does not set off the primer of the next. They also impress some hunters by the big end, but all in all probably the poorest bullet design and should not be used unless you have a tubular magazine. Spitzer or pointy bullets are an improvement becase they have a better ballistic coeficient, and hold the velocity better at distance. This is probably the most common hunting bullet. The next improvement is a boat tail. This reduces drag and again improves BC. Match bullets made for long distance typically have a boat tail to improve BC. For shorter distances match bullets are more likely to be flat at the back. It is thought that a boat tail if not made perfectly concentric can push the bullet sideways. So you will find match bullets of both types depending on the distance they are designed for. For hunting the true value/design of a bullet is in how well it controls expansion especially when the distance (thus velocity) varies greatly. The ideal bullet will open up to double or more the original diameter and not lose any mass at low speeds and high speeds. The classic design with that intent is the Nosler Partition. Suggest you poke around the Sierra, Nosler, and Berger websites. Lots of info there to look at. These are three quality bullets (Berger more so for match). You can find some info on some of the more specialty bullets here: 6mmBR.com Bullet Comparator -- 6mm BR and 6BR Norma Bullet tests and Ballistics BC, custom bullets, ogive and 6mm reloading info with powder, primers and Lapua 6mm BR Norma brass for benchrest, NBRSA, high power and varmint shooting Ron

05-08-2008, 05:01 AM	#5
calaper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 106	Ron, you're a legend....exactly the information i was after. thanks