"Accurate bullet" design questions

E

eshell

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I realize that, to be capable of small groups/consistent accuracy, a production lot of bullets must be consistent with each other, and individually made to high precision. There are also design parameter customs that apparently must be followed to assure the best potential for accuracy. Certain length to diameter ratios seem prevalent, certain ogive profiles seem most widely accepted, bullets adapted to relatively slow rifling twists, etc. . . .

It seems to be common knowledge among precision shooters that the bullet base is much more critical to absolute accuracy than the tip. For this reason, assumably, almost all high quality match bullets are made as hollow point designs, in order to allow production of the most precise and consistent base shape. One might also assume that the flat base bullets are easier than boattails to make shoot well, but the boattail has enough ballistic advantage (reduced drop & drift) at extended ranges to overcome the initial advantage inherent accuracy of the flat base styles.

Is there an online data base of material or published written works that elaborates on this or explains why this is true? For the matter, are there any written works that explore bullet design vs accuracy potential of various bullet designs?

The only exception to the apparent "HP Rule" I am aware of is the Norma 6.5/130 FMJ match bullet, which doesn't seem to get much play in 6.5-284, 6.5x55, 6.5x47 and .260 Rem circles, and it didn't really shoot well in my .260. One wonders why Norma continues to produce this "match bullet" that no one seems to shoot matches with. Maybe it's due to some sort of mandated FMJ use in military rifle matches in Europe . . .
 
There is a section on bullet design in Harold Vaughn's "Rifle Accuracy Facts". This is in no way a book devoted to exploration of bullet design but if you haven't read it it might spark some questions and lead you down some interesting paths.

If you've already read this book, then you can read McCoy, "Modern Exterior Ballistics: The Launch and Flight Dynamics of Symmetric Projectiles" for an overview of what's required of an accurate bullet, or more to the point for a better understanding of the forces acting upon a bullet from which one can derive the requirements.......but to exactly match your query, I know of nothing.

al
 
Well, the base does have to be as perfect as possible. But most of the other things you mention are generalities, not "facts."

For example, If there was a specific ogive that was superior, we'd all shoot it.

As to the superiority of hollow points, no, tipped bullets are better, as long as the tip is well done. Ask anyone who had some of the original, hand-made Honady A-max bullets. There weren't many. And both Dave Tooley & Henry Childs made some hand-tipped bullets in a lathe, for their own use & testing.

Most of your "facts" are manufacturing facts. We do know many of the properties of better bullets as far as the drawing board goes, we just don't know how to manufacture significant quantities at a reasonable cost, with a reasonable rejection rate. The generalities are good enough for most practical uses right now & if you don't want to know the theory, they'll stand you well enough. When we figure out how to manufacture a better bullet at a reasonable cost, the word will get out. The only good reason to know more about this stuff is so that when a better bullet is made, you don't dismiss it because "everybody knows that won't work."
 
Thanks Al, I very much appreciate your help.

Charles, I am trying to learn more about this and seek sources, not to expound "facts", ideas I see as the trends, which I did try to express as generalities and trends . . . i.e.: "seems to", etc.. I more or suggest that "almost all are HP", and you point out two customs and one discontinued non-HPs as contradictory evidence. Um, OK . . . . thank you.

Again, good reasons or not, I'm just looking for more enlightenment on the subject than I can glean from match results and reloading manuals (stating "manufacturing facts").
 
I know this doesn't exactly cover the info you're after, but in the 'Articles' section here there is some good articles on bullet making that may give you a bit more insight into the craft.

Here's a link to that..or you can find it from the BRC homepage:
http://http://benchrest.com/articles/articles/4/1/Making-Bullets---Q--A-with-those-that-know/Bryan-Armatys.html

Other good info can be found in 'The Benchrest Shooting Primer' and Warren Page's 'The Accurate Rifle' for starters.

If you're interested in bullet design from the standpoint of making your own bulets, I highly suggest finding a sucessful bullet maker who will agree to mentor you in the basics of bullet making so you have a good foundation to go from when you start experimenting with your own designs. -Al
 
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