Choosing your bullet shape

[rigatoni]

When you guys are choosing bullets to test hand loads with, does the shape of the bullet give you an indication of what might work best?

I know every rifle's different, need to work out the best loads etc.

But is bullet shape a hint or a guide?

Any types that are typically better or worse?

[Hardcast]

Hi Rigga,

If I can, I usually try to buy a few target projectiles off someone in the club, just to be sure any problem is not projectile related.
Hollow point boat tails (specifically target) seem to be the go in the target world, and I only bother with Sierra.

If all is well and I find the rifle shooting well, I then turn to an appropriate hunting projectile and start testing.
In my practice I have never really found that a Spitzer is more accurate than a round nose or a hunting hollow point until
you start to stretch out to longer distances with that particular calibre. You do need to find a projectile that will do the job properly.
For instance, my .22 Hornet, .222 and .223 all shoot round nosed 40 and 45 grn ('Hornet') Sierras as well as the S.P. out to 200 yds.
After that I use the heavier S.P. The 25.06 and 30.06 are pretty much the same.
In the 'Cast' world, especially rifle, you don't see many pointed projectiles, and yet they still shoot at long distance.

So, find yourself a quality projectile, be prepared to try a few, unless you strike it rich the first time, and have some reloading fun.
Unfortunately, what works in another rifle, doesn't always work in yours.

If you're in a club, ask if you can buy a few from the other guys, often someone will give you a few.

[Aster]

But is bullet shape a hint or a guide?

Any types that are typically better or worse?

A hint is about the best it will give you, and can be wrong for your rifle anyway. e.g.

A hollow point should be more accurate than a soft point.

A boat tail should be more accurate than a flat base.

A longer bullet should be more accurate than a shorter one.

And so on...

In reality though that doesn't really mean anything.

You could try a long HPBT in your rifle and it might shoot terrible.

You could put a shorter, flat base soft point in your rifle and it could love it.

[rigatoni]

Thought I might be hoping for too much

Oh well. Off to buy half a dozen packs I guess.

There are worse ways to spend a weekend

[Hinky]

Thought I might be hoping for too much

Oh well. Off to buy half a dozen packs I guess.

Yeah mate, no such luck.

Good excuse to go shooting though

[harlow]

I've been told to buy green ones because that's the colour the GF likes

[redrum]

I thought red things went faster?

Hornady SST's ?

[Noisydad]

The big advantage with testing a few different bullets is that if they don't work you have legit reason to go back to the gun shop.

[Seik]

The big advantage with testing a few different bullets is that if they don't work you have legit reason to go back to the gun shop.

Any reason's a legit reason

[rigatoni]

The big advantage with testing a few different bullets is that if they don't work you have legit reason to go back to the gun shop.

Yep, I got a few trips out of this in the end

130gr Sierra Game King's have turned out to be a winner.