Thread: Projectile questions for the experts

It has long been known that bullets with the centre of gravity further back are more stable and hence, more accurate. There are various ways of achieving this, probably the aluminium (or compressed paper) frontal core in the Mk VII .303 being the most complex. Another, unplanned but beneficial effect (from a military perspective) is that base heavy projectiles flip sideways when destabilised by bones, etc, which greatly, but unpredictably, enhances their wounding effect whilst complying with FMJ provisions of the Hague Convention. Hollow-pointing as part of the forming process in manufacture is the most cost effective way of achieving the base heavy effect and is why it is used in match bullets. I use Sierra 69 grain HPBT match bullets in my .223 and they kill goats in a most satisfactory manner out to 500 metres, subject to proper bullet placement (head, neck, chest) of course.