Sports Blog

The naming conventions, units of measurement, and firing mechanisms used by different firearms can be overwhelming for novices. This article from breaks down some basic terminology on bullet types to help you understand your new hobby. 

Practice bullets are made from lightweight materials like plastic, rubber, and wood to produce less-lethal impacts. Practice bullets have low velocities and are commonly used in target practice. 

Nose 

There are several different bullet types and the terms used to describe them have a variety of meanings. Some of these meanings are quite specific while others can be quite broad. 

Bullet nose shapes have a significant impact on both the mechanical (track) performance of a bullet and its terminal performance once it strikes an object. The shape of a bullet nose can be flat or round. A flat nose design is generally favored for close range shooting while a round nose bullet is better suited for longer distances. 

There is a great deal of variation in the shape and size of the nose curve on any given bullet type. This is primarily due to the fact that tooling is a very inexact process and it is not possible to create a nose curve that is perfectly uniform. As a result, there is also considerable variance in measuring devices used to determine the Cartridge Base To Bullet Ogive (CBTO). This measurement is critical for accurate comparison of bullets and for proper use of ball ammunition. 

Body 

A bullet is the metal projectile inside a cartridge round that’s propelled toward a target by gunpowder. A complete unit of ammunition consists of the bullet, a cartridge case (which holds the bullet and propellant) and a primer. 

While the shape of a bullet can vary, it generally serves as a compromise between aerodynamics and internal ballistic requirements. The type of bullet used by a suspect can play an important role in forensic identification and tracing, especially when compared with a reference standard. 

Full metal jackets (FMJ) are the most common types of military-designed rounds, which can also be used for practice, training, qualification and some hunting. They have a hard, thin layer of metal that protects the softer lead core during firing. FMJs can be traditional or “boat tail.” The latter has a tapered base, which helps reduce drag and allows the bullet to punch clean holes in paper targets. Other popular designs include spire pointed, armor piercing and incendiary. 

Crown 

The crown is everything that comes up above the rifling (except where the rifling ends). The crown controls the initial departure from the barrel to start free flight.

This is one of the places that most often affects accuracy, good or bad. 

Bullets come in a wide variety of shapes for different purposes. They also can be made with various bases. A flat base is the most common, as it is easier to manufacture. Other types of bases include boat tail, rebated boat tail and semi wad cutter. 

The boat tail design reduces drag and is popular for target shooting. It is also commonly found in hunting ammunition to penetrate heavier game. A rebated boat tail is less efficient than a standard boat tail. Lastly, a semi wad cutter is shaped like a cylinder and punches neat holes in targets. Generally the weight of a relatively intact bullet provides a partial indicator of cartridge type(s). The length of a bullet is also important. 

Tip 

In addition to caliber, the bullet type is usually identified by color. While there can be a lot of variation in color coding practices between different manufacturers and countries, certain general meanings are common. Black tips generally denote armor piercing rounds. Blue or red tips denote incendiary rounds. These rounds ignite target material upon impact, assisting in the tracking and aiming of shots. 

The base of the bullet may be flat or tapered. Tapered bases are known as boat tails and help to reduce the drag of a bullet in flight, increasing accuracy. 

The tip of a bullet is another important factor in its performance. Polymer tips are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles, with some manufacturers offering a selection of colors to facilitate brand identification. Color coded plastic tips, such as those made by Nosler and used on Core-Lokt bullets, can increase a bullet’s ballistic coefficient and help stoutly constructed bullets to deform at lower impact velocities. Popular calibers such as those from Peterson brass also makes for better reloading and shooting.