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Poly Coated Ballistic Tips

There is considerable controversy over rifle projectile design. In part, the controversy arises because specialty bullets are meant for very specific applications. And marksmanship is intrinsically difficult to measure, especially based only on a day at the range or one weekend hunting. But poly coated bullets deliver many advantages.

Speed
- To the uninitiated, bullet flight may seem instantaneous. From firing to impact, it can be hard to imaging the physics involved because the duration of the bullet's flight is so short, but the physics are very real. Flight physics are very similar to other aerodynamics, such as an airplanes'. Standard lead-tipped bullets aren't especially smooth. They're easily misshapen because lead is so soft. Texture in the lead slows the bullet. If the texture is asymmetric, it may also alter the trajectory of the bullet. Polymer coatings provide a smooth outer shell, eliminating drag.
Accuracy
- At short range, a polymer tip may have little or no effect on accuracy. A handgun for example, may use a poly tip, but not for the purpose of increased accuracy; it may be used as expansion-control casing. When shooting at longer ranges, however, you're lobbing the bullet. You shoot high, with the understanding the bullet will drop as it loses energy. For example, accuracy comparisons of uncoated bullets and poly-coated tips at 100 feet may not reveal any difference. At 1,000 yards, however, a poly-coated round fired from an identical rifle and load may continue its flight when traditional lead tips have struck the ground. The big improvement in accuracy is seen toward the end of the bullet's arc.
Consistency
- A third major advantage of poly-coated ballistic tips is consistency. Because one lead tip may be in pristine condition and another may be badly marred, it's hard to tell what any particular bullet will do. Poly tips deform very little, so the shape of the projectiles you're shooting is more consistent. Consistent projectile shape translates into consistent results.
Controlled Expansion
- Controlled-expansion bullets are designed to optimize damage to human beings or animals to either kill them more efficiently or, in some cases, injure without killing. The primary question in controlled expansion engineering involves what happens when the bullet strikes flesh and bone. There are many designs for many applications. Polymer coatings provide ballistics engineers an eggshell-like casing that can help penetrate flesh without fracturing. Poly-coated tips provide engineers a consistent, aerodynamic tip that has a lower mass than other bullets, producing different results on impact.

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