Textured projectiles for Enhanced Areodynamics?

[Konrad]

The newest generation of plastic vanes for archery are textured to promote "circular lift".
Golf balls are textured to promoted extended driving range and
straighter flight.

Why would it not follow that a rifle projectile could be textured to minimize drag, promote flatter trajectories and shoot straighter (be less effected by spin drift, etc.)?

This same texturing would provide relief on the shank of the bullet to compensate for manufacturing defects in the fabrication of the barrel's bore that is seen in many monolithic solids of the day.

Ya see what happens to me in the shower???

 

[Hunter2678]

Ive often thought about the same principles before , but then I assumed if it worked they'd be making it already ....but wait a second!
.......this should help

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/04/us-army-team-tests-radical-new-dimpled-bullet/

 

[MudRunner2005]

The newest generation of plastic vanes for archery are textured to promote "circular lift".
Golf balls are textured to promoted extended driving range and
straighter flight.

Why would it not follow that a rifle projectile could be textured to minimize drag, promote flatter trajectories and shoot straighter (be less effected by spin drift, etc.)?

This same texturing would provide relief on the shank of the bullet to compensate for manufacturing defects in the fabrication of the barrel's bore that is seen in many monolithic solids of the day.

Ya see what happens to me in the shower???

Why? Because a golf ball doesn't have to travel through 2+ feet of tight-fitting rifling before it starts its flight path.

A dimpled bullet would most likely gauld up and destroy your rifling. Also you wouldn't get a solid seal againt the inside of the bore causing pressure loss, which would mean you lose velocity. Therefore rendering the dimples pretty much useless.

This is just simply my thoughts, and in no way proven to be fact.

 

[MT4XFore]

This "dimpled bullet" has been a hoax for several years. Guess we're still falling for it.

 

[feelinducky]

Read the article date at accurate shooter. April 1, 2009

 

[tinkerer]

Well, I guess I'mm just misinformed.

In the 80's, I KNOW the military was testing a new type of missle with a small "antenna" projecting from the front in an effort to create a turbulent airlfow for the rest of the missle. Supposed to reduce drag and therefore, increase range with less fuel consumed.

So, who knows what is possible. I still think the Herter's wasp waist bullet was a good idea to reduce drag in the bore and create a better flying profile.

Why don't one of you 338 or 408 fans machine some wasp waist bullets and check on range, speed and impact.

Not my game anymore.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[Mikecr]

A golf ball is a ball(not a bullet). Bullets don't backspin(like golf balls).
And I suspect that I couldn't play any better with golf bullet than a golf ball...

 

[Max Heat]

This "dimpled bullet" has been a hoax for several years. Guess we're still falling for it.

Your calling it a hoax?? You sound like someone who believes that roswell was also a hoax, right?

Get with it, man! We're talking about the US military, for christ's sake!. The buzzword at work in these scenarios is: DIS-INFORMATION.

Apparntly you have very little appreciation for our military, with it's secrets, that they go to insanely great lengths in order to maintain.

In both scenarios, apparently someone had jumped the "gun", releasing a statement which was complerely [and categorically] retracted, once the ramifications & consequenses of going public had been realized.

To me, the performance gain claims that were made seem reasonable. But I am in agreement, that it is something that should NOT have gotten out, for potenitial enemies to make use of.

Military tech sould ALWAYS be AT LEAST 1 step ahead of civillian tech. And it would BOGGLE YOUR MIND, if you knew how many steps ahead they are in some areas. That being said, it is likely that ALL of the projectile manufacturers are currently conducting research on dimpled bullets. But with berger's "sonic ripple" bullets being "almost there", I would say that THEY are the ones to keep an eye on!

 

[Konrad]

I had a mental picture of a textured bullet in flight. It did not have "ripples"; however, this was the opening shot, so to speak, in my thought process.

Thanks for sharing. I had not even heard of the Sonic Ripple bullet.
Imagine a 375 dia. 300 grain projectile retaining its 200 yard velocity at 500 yards.
This sort of approach virtually negates the magnum or creates a super magnum performance round while keeping standard chamber pressures and recoil.

I want some!

 

[tbrice23]

Maybe if the bullet were dimpled/rippled everywhere except a few thousandths in front and behind the entire bearing surface that would negate gas loss in the barrel.

 

[sp6x6]

When I was ski racing which was 20 years ago.We where "structuring" our bases for more speed, actually roughing with sand paper still the tune and retune wax etc.but we where running faster

 

[Konrad]

I once read an article discussing the properties of Teflon. The surprising fact for me was learning the surface has a rough surface that lowers surface contact area.

I also read an article discussing hydraulic systems using up to 20% more horsepower after the rods become polished from wear...polished.
The smoothly polished surface creates more contact area and friction.

 

[Beng]

If it were possible and practical to shoot non-smooth surface small arms projectiles, you could always use sabots to negate any interior ballistic issues due to rifling. This would also deal with any overbore problems, since a .375" bore and h&h case could be used to accellerate a 140gr berger Vld for example.

 

[lazylabs]

I would think the rifling grooves pressed into a bullet would upset the airflow along the body enough to get most fo the effect. The CEB pressure rings would also do that.