How to pick the best ammo for every big-game species

#7 OTHER BULLET FEATURES

Any of the bullets described here can be made with a pointed polymer tip (above), as they commonly are. Though a polymer tip slightly improves a bullet’s ballistic properties, its primary function is to reduce the tip deformation that’s common with exposed lead tips. As the polymer is driven back into the bullet’s lead core upon impact, it also helps initiate expansion.

Many bullets are also designed as so-called boattails, with an inward taper at the bullet’s base. This reduces drag to improve the bullet’s ballistic properties, especially at longer ranges. Inside 300 yards, however, the improvement is minimal.