ReDot,

For the sake of discussion only, I wantto challenge a couple of things.

"a pointed nose is always going to have an aerodynamic advantage over that of a flat nosed bullet OF EQUAL LENGTH and DIAMETER."

If two bullets are of the same diameter, how can you make one more "pointed" without making it longer, unless you sacrifice mass. If you sacrifice mass, then your advantage gained may have nothing to do with aerodynamics.

"bullet LENGTH is usually the biggest deturrent to an efficient BC. A longer bullet creates larger amounts of drag."

Not if you vary diameter. Would you rather have the BC of a roundball, or take the same mass and reshape it?

"That is where the boat-tail comes along, (usually bullets of a higher weight for that particular calibur). They cheat the length down if you will, by tapering it at the end hence reducing drag allowing for a better BC."

You are getting closer, but if you curve the edge of a cylinder without altering the mass,I think you have tolengthenan edge. The advantage is in the departure of air behind the bullet; longer and cleaner.

In the golf ball example, the dimples work because they shift turbulance from behind the ball to the front and sides, in effect "lengthening" the aerodynamic shape of the ball, reducing the vacuum behind the ball.

What I have suggested is that the trailing edge of a bullet is more important than the leading edge. The leading edge is important as well. If you allow diameter to change, lengthening and tapering the front and back, the back more so than the front, your BC would skyrocket. Torpedoes are shaped the way they are for a reason. Bullets are too. But with bullets, there are manufacturing processes, established norms, appearance, buyers' preferences all entering the equation. The little yellow polymer plug in the nose of a PB has no measurable affect on performance, but it's there.

Your thought?