DIMPLE PATTERNS

[williamlayton]

This has nothing to do with golf but with bullets, though, the idea comes from the dimple patterns on golf balls.
It has nothing to do with reloading.
Golf ball manufacturers have long used different dimples and dimple patterns on golf balls to change flight charteristics on balls. This is an aerodyamics thought and physics.
The military has, just recently, been doing studies on these dimple patterns on bullets to understand and improve flight chararistics and velocity and accuracy.
They have found that certain dimples improve, not only, range and accuracy but also speed and impact.
They are pursuing MIM and one piece construction to deliver the bullets in mass production.
Suprisingly they have increased speed from 80 to 120 fps, depending on the bullet without doing anything else, and, accuracy, at range, has also increased.
look for these developments to be incorporated into production ammo soon.
Blessings
 

[Oldshooter]

Interesting Bill, If they act like my drives they will be able to shoot around corners to the left! 

[GRIMJIM]

Great, now I'll start "topping" my bullets too.

[williamlayton]

OR, as OS fears--shoot around corners.
Blessings

[spruce]

That sounds like one of those simple things that make you think "Why didn't I think of that"?

Wonder who the individual was who thought of trying it?  A golfer who shoots?  A shooter who golfs?  Maybe someone who does neither, so was thinking outside the box?

[Mikey]

Yeah, but how do you get them back out of the rough..........

[GRIMJIM]

with a 9mm iron.

[Autorim]

My guess is that the jacket material is a dadburnium alloy.

[Brett]

Hmm.. don't know about you guys but my dimply golf balls tend to be very inaccurate... for me at least. 

[Mikey]

Brett:  well, I s'pose it's how you slice it.....................

Williamlayton:  not to make funny on ya but I have read just a little on this issue and to be honest I think someone has hit on a good idea.  I can easily see a increase invelocity and accuracy due to the attendant drag reduction when you 'dimple' the finish on a projectile like a bullet; I can also imgaine the tissue damage resulting from that bullet. 

I would like to see testing results and would also like to see if mass producted solid dimpled boolets hit the market soon.

[Brett]

Guess I should have left the hail dents in my car so that it would be faster and more fuel efficient. 

Mikey,  Someone once told me my golf game reminded them of a loaf of bread.   How's that? I said.  He quipped,  "All those slices."

[williamlayton]

The first objective, when you find your ball in the deep stuff, is to get it back too the fairway. A number of different clubs will do the job----my friends have devised two clubs tha seem to work very well for them---the foot and the hand.
The problem that I can emagine with the bullet, is in the one piece construction that will be required, in order for the bullet too be balanced,-- and the material used, in order to maintain proper weight/weights.
We will see.
Blessings

[Oldshooter]

Wonder if ya could put back spin on it so after it hit it would back up a bit. You could hit a target goin and a comin ! Or hit those targets hiding behind the tree from behind. 

[williamlayton]

I don't know---but you can't use square grooves.
I agree with Mikey-this is a concept that should work--as for thinking in or out of the box-I don't know but it was good that someone put two and two together and investigated it.
Blessings

[coyotejoe]

This subject came up a couple of years ago on the muzzleloading forum in regard to hopes for better accuracy from smoothbores but I haven't heard that anyone had actually put it to the test.

[Brett]

Here's a question for you engineers.  Why is it that when you impart a spin on a golf ball or baseball it's trajectory curves but when you impart a spin on a bullet or football it does not deviate from it's course unless acted upon by an outside force such as wind?   

[GRIMJIM]

I would think the ballistic tip almost forces it to stay on course.

The thing with the dimpling on a golf ball.. If you hit it properly it helps to gain more distance but if you hit it improperly it will magnify the curve from the improper hit. that's why you will see a golf ball practically make a u-turn when hit poorly.

[Oldshooter]

that's why you will see a golf ball practically make a u-turn when hit poorly.

Hey!! I resemble that remark! 

[GRIMJIM]

that's why you will see a golf ball practically make a u-turn when hit poorly.

Hey!! I resemble that remark! 

I'm glad I don't haqve that problem.
My drives never go long enough to curve. I am constantly topping the ball.

[no guns here]

The dimples on a golf ball do nothing to increase the accuracy.  The dimples are there to increase distance.  They may help with accuracy from the stand point of there is less drag on the ball so less effect on the ball once it starts rotating and mving off line.  Of course they may also increase the distance the ball flies off course...  The dimples disrupt the air flow around the ball.  A case of smooth isn't always better.  Footballs and bullets don't curve because of the longitudinal rotation.  Round balls can curve from a smooth bore, that's why we developed rifling.  It works on round balls but not as well on a longer object like say a Ballistic Tip.  Your golf drive would not slice if you imparted spin on them in the right direction (backward).  Even a slight mis-hit causes off axis rotation resulting in slicing or hooking.  Pro's are able to make that perfect  hit more consistently than you...  Also, they are able to purposefully induce the correct amount of off axis rotation to get the ball to fade or draw on demand.  I saw an episode of Mythbusters where they applied a layer of clay to the outside of a car and then dimpled it heavily.  They measured the fuel usage before and after.  There was an decrease in fuel useage with the dimples even though they added about 1,000 pounds of clay to the vehicle.  But nobody will by a dimpled Ferrari... 

The dimples wouldn't make a bullet stray from it's course.  The rifling will take care of that.  I'd love to see someone try it.  If it would result in 10% more downrange energy and velocity it would be more than valuable to hunters and shooters.


NGH

[Oldshooter]

Your golf drive would not slice if you imparted spin on them in the right direction (backward).

ACTUALLY, you tee the ball up when you drive so that you can hit it with a bit of top spin if ya want it to roll when it hits the fairway. You really wanna strike the ball on slightly up angle so as to accomplish the top spin. Back spin is a good thing when you wanna reduce roll after hitting the fairway. A good golfer can impart which ever on any shot. MY favorite drives would generally start right of center and gently draw left a bit with a smidge of top spin as well.

Some of my earlier posts were tongue in cheek but when I played regularly, I had a single digit handicap and could drive the ball purdy good too.

Now back to dimple bullets.

[Dand]

If I use dimpled bullets should I blame yipping or flinching for my bad shots?

Also makes me wonder the effect of the knurling on Hornady lead bullets; but I suppose the lube filling the knurling defeats the effect. But I've had good accuracy with them.

[Brett]

If I use dimpled bullets should I blame yipping or flinching for my bad shots?

Hmm, good question. 

[Oldshooter]

Dunno if you can but i will! If they make dimple bullets! 

[Badnews Bob]

I don't have any proof that it work or not but I have been dimpling my round balls for a couple of years, After I cast some I will put them in a cloth bag and shake them around some, It dimples them pretty well. If you look at Hornady round ball ammo they look like that's what's been done to them also. I dunno thou but it sounds good.

[Brett]

I have never suffered from the yipps but I have been known to flinch when shooting heavy artillery.

[S.B.]

I find this an extremely interesting thread. Sounds like modern technology has finally caught up with all those bullet molds in my basement?
Steve

[buck460XVR]

I assume sooner or later, with the renewed fervor in shooting sports, that bullet manufacturers will come up with a new twist on bullets so they can demand a premium price for bullets that those that need the latest and coolest are waiting to buy. Dimples, new profiles, air vents and environmentally safe construction are just a few that I have heard of and read about. I have no problem with science coming up with a practical substitution for lead in bullets, but wonder if the increased cost of the new designs will justify the little bit they may or may not do when it comes to increased performance. Seems the last few new bullet designs are like most fishing lures.....designed more to catch fishermen than fish.

[SHOOTALL]

When they dimple the bullet and mate it with a sabot they can shoot it in a smooth bore . Maybe as accurate as a rifle . That would sure stir up the states that have shotgun only hunting . I could see getting say a 28ga that shoots like a 308 winchester .

[ohiobenito]

I've always wonderd about a "donut" shaped shotgun slug..... Kinda like a foster slug but with a hole completely through.  This would have to have a pretty stout gas check kinda sabot.  But fired through a rifled barrel, I bet this would have a great ballistic coefficient.  if the shape of the slug was like an air foil rolled around to itself.  it would develop a positive lift and greatly reduce drop down range.  I guess the hard part would be finding an alloy that would deform upon impact for humane harvest, yet retain it's shape for flight and accuracy.