Why are bullets shaped differently.

Question

Why are 9mm bullets rounded while .50 caliber sniper rounds are pointed?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Pointed bullets are more aerodynamic while rounded bullets gives more weight for the same length of cartridge. So for higher speeds, longer ranges with flatter trajectories you want a more aerodynamic pointed bullet while if you want a small light cartridge that fits nicely to a pistol that is used to fire slow heavy bullets at short ranges you want the extra weight and short length that a rounded bullet gives you.