What do we really know about the transonic zone?

[Distant Thunder]

I think that not only is nose shape important in the transonic zone but also the nose length. It all has to do with balance and the locations of the Center of Gravity and Center of Pressure. Some designs are easier to unsettle than others which then means there are designs that are more able to resist those unsettling forces. I would think a well designed bullet would be worth having.

Just how important ballistic coefficient of a given bullet is I don't know. You don't want a brick, but you can NOT shoot VLDs either. I think Bruce Molds (RIP) believed that nose drag was an important consideration in transonic shooting, but I don't know enough about any of that stuff to say anything.

I would like to know what a bullet design that offers good transonic qualities looks like. I think we have seen some more or less standardize designs that have preformed very well when the twist is correct and velocity is sufficient. One is the Lyman 410663. I also think the early money bullets were a good design before everyone rushed to make the nose more slender (lighter) and more pointed to claim a higher BC. There are some similarities between those two designs, the original money bullet and the Lyman Snover and the Metford for that matter.

I also think that Metford's design was and is a good one along with the original Sharp long range bullet which later became the original Ideal Postell. Where most shooter who have tried these and failed went wrong is in trying to shoot the 1 1/2" long bullets that were used in the 1870s in twists that are not fast enough to actually stabilize that length. That may work in dead calm winds or very light winds but turn up the winds a bit and they get really squirrelly. They most have had trouble in the wind with the slow twists of the 1870s as well.

Take either of those designs and get the length and twist right and they are good designs.