Curious bullet

[KySilverado]

Found these in an old cigar box of miscellaneous bullets. I've never seen a bullet design like this. They are .223 diameter. Just curious about them.

 

[cornbush]

I've never seen any in 22 cal, but my grandpa has shot several hundred in 30 that look very similar.
They were a Herter's bullet, I think they called it the Wasp Waist?... They are extremely accurate out of his '06 and his 300 win mag.

 

[flashhole]

Speer used to carry a design like that - they called it the semi-spitzer. It was my favorite bullet for my 300 WM before I sold it.

 

[CherokeeT]

cornbush nailed it - old Herters design as I recall way back then.

 

[mrawesome22]

Wonder what the advantages of this design were?

 

[ballardw]

One claim for the wasp-wasted bullets were higher velocity. With less metal in contact with the bore there is less friction than in a "standard" bullet of similar size and weight.

 

[cornbush]

My grandpa told me they were supposed to get a little higher velocity and less fouling. All I know is I wish he would sell me the rest of his stockpile, he still has about 2500. He still has not found a bullet that shoots as well as those do in his guns.