quote: "the reason you want a supersonic bullet ot stay supersonic is to keep it from passing through the shock wave. a supersonic projectile has a shock wave traveling BEHIND it. if the bullet slows down to subsonic velocities it passes through the shockwave which can alter its course slightly."
Interesting.
I wonder if this now sub-sonic bullet isn't actually overtaken by its own supersonic shock wave, which would disrupt it from the rear, introducing yaw?
otoh, a bullet slows down throughout its flight... So the shock wave ought to overtake the bullet, even a varmint round that starts out at Mach 3+. The speed of sound is a condition dependant constant, but the speed of the shock wave's travel through the air is co-related to bullet velocity.
Since all bullets slow down, all shock waves ought to catch up to them, over and over again, no?
Someone help me out here. lol.