However, this has some disadvantages, mostly the inability to combine a high ballistic performance with a high rate of fire.
This was in response to the French adoption of a pointed and boat-tail bullet, which offered better ballistic performance.
New materials that are thinner, lightweight, and offer better ballistic performance are being sought.
This allowed the 99 to use cartridges with spitzer pointed bullets for increased ballistic performance.
These cartridges offer better ballistic performance and greater effective range than the 7.62x51mm.
But greater requirements for the optical properties and ballistic performance have necessitated the development of new materials.
As with all high speed large game rounds, bullet construction plays a major role in terminal ballistic performance.
The guns had identical ballistic performance, but differed in construction.
Bismuth-tin alloy shot is one alternative that provides similar ballistic performance to lead.
It was replaced after only three years of service by the .30-06, firing a Spitzer bullet giving better ballistic performance.