Kelly, it seems the primary reason for tapered bullets is to make the bullet easier to insert into the rifling for breech seating. As far as "tapered" is concerned, look at this 32-40 bullet design from Accurate moulds and notice how the bands gradually increase in diameter. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

oneatatime wrote Today at 4:01pm:


Another reason is for accuracy. I can breech seat straight bullets but I don't because I get superior accuracy with tapered bullets. 
When a correct fitting tapered bullet is used the minor diameter rides on the lands while the major diameter engages the entire bore to groove diameter. There are shooters out there who claim they get better accuracy with straight bullets and certainly that is the case for them. I have experimented with both, the tapered bullet wins every time. And it's easier to breech seat, bonus.

There are tapered bullets and there are tapered bullets. They are not all the same. It's best to do a chamber cast (including and inch or so of the rifling) so you get a tapered bullet that fits YOUR particular rifle. For instance, both my .32-40 rifles have a long lead so I breech seat a tapered bullet that is groove diameter for the forward bearing bands and .001 inch over groove diameter for the two base bearing bands.
Matching your bullet to your particular chamber and leade will likely give you the best accuracy.
Tapered bores. Barrels with cut rifling (such as RKS barrels) tend to have a very slight taper, breech to muzzle. It's a result of the rifling process with the muzzle being a coupl'a ten thousands smaller than the breech end. It can help improve accuracy but not all agree with that statement. Button rifled barrels generally have same bore diameter full length but can be lapped to induce some choke at the muzzle. Again, some have found that choke to benefit accuracy but not in all cases. 
Schuetzen is a fun complicated game that, IMO, never gets BOREING.