Boat Tail or Flat Base??

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Sniper66

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Have you guys found much difference in accuracy between BT and FB bullets? Seems the general rule of thumb is that flat bases or more accurate. I prefer BT because they are slightly easier to load. Lately I've been unable to find Sierra 55gr SBT. For me they shoot better than the BKs in one of my rifles so am thinking about a Nosler equivalent..
So, what works for you guys? I'm sure this issue has been discussed before, but will appreciate your thoughts. Tom
 
Sniper66 said:
Have you guys found much difference in accuracy between BT and FB bullets? Seems the general rule of thumb is that flat bases or more accurate. I prefer BT because they are slightly easier to load. Lately I've been unable to find Sierra 55gr SBT. For me they shoot better than the BKs in one of my rifles so am thinking about a Nosler equivalent..
So, what works for you guys? I'm sure this issue has been discussed before, but will appreciate your thoughts. Tom
Click to expand...


For me it’s boattails they just shoot better!
 
Depends.
My .308 likes flat base out to 200 yds. Beyond that the BT win.
The 6.5x55 likes the BT much better all around. the 120 gr. Bergers to be precise.
The .300 WSM has a preference for the BT's too as does the .30-06.
My .270 has a definite preference for the FB. Again, out to 200-250 then the 140 gr. Bergers are the clear winner.

Like I said. It depends.
To find which one your gun prefers, you have to do a lot of experimenting. It's part of what keeps handloading interesting - there is always something new to try! ;)
 
A botail has more surfaces that are flat base which leads to a greater chance of not being exactly uniform. When shooting inside 200 yards a flat base is generally preferred because of this reason and there is no significance in Drag. Outside 200 yards a boat tail bullet has significant aerodynamic drag advantages that it is generally always chosen. I load botails for all my long range rifles and all I shoot in the near range his lever action with cast bullets.
 
My understanding is that flat base bullets have slightly more accuracy potential than boattail, but lower BC. Hence 100yd benchrest (where BC is irrelevant) runs FB, and long range games (where pure accuracy is balanced against high BC) use BT.

I doubt any factory rifle could squeeze enough accuracy out of either to notice the theoretical difference, so I assume my rifles' preferences are just luck of the draw.
 
edwardware said:
My understanding is that flat base bullets have slightly more accuracy potential than boattail, but lower BC. Hence 100yd benchrest (where BC is irrelevant) runs FB, and long range games (where pure accuracy is balanced against high BC) use BT.

I doubt any factory rifle could squeeze enough accuracy out of either to notice the theoretical difference, so I assume my rifles' preferences are just luck of the draw.
Click to expand...
The similarities between a bench rest rifle and load and what the average shooter is about 0. Critically specified Barrel dimensions and tolerances in no way compares to a regular Factory rifle barrel, Hornady or Bob's bulk bullets and no way compares to the specialized handmade bullets like Bart's, loads developed in Lapua or Alphas or Peterson brass does not compare too milsurp brass. Trying to compare your results to that of a benchrest shooter is like comparing zebras to orangutans
 
I think a lot of print has been wasted over the years on this topic when it really boils down to some rifles like some bullets more than others regardless of shape. That being said, I have noticed a preference for flat based in worn, rough or oversized bores. My rifles with "good " bores seem to have no preference.
 
Sniper66 said:
Have you guys found much difference in accuracy between BT and FB bullets? Seems the general rule of thumb is that flat bases or more accurate. I prefer BT because they are slightly easier to load. Lately I've been unable to find Sierra 55gr SBT. For me they shoot better than the BKs in one of my rifles so am thinking about a Nosler equivalent..
So, what works for you guys? I'm sure this issue has been discussed before, but will appreciate your thoughts. Tom
Click to expand...
It really depends on your usage needs. If it's a sub 250yd deer rifle i'd go flat base. If its for 300-400+yd shooting i'd take boattails for better aerodynamics
 
Since I would never take a shot where a boat tail would actually make a significant difference, I really don't worry about what the base looks like. If it shoots, and it performs well in terms of "terminal ballistics" when it gets there, who cares? I shoot whatever works best for the hunting I actually do, not what I read about others doing, so the advantages of a boat tail in terms of ballistics, don't matter to me. I doubt the question is important in the VAST majority of shots taken while hunting.
 
Boat tails seem to be the predominant design for higher end bullets. I shooting nothing but BT’s out of my competition guns.
 
OK. OK. The verdict is in; for short range shots (under 200 yds) the FB bullets are better, except when the BT bullets are better. The same is true for long-distance shooters. I'm glad to know it really does not make much, if any, difference. I'll lean toward BT since they are a tad easier to seat and, as sfl_gunner observes, higher end are mostly BTs. Thanks fore your thoughts. Tom
 
You will most likely get what people like depending on the crowd you ask. A lot of service rifle guys like the 53 grain match king for close in work. Bullets are getting better so the gap is closing between the two. If your using top self components like Berger or sierra's then its really a preference. What type of seating die you use may make the experience a lot different. Wilson chamber seaters make easy work of fb bullets.
 
Ugh, I opened a can of worms with my joke, for I, too, hunt with a .22!
It’s an air powered, skirted wadcutter. And perfect for things in the yard the chew on things in the garage!
:D

And I am sending an envelope today to my favorite government agency, to “hunt” a nuisance varmint a touch too big for an air gun.

But that I my schism. When I say hunt, I mean eat.
I don’t eat chipmunk or coyote.;) And this woodchuck is getting multiple holes, to assuage my frustration at having to remove an entire shed. The slab has sunk a foot in one corner! Ripped the plate right off the studs.
I may eat one of the seven little ones...:cool:
 
Sniper66 said:
Have you guys found much difference in accuracy between BT and FB bullets? Seems the general rule of thumb is that flat bases or more accurate. I prefer BT because they are slightly easier to load. Lately I've been unable to find Sierra 55gr SBT. For me they shoot better than the BKs in one of my rifles so am thinking about a Nosler equivalent..
So, what works for you guys? I'm sure this issue has been discussed before, but will appreciate your thoughts. Tom
Click to expand...
The key for myself is define the mission and select the appropriate tools, Barrel twist plays a role in bullet selection also, not being a short range shooter I won’t speak for that more than looking at the equipment list tells me that flat base Bullets are most widely used, long range Benchrest is dominated by BTHP, Berger, Bart’s, Roy Hunter, Vapor trails and a few others
 
90 % of my scoped rifles used boat tailed bullets.
Iron sights rifles almost all have flat based bullets.
It's more based on bullet performance than whether it's boat tailed or not.
 
Demi-human said:
Ugh, I opened a can of worms with my joke, for I, too, hunt with a .22!
It’s an air powered, skirted wadcutter. And perfect for things in the yard the chew on things in the garage!
:D

And I am sending an envelope today to my favorite government agency, to “hunt” a nuisance varmint a touch too big for an air gun.

But that I my schism. When I say hunt, I mean eat.
I don’t eat chipmunk or coyote.;) And this woodchuck is getting multiple holes, to assuage my frustration at having to remove an entire shed. The slab has sunk a foot in one corner! Ripped the plate right off the studs.
I may eat one of the seven little ones...:cool:
Click to expand...
Well if it's eating purposes, come on out with your 55s and snipe some rabbits with us, it's a fun+tasty+light-hearted experience!
I do get what you are saying though, just couldn't help myself.....and then there's the monos, last year I was loading 50 gr bullets for deer ;).
But I suppose you're right....I wouldn't use them on elk......;)
Good luck with the chucks! Sounds like a good airbow may be in order....
 
I think with cup and core hunting bullets, the core and jacket are more likely to stay together with a flat base than a boattail. The boattail design seems primed to squirt the core forward when the bullet gets deformed.
 
I think it’s safe to say that anyone who’s shooting for accuracy and precision in a competitive endeavor past 300 yards is using a boat tail bullet.

The reason is pretty obvious when you look at the BC values.

I’m not sure why there’s a controversy over it.
 
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