I am not real sure what i am asking here so maybe we could just share our ideas? When do you want to use a boat tail bullet, and when do you just use a flat base bullet? Lets take the 6mm bullets for example shooting a 6BR. I read were a lot of shooters are using 68gr flat base bullets while others use a boat-tail. I know it has a lot to do as to what your rifle likes to shoot, but what really is the difference,( besides one bullets has a boat-tail and the other doesnt) or idea behind each design? Are the flat base bullets more accurate, but only at closer yardage? Are boat-tails only for long range shooting?? Like i said no real question hear, just curious is all. I am having some difficulty getting my 22-250 to shoot well so i bought some sierra 52gr HPBT.(these bullets always shoot, right) They also had 53gr HPFB bullets. I chose the BT but should i try the FB bullets?? I guess i am just hoping to learn something here. Thanks Lee
Boat-tail or no boat-tail???
- Thread starter skeetlee
- Start date
taylormade1
Member
Sounds like a question for olturtle..
Biggest difference I've noticed is the ease of loading BT compared to FB ones. Noticed it loading .224 55g V-Max(FB) and NBT's(BT). Didn't really see much difference in accuracy but the Vmax kept wanting to fall over when trying to seat them. Not much help but my $.02
peace.
unloaded
peace.
unloaded
Coyotejunki
Well-known member
Ya beat me to it Tim,
Plus it is my understanding that the boattail bullets are more sensitive to a good crowned barrel. The flat base are supposed to be a bit more forgiving, plus more surface area for the bullet to contact the lands, etc...
Plus it is my understanding that the boattail bullets are more sensitive to a good crowned barrel. The flat base are supposed to be a bit more forgiving, plus more surface area for the bullet to contact the lands, etc...
jpattersonnh
New member
The idea of a boat tail is better at distance. I actually shoot very few boat tail bullets and still shoot distance. I always thought I needed boat tails in my 7mm mag for those 400 yard plus shots. Guess what, I was wrong. I started looking at my military shooters a few years ago. All the ammo is flat base and that includes Surplus ammo for my snipers. The ammo had 1 thing in common. Consistency. I have a Swede from 1917 w/ a 1938 German 4x90mm Ajack scope that is an 800 yard rifle with what some would say is an under powered round, 6.5x55. That 154gr bullet is awesome. The only one that has a boat tail is Swiss GP11. All their ammo was match grade, every round that was ever issued.
Very similar to 7.62x51, GP11 being 7.5x55(.308 bullet) In reloading I found the K31 rifle likes Combined Technology 165gr Flat base spire point moly bullets. Flat base, boat tail, It's what you like, or your rifle.
Very similar to 7.62x51, GP11 being 7.5x55(.308 bullet) In reloading I found the K31 rifle likes Combined Technology 165gr Flat base spire point moly bullets. Flat base, boat tail, It's what you like, or your rifle.
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Some guys like the way the flat base holds together better and believe accuracy may have something to do with a more solid seal of gas pressure behind it. The boat tails take over past 300 yards. Me, I just shoot whichever is most accurate unless I plan to have shots at longer range, then I prefer to shoot an accurate boat tail or semi-boat tail bullet.
Bloody_Tailgate
New member
Boattail bullets tend to have a higher BC for specific bullet weight, and they are easier to load because of the angled base. One of the negatives of boattail bullets is that they are more prone to gas jetting in the barrel caused by less mating surface to seal the gases behind the bullet.
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
"One of the negatives of boattail bullets is that they are more prone to gas jetting in the barrel caused by less mating surface to seal the gases behind the bullet."
This is a myth. Many years ago Sierra did extensive recearch on this and it is just a myth, no basis in fact. It was suspected at the time because people shooting BT bullets were wearing out barrels much faster than people shooting FB bullets. It turned out that the reason was that most target shooters shoot BT bullets and target shooters shoot many more rounds than non-target shooters.
Jack
This is a myth. Many years ago Sierra did extensive recearch on this and it is just a myth, no basis in fact. It was suspected at the time because people shooting BT bullets were wearing out barrels much faster than people shooting FB bullets. It turned out that the reason was that most target shooters shoot BT bullets and target shooters shoot many more rounds than non-target shooters.
Jack
Linefinder
New member
Most short-range BR competitors (100-200 yards) don't need the long range aerodynamic benefits derived from a boat tail since they are shooting so close, and it's much easier to build a consistent bullet if it's flat-based. OTOH, a LR shooter taking pokes at 600 yards and beyond will give up a little bit of the inherent accuracy gained with the FB bullets in return for a boat tail that retains it's velocity better at longer range. The point blank BR shooter needs every thousandths of an inch of accuracy he can get, and this is more easily obtained with a simple (read "flat based") bullet. OTOH, the LR guy needs retained velocity way out there more than he needs "eye of the needle" accuracy.
Mike
Mike
speedkills
New member
Quote:
not sure on accuracy question...but I like boat tail bullet because ya really don't have to chamfer the inside of the brass as much, the bullet does work for ya .... my 2 cents
Actually if your not chamfering, you need to learn a little more! The more severe angled chamfering tools are designed for the VLD bullets.
not sure on accuracy question...but I like boat tail bullet because ya really don't have to chamfer the inside of the brass as much, the bullet does work for ya .... my 2 cents
Actually if your not chamfering, you need to learn a little more! The more severe angled chamfering tools are designed for the VLD bullets.
speedkills
New member
I totally agree!
Evil_Lurker
New member
Lee,
I don't think there's any real disadvantage to boat-tail bullets IF your rifle will shoot them accurately. A lot of barrels seem to shoot flat-base bullets more accurately, however. It seems a very good crown is the key to using them. I have an H-K .308 with a polygon-rifled barrel and it shoots both about the same, so who knows? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
I don't think there's any real disadvantage to boat-tail bullets IF your rifle will shoot them accurately. A lot of barrels seem to shoot flat-base bullets more accurately, however. It seems a very good crown is the key to using them. I have an H-K .308 with a polygon-rifled barrel and it shoots both about the same, so who knows? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Blackhawk43
New member
In my experience the advantage to boat tail bullets is in wind drift. Within 300 yards you won't see much difference in trajectory but you will notice quite a difference in wind drift.
I made custom bullets for a long time. Most barrels will shoot a flat base bullet more accurately when it comes to shooting very tiny groups.
It takes a lot further than 300 yards to see any apreciable difference in the exact same bullet with a flat base vs. a boat tail. I shot a lot of p.dogs with these bullets and at 450 yards, the very slightest change in the wind meant more that the b.t. vs flat base would ever make.
The boat tail moves the center of gravity forward the slightest amount, compared to the flat base. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not.
For varmint hunters, if you were to compare two identical bullet designs with the only difference being the BT vs flat base, the flat base H.P. bullet will have more air space between the lead level and the tip, which may allow the jacket to tear and expand quicker than a B.T. type bullet that moves the lead level forward and supports the tip more. Individual bullet designs vary, you really have to be careful to compare apples to apples.
Personally, I would take flat base bullets any day over a boat tail.
For the average shooter, the choice of shooting a bullet that is undersize vs bore dia bullet is more important than flat base vs bt. Most undersize bullets do not shoot as accurate as bore dia bullets or over size bullets(+.0003).
There are some custom bullet makers that are known to make extremely accurate bullets and their well kept secret is the fact that they are over size by .0003 in the shank.
I kinda got off subject, forgive my ramblings.
It takes a lot further than 300 yards to see any apreciable difference in the exact same bullet with a flat base vs. a boat tail. I shot a lot of p.dogs with these bullets and at 450 yards, the very slightest change in the wind meant more that the b.t. vs flat base would ever make.
The boat tail moves the center of gravity forward the slightest amount, compared to the flat base. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not.
For varmint hunters, if you were to compare two identical bullet designs with the only difference being the BT vs flat base, the flat base H.P. bullet will have more air space between the lead level and the tip, which may allow the jacket to tear and expand quicker than a B.T. type bullet that moves the lead level forward and supports the tip more. Individual bullet designs vary, you really have to be careful to compare apples to apples.
Personally, I would take flat base bullets any day over a boat tail.
For the average shooter, the choice of shooting a bullet that is undersize vs bore dia bullet is more important than flat base vs bt. Most undersize bullets do not shoot as accurate as bore dia bullets or over size bullets(+.0003).
There are some custom bullet makers that are known to make extremely accurate bullets and their well kept secret is the fact that they are over size by .0003 in the shank.
I kinda got off subject, forgive my ramblings.
Bayou City Boy
New member
Quote:
I made custom bullets for a long time. Most barrels will shoot a flat base bullet more accurately when it comes to shooting very tiny groups.
It takes a lot further than 300 yards to see any apreciable difference in the exact same bullet with a flat base vs. a boat tail. I shot a lot of p.dogs with these bullets and at 450 yards, the very slightest change in the wind meant more that the b.t. vs flat base would ever make.
The boat tail moves the center of gravity forward the slightest amount, compared to the flat base. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not.
For varmint hunters, if you were to compare two identical bullet designs with the only difference being the BT vs flat base, the flat base H.P. bullet will have more air space between the lead level and the tip, which may allow the jacket to tear and expand quicker than a B.T. type bullet that moves the lead level forward and supports the tip more. Individual bullet designs vary, you really have to be careful to compare apples to apples.
Personally, I would take flat base bullets any day over a boat tail.
For the average shooter, the choice of shooting a bullet that is undersize vs bore dia bullet is more important than flat base vs bt. Most undersize bullets do not shoot as accurate as bore dia bullets or over size bullets(+.0003).
There are some custom bullet makers that are known to make extremely accurate bullets and their well kept secret is the fact that they are over size by .0003 in the shank.
I kinda got off subject, forgive my ramblings.
From someone who has swaged bullets to another bullet maker, I could not agree more.
Flat base versus boat tail is mainly a marketing "thingy" designed to get your money... A well designed bullet in either configuration will shoot better than any individual can distinguish a difference from based on design features.
That statement in itself may not make sense, but what I'm agreeing with ackleyman about is that other things than bullet base design make for an accurate bullet at any range in a hunting situation.
And under no circumstances would I want to "give up a little bit of the inherent accuracy gained with the FB bullets" (as another poster suggested) if the FB bullet is the more accurate bullet at extended ranges. I can compensate for a little bit of difference in trajectory, but I can't do that for accuracy at that range.
-BCB
I made custom bullets for a long time. Most barrels will shoot a flat base bullet more accurately when it comes to shooting very tiny groups.
It takes a lot further than 300 yards to see any apreciable difference in the exact same bullet with a flat base vs. a boat tail. I shot a lot of p.dogs with these bullets and at 450 yards, the very slightest change in the wind meant more that the b.t. vs flat base would ever make.
The boat tail moves the center of gravity forward the slightest amount, compared to the flat base. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not.
For varmint hunters, if you were to compare two identical bullet designs with the only difference being the BT vs flat base, the flat base H.P. bullet will have more air space between the lead level and the tip, which may allow the jacket to tear and expand quicker than a B.T. type bullet that moves the lead level forward and supports the tip more. Individual bullet designs vary, you really have to be careful to compare apples to apples.
Personally, I would take flat base bullets any day over a boat tail.
For the average shooter, the choice of shooting a bullet that is undersize vs bore dia bullet is more important than flat base vs bt. Most undersize bullets do not shoot as accurate as bore dia bullets or over size bullets(+.0003).
There are some custom bullet makers that are known to make extremely accurate bullets and their well kept secret is the fact that they are over size by .0003 in the shank.
I kinda got off subject, forgive my ramblings.
From someone who has swaged bullets to another bullet maker, I could not agree more.
Flat base versus boat tail is mainly a marketing "thingy" designed to get your money... A well designed bullet in either configuration will shoot better than any individual can distinguish a difference from based on design features.
That statement in itself may not make sense, but what I'm agreeing with ackleyman about is that other things than bullet base design make for an accurate bullet at any range in a hunting situation.
And under no circumstances would I want to "give up a little bit of the inherent accuracy gained with the FB bullets" (as another poster suggested) if the FB bullet is the more accurate bullet at extended ranges. I can compensate for a little bit of difference in trajectory, but I can't do that for accuracy at that range.
-BCB