WHAT DO YOU THINK ... Flat base or boat tails ?
- Thread starter Ricky Bobby
- Start date
tnshootist
New member
Just a curiosity question.Why do bullet companies make boat tail bullets?
4570Fan
New member
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunOriginally Posted By: ab_bentleyPretty mcuh what Bushy said. The BT bullets realy shine at longer ranges but the FB bullet are king at the short game. All of the BR guys I know shoot FB bullets for the 100-300yd matches. That's saying something. Adam
Agreed. FB is king in the short game.
For hunting purposes--- I really don't think it matters all that much. That said, I would much rather run a BT at short range than a FB at long range.
I too like the ease in which BT are seated compared to FB....
There ya are. Because I never know what range I'll be subject to, I pretty much stick with the BTs, both in my .243 and -06. For my .45-70 I don't worry about it.
Agreed. FB is king in the short game.
For hunting purposes--- I really don't think it matters all that much. That said, I would much rather run a BT at short range than a FB at long range.
I too like the ease in which BT are seated compared to FB....
There ya are. Because I never know what range I'll be subject to, I pretty much stick with the BTs, both in my .243 and -06. For my .45-70 I don't worry about it.
coleridge
Active member
Originally Posted By: skinneyOriginally Posted By: tnshootistJust a curiosity question.Why do bullet companies make boat tail bullets?
less drag, makes the bullet design more efficient for LR shooting.
Yep, raises BC & that sells LOTS of bullets these days... Everybody want to: "hit steel @ 1000 yards to be cool on the internet"
Berger has a few very interesting designs of high BC flat bases. They shoot very well but are very finiky on seat depth
less drag, makes the bullet design more efficient for LR shooting.
Yep, raises BC & that sells LOTS of bullets these days... Everybody want to: "hit steel @ 1000 yards to be cool on the internet"
Berger has a few very interesting designs of high BC flat bases. They shoot very well but are very finiky on seat depth
tnshootist
New member
very finiky on seat depth
Why would seating depth be different with flat base?
Why would seating depth be different with flat base?
Powerfisher
New member
I like the boat tails. I even shoot Barnes TMZ Boat tails out of my ML. To be honest, I havent been reloading long enough to make a honest compairison but I read and bought the hype on the boat tails and havent looked back.
skinney
Director
Originally Posted By: coleridge
Yep, raises BC & that sells LOTS of bullets these days... Everybody want to: "hit steel @ 1000 yards to be cool on the internet"
hmmm, i wonder who that could be.
Originally Posted By: tnshootist very finiky on seat depth
Why would seating depth be different with flat base?
its because they offer the secant ogive on the high BC flat base rounds.
Yep, raises BC & that sells LOTS of bullets these days... Everybody want to: "hit steel @ 1000 yards to be cool on the internet"
hmmm, i wonder who that could be.
Originally Posted By: tnshootist very finiky on seat depth
Why would seating depth be different with flat base?
its because they offer the secant ogive on the high BC flat base rounds.
coleridge
Active member
Originally Posted By: skinneyOriginally Posted By: coleridge
Yep, raises BC & that sells LOTS of bullets these days... Everybody want to: "hit steel @ 1000 yards to be cool on the internet"
hmmm, i wonder who that could be.
If no one has seen it, I was refering to this ***Every question and answer on a gun forum: Part II *** . It is definiatly worth the time!!!!
(I'm sure the majority have seen it)
I guess I can say I'm not "cool on the internet". I've never hit steel @ 1000 yards. I have hit IBS paper targets a bunch at that distance though
They were with boattails!
Yep, raises BC & that sells LOTS of bullets these days... Everybody want to: "hit steel @ 1000 yards to be cool on the internet"
hmmm, i wonder who that could be.
If no one has seen it, I was refering to this ***Every question and answer on a gun forum: Part II *** . It is definiatly worth the time!!!!
I guess I can say I'm not "cool on the internet". I've never hit steel @ 1000 yards. I have hit IBS paper targets a bunch at that distance though
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BigKev
New member
Originally Posted By: Ricky BobbyI have a simple question: Which of these style bullets do you prefer, the flat base or boat tails? Please explain your reasoning for one or the other! I can't really explain why, but I seem to favor the flat base style bullets. Just wish they made more of them, seems like majority are the boat tails.
I prefer boat tails. Only one single, solitary, lonely reason...they are easier to seat in the case when you have to load a ton of rounds.
I have not found the flat base projectiles lacking in accuracy, nor have I found them to be better than boat tails either...they just pop into the case mouth better and I don't have to pinch my fingers.
I prefer boat tails. Only one single, solitary, lonely reason...they are easier to seat in the case when you have to load a ton of rounds.
I have not found the flat base projectiles lacking in accuracy, nor have I found them to be better than boat tails either...they just pop into the case mouth better and I don't have to pinch my fingers.
RTLOF18918B
New member
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: RTLOF18918B My bullet of choice in the 06 is made by Sierra. They are flat based and run very well in my 06. I believe they are the Game King bullets. Hope this helps.
Tony
Sierra Pro Hunters are the flat base and Game Kings are boat tails.
You are probably correct on the Pro Hunters. I didn't have the box in front of me at the time of my post. Anyway, Sierra make a 180gr flat base. I have more bullets than I know what to do with right now. No, they are not for sale. Thank You.
Tony
Tony
Sierra Pro Hunters are the flat base and Game Kings are boat tails.
You are probably correct on the Pro Hunters. I didn't have the box in front of me at the time of my post. Anyway, Sierra make a 180gr flat base. I have more bullets than I know what to do with right now. No, they are not for sale. Thank You.
Tony
Dixiedog1
Active member
Originally Posted By: BigKevOriginally Posted By: Ricky BobbyI have a simple question: Which of these style bullets do you prefer, the flat base or boat tails? Please explain your reasoning for one or the other! I can't really explain why, but I seem to favor the flat base style bullets. Just wish they made more of them, seems like majority are the boat tails.
I prefer boat tails. Only one single, solitary, lonely reason...they are easier to seat in the case when you have to load a ton of rounds.
I have not found the flat base projectiles lacking in accuracy, nor have I found them to be better than boat tails either...they just pop into the case mouth better and I don't have to pinch my fingers.
That's the same reason I prefer boat tails, they slip into a case so smoothly. I can't see any difference on paper or game with boat tails or flat base as I don't generally shoot past 100 yds anyway so for me ease of starting in the case is the deciding factor.
I prefer boat tails. Only one single, solitary, lonely reason...they are easier to seat in the case when you have to load a ton of rounds.
I have not found the flat base projectiles lacking in accuracy, nor have I found them to be better than boat tails either...they just pop into the case mouth better and I don't have to pinch my fingers.
That's the same reason I prefer boat tails, they slip into a case so smoothly. I can't see any difference on paper or game with boat tails or flat base as I don't generally shoot past 100 yds anyway so for me ease of starting in the case is the deciding factor.
benson821
New member
It seems like my rifles prefer bt's over fb's. My 270 shoots 135 SMK's and 130 Nosler Ballistic Tip, and my 22-250 shoots 55 and 60 Nosler Ballistic Tip better than the other flat base bullets I have tried.
I tinkered with my 22-250 trying out some 60 v-max (flat base), 60 Hornady HP (flat base) and my rifle shot entirely differnt than it did before using bt's, my goups opened up to an inch compared to .25-.5 inch groups.
My preference is BoatTails
I tinkered with my 22-250 trying out some 60 v-max (flat base), 60 Hornady HP (flat base) and my rifle shot entirely differnt than it did before using bt's, my goups opened up to an inch compared to .25-.5 inch groups.
My preference is BoatTails
Ricky Bobby
New member
I guess I'm just not shooting the distances that some of you guys are, to prove the boattails to be more superior! I use a VLD reamer when prepping my brass and can't say I have ever really had any issues seating the flatbase bullets, either. I rarely shoot over 200yards during hunting situations and I will rarely practice/target shoot past 300yards. I can see everyones point about the longer distances. I'm sure that shooting 600 or even 1000yards with a heavy .30cal bullet, boattails would prove to be the best choice. I don't have to worry about taking shots of that distance for the time being!
Blackhawk43
New member
In my experience, the difference in a flat base and a boat-tail bullet would be in windy conditions. Using the same weight bullet with the same charge from the same cartidge you will see a noticeable difference in the shorter ranges, as in 150 to 300 yards. I think this is because of the higher bc and better retained velocity inherent in the boat-tail design.
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