Faster Powders Better for Boattails?

[goodconcretecolor]

I have a pet 30-06 load of 56 gr of IMR 4350 under a Hornady 150 spt(flat base) which gives consistant sub-moa groups. I switch to SST's and it goes to 2-3 inch groups. I am getting better results(1 3/4" groups) with 4064 under the SST's and I am continuing load development. Would an even faster powder like 3031 be better still for boat-tails? Has any one seen any trends switching from flat base to boat tails?

[Val]

It appears to me that you may be a little light on the powder. I use 57 grains of IMR 4350 for sub moa with 165 grain pellets. The Nosler manuals indicates that the most accurate load with IMR 4350 with 150 grain pellets is at 59 grains. The Nosler manual also calls out RL19 as the most accurate powder tested.

[Grumulkin]

Bullet construction, i.e. flat base vs boatails, should not have much to do with whether a powder should be slower or faster.

With 165 grain bullets, my .30/06 seems to really like Varget.

[dw06]

I have a pet 30-06 load of 56 gr of IMR 4350 under a Hornady 150 spt(flat base) which gives consistant sub-moa groups. I switch to SST's and it goes to 2-3 inch groups. I am getting better results(1 3/4" groups) with 4064 under the SST's and I am continuing load development. Would an even faster powder like 3031 be better still for boat-tails? Has any one seen any trends switching from flat base to boat tails?

Just a thought,did you seat the SSTs so that they are the same distance off the lands as the pet load?The over all length will be longer with the sst do to the shape.
The only trend I've noticed is that there are no trends.For example I have rifles that won't shoot boat tails in any weight,while at same time another rifle only likes them in one weight and no other.Also have rifles that will shoot both,so go figuare.

[trotterlg]

I have never had a rifle that would shoot boat tails and not shoot flat base bullets.  My opinion is that to shoot boat tails well the barrel crown has to be absolutely perfect, the base of the bullet on a boat tail is in the turblent area of excaping gasses at the muzzel for a much longer time than a flat base bullet is, so is much more affected by any small irregularities in the crown.  Could also be the way you hold your tounge when you shoot I guess.  Larry

[dw06]

Could also be the way you hold your tounge when you shoot I guess.  Larry

Yeah bet thats it,left side for boattail right for flatbase lol