What is your opinion?

[DalesCarpentry]

For some reason I have been under the impression that boat tail bullets were more accurate than flat base bullets. I think I might have read it somewhere sometime. I don't know it is just stuck in my head that they are more accurate. Now I am hearing that may not be the case and that flat base bullets are more accurate than boat tail bullets. What is your opinion on this? Thanks and take care Dale

[necchi]

They each have their own use,
 That's the dickens/joy of this loading thing. There is no "one" magic bullet. There just isn't one that will do everything the best.

 You have to define a goal, what you want. The variables of desired preformance are too great. There are volumes writin on internal and external ballistics.
 Small example, Deer hunting, some will want a 100yrd bullet that will mushroom quickly and leave a big hole. Generally a slower flatbase, if you jack up the speed of that bullet it will not be as accurate. Others want a 3-400yrd bullet that will reach out, that bullet being fast, may just "needle" through at close range and require specific placement to be affective.

 Ya really gotta experiment, that's buying another box of different bullets, going through the whole load development thing again. I have at least 3-4 types of bullet loaded, the 223 has different stuff than the 308. Frangable Varment, Soft point Spitzers, Hollow Points, FMJ for plinking,,
Heck, even the boattails are different amoungst themselves, and ogive curves have different porpose.

Have fun, an go do some shooting 

[mcwoodduck]

I thought boat tails were more accurate over distance.
If you are shooting the standard 250 yards or less I do not think there is a difference.
Past 250 yards I think the longer boat tail helps maintain velocity and that will help with the accuracy if it is going faster, less bullet drop.
Could be and probably am wrong but that is what my opinion is.
If you like them shoot them.
I have shot deer with oth and they both worked.
When shooting targets.  I cheap out and usually get flat bases.  the few times i did get Boat tailed Hollow points I could not see a difference at 100 yards out of my AR in a match.  - Must just be me only being able to shoot so well and now matter what you add I am the weak link in the rifle, ammo, bullet, and shooter chain.

[Dee]

Boat tails are not more accurate but, shed velocity less quickly. Flat base bullets are inherently more accurate. A comparison of the boat tail, and the flat base bullet, concerning velocity, can be made with the stern of a boat, and it's tendency to have a back wash, and a canoe which produces almost no back wash.

[huntswithdogs]

Lots of times it depend on the rifle or handguns choice , not yours. I'd buy a couple of different types and work up loads 'til ya get what yer looking for.


HWD

[necchi]

Dale, to give you an example of what people are doing with loading, here's a quote from a gent on another forum, he's working loads for his 30-06,,

It will be at least two and a half months before I post any finished work because I am in the middle of a major re-do of all my favorite 30-06 loads and some new ones in my main 30-06 hunting rifle. I can't continue until my new stock comes in but it is suppose to be here soon.

I am at the present working with 165gr Sierra HPBT, Nosler Partition, Remington Core Lokt, Hornday SP, Accubond, Ballistic tip - 168gr Barnes TSX, Sierra MK - 180gr Ballistic Tip, Sierra SP, Nosler Partition PT, Accubond, Barnes MRX- 190gr Sierra MK, 200gr Sierra SPB - 208gr A-Max - 220gr Sierra RN, Nosler Partition - 240gr Woodliegh.

Using the following powders:

IMR4895, IMR4320, IMR4350, IMR4831, IMR7828

AA2495BR

RL-19, RL-17, RL-22

H380, H414, H4350, H4831

Norma MRP

Brass: Winchester, Remingtion, Nosler, Hornady and Federal

Primers: Fed 210M, Fed 210, Remington 9 1/2 and CCI

I am keeping detailed records of velocities, extreme spread, deviations, group size and over all lengths. I do not want to short cut anything and the weather is very hot and humid down here so it will limit my time at the range. Plus I am doing this to develop specific loads for using the 30-06 for the following game as and all around cartridge and main go to rifle. Coyote, bobcat, hog, deer (white tail, coues, Mule) black bear, elk, Moose and possibly a chance again on plains game in Tanzania (if work sends me again)

So, depending on the specific game I am hunting I will have a specific load for the task at hand using one rifle.

So not to be rude, but there is more than one way to skin a cat 

[DalesCarpentry]

Boat tails are not more accurate but, shed velocity less quickly. Flat base bullets are inherently more accurate. A comparison of the boat tail, and the flat base bullet, concerning velocity, can be made with the stern of a boat, and it's tendency to have a back wash, and a canoe which produces almost no back wash.

Dee that is a great comparison and understand more clearly now. Thanks Dale

[R.W.Dale]

For years boat tailed bullets had a somewhat deserved rep for being less accurate because it was harder to make a concistant boat tailed bullet than flat based. This had nothing to do with aerodynamics and everything to do with the manufacturing processes of the time

[SHOOTALL]

I have noticed that each gun determines what it likes at a certian range . Boat tails load easy. I have heard that when a bullet goes subsonic the boat tail is more stable. With pistol ( XP-100's ) flat base bullets shot best for me or as well so the cost of boat tail was a waste . But for a rifle at long range with targets past where the bullet slows past super sonic they may be the ticket . And then there will be some rifles that just shoot them better for what ever reason . I would venture a well shaped and blanced flat base would out shoot a poor shaped unblanced boat tail bullet but that is common sense really.
As a note while watching the history channel a sniper selected his 50 BMG rifle because it stayed supersonic over a longer range and was more accurate. Something to consider.

[KansasPaul]

I've played around a lot with 55 grain bullets - soft points, ballistic tips, hollow points, boat tails, flat bottom.  I don't know why but in my rifle ballistic tip boat tails don't work so well.  Soft point boat tails do work well.  Flat bottom ballistic tips are okay, flat bottom hollow tips work okay in my gun at 50 yards but at 100 yards they key-hole.  Why? Heck I don't know - it may have something to do with the weight/balance distribution of the bullet. It may be the rate of twist. It may have something to do with the length of the bullet, the shape or the way I load them.  The bottom line has already been stated - I think it really depends on the gun and what your intention of it's use is.  If you are loading 22-250 for shooting p-dogs at 300-500 yards you want a bullet that maintains velocity and stability. The key is finding out what works well and sticking with it. 

Paul

[Autorim]

IMHO, it is a function of bullet quality and what your rifle likes. A perfect bullet base and perfect muzzle crown is necessary for best accuracy and traditionally it has been easier to manufacture a perfect flat base bullet.

I usually only shoot Sierra or Nosler bullets, but have shot quite a few Speers over the years in the .30 calibers. The Nosler Ballistic Tip and Partition bullets all have a slight bevel base and have always been accurate for me. Most of the Sierras I shoot are flat base and they have always shot well for me also. I had one .243 that I tried quite a lot to get it to shoot well with the 85 grain Sierra boat tail - never did. It always shot well with 100 grain Nosler Partitions and 100 grain Sierra flat base bullets as well as any Sierra flat base bullet.

As it has been posted, the boat tail does make the bullet more aerodynamic which retains velocity and energy better over long range if you feel that you need that advantage. I believe the boat tail is more stable over long range as it becomes subsonic.

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive allways had better luck accuracy wize at a 100 yards with flat based bullets.

[1sourdough]

 BT bullets are easier to load in the case. I've used them at times mostly because of that. I have actually been moving away from them the last number of years. I tend to like the shorter tapered bt bullets if I do use them. The main issues for me is most of my shooting/hunting is shorter range & bullet length can be an issue(284win) & some others. I have a mental picture of the expanding gas pushing the flat base more efficiently too, not that it matters in reality.

[SHOOTALL]

Kansaspaul , check your bbl. crown

[TXSPIKE]

I've shot my best groups with flat based bullets.