Boat tail VS flat base....is one generally more accurate

[cloverleaf]

That was the contention of an article in a shooting times from last year. The article did a test of 6 different brand bolt actions with three or four different factory loads each, all in .270. Remmington came out as the most accurate ammo over all the different rifles. The authors contention was that this was due to the flat base bullet used in the standard Remington loads. I have heard some prefer the flat base and others the boat tail for a higher BC. Is the flat base generally the case with match bullets? Or like so many other things is this bout a barrel's preference? Just wondering what the collective thinks.... CL

 

[JD338]

Depends on the distance. The BT really doesn't have an effect until you get out to the 400 yards mark.
Inside 400 yds, let your rifle decide which one to use.

JD338

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Depends on the distance. The BT really doesn't have an effect until you get out to the 400 yards mark.
Inside 400 yds, let your rifle decide which one to use.

JD338

This!

 

[SJB358]

Depends on the distance. The BT really doesn't have an effect until you get out to the 400 yards mark.
Inside 400 yds, let your rifle decide which one to use.

JD338

I'll add to Jim's comments a little, BT's really aren't a full boattail either. Same as the regular AB's. I can't remember the term, but they are like a 1/2 boattail compared to the ABLR's, Berger, or Sierra.

I think that is why they are generally really accurate in pretty much everything that shoots at least decently.

 

[DrMike]

Flat base really gives me greater accuracy. I've attributed this to the less complex design (fewer curves). Since I don't do all that much long-range hunting, the flat base works really well for me.

 

[Elkman]

In looking around for "match" bullets most that I have found have some sort of tail on them. (the ones I have used anyway). If I look at my rifle inventory right now, today, most of my rifles prefer a boat tail or similar for best accuracy. This in some cases is measured in hundreds of an inch. My STW (the chronic problem child) prefers flat base. I am attempting to convince it to like the 168 LRAB, for hunting but testing has been stopped since October. I really want to launch that bullet at about 3200 or so, which would give me a significant ballistic edge over the 300 WM. just an old man"s rambling.

 

[big rifle man]

Agree with Dr. Mike. Over the years I've tried boat tails vs flat base in a number of different rifles/calibers and generally find that flat base shoot more consistently and with better accuracy.

 

[SJB358]

In looking around for "match" bullets most that I have found have some sort of tail on them. (the ones I have used anyway). If I look at my rifle inventory right now, today, most of my rifles prefer a boat tail or similar for best accuracy. This in some cases is measured in hundreds of an inch. My STW (the chronic problem child) prefers flat base. I am attempting to convince it to like the 168 LRAB, for hunting but testing has been stopped since October. I really want to launch that bullet at about 3200 or so, which would give me a significant ballistic edge over the 300 WM. just an old man"s rambling.

Man, I knew I should have just taken that STW home with me... Once I get it sorted out, I'll bring it back, maybe? :lol:

I am betting the 168ABLR's will shoot a little better when you give them a little more jump into the rifling. There is no accounting for how much, but both of mine have liked a bunch and then they started to turn real decent.

 

[kraky]

I'm gonna give another vote to flat base bullets as being "generally" a bit more accurate for me.
If I have a fussy gun it usually seems it settles on a flat based bullet as its fav load too.
Can't say why..perhaps more wt concentrated in the barrels rifling?
I remember alot of gun articles in the old days where they threw in testing of a round nose bullet and shockingly they almost always rate at or near the top...at least at closer yardage.

 

[Guy Miner]

CL - both are used in competition where accuracy requirements are high.


100 - 300 yd benchrest probably has the highest accuracy demands, and many of those competitors choose custom made flat base bullets. Often light for caliber too.

Long-range, 600 - 1000 yards, is a different story, and this is where the Sierra Match King, the Nosler Custom Competition, Hornady's A-Max, and the Berger VLD have made their reputations for serious long-range accuracy. Each has done well.

NRA "across-the-course" competition, 200, 300, 600 yards - almost exclusively boat tail bullets are preferred. Sierra used to own that market, but Nosler has made big inroads.

When it comes to absolute accuracy, as in 100 - 300 yd benchrest, it appears that flat base bullets are favored. When it comes to longer ranges though, the waters muddy. Somewhere out there, the affects of wind drift become more and more important, eventually favoring the sleeker, boat tail bullet.

I've had very few rifles that would not shoot at least reasonably well with either. Now and again a rifle will seem to shoot better with a flat-base bullet, and that's what I'll feed it.

Not sure that one can simply say that "__________________ base" bullets are generally more accurate. It's more complex than that.

Regards, Guy

 

[Silent Sam]

My hunting rifle experience is that I'll probably have better results loading flat base bullets if the rifle is finicky at all.

 

[Polaris]

Comparing Sierra or Nosler match bullets to flat based hunting bullets is apples to oranges. The match bullets are made to tighter tolerances than even the best flat based hunting bullets, which lends itself to tighter groups.

I have found flat based bullets to be more forgiving. I have a .280 rem that is a bit finicky. Takes quite a bit of trial and error to find a good load with a boat tail hunting bullet, but EVERY flat based load I've tried has been at least acceptable.

I guess shoot what your rifle likes and your requirements demand.

 

[Guy Miner]

I guess shoot what your rifle likes and your requirements demand.

Perzacktly! :grin:

 

[Oldtrader3]

Flat based bullets shot better in many of my older rifles until the past few years. I have shot Nosler Partitions in many of my rifles over the past 50 years and they normally have a flat base or a slight bevel at the base. One reason that I stayed with the flat based bullets for so long is for performance on game and eliminating shed cores which can be a problem with non-bonded boat tail bullets.

Improvements in boat tail bullets in the past ten years or so has mitigated this preference somewhat now and I use Accubonds or Ballistic Tips in several rifles.

 

[barge]

One thing to account for is flat base is shorter there for needs less twist.. I think we do not always take into account twist needs are greatly influenced by length of the bullet regardless of composition or design..

 

[Larry in SD]

To add something to the mix I have a question instead of a comment. I have often heard that boat tail bullets produce more copper fouling than do flat base bullets. If I remember correctly the theory was that the burning gases are pushed outward away from the base of the bullet as it travels down the bore.

I have no idea if the above is fact of fiction but it is something I read many years ago and always wondered about. I've always felt the roughness of smoothness of the individual bore had more to do with fouling that the shape of the base of the bullet.

Larry

 

[DrMike]

That is new to me, Larry. I have difficulty envisioning why such a concept would even be advanced. The bearing surface is more than sufficient to seal the gases behind the bullet; and depending on the thickness of the jacket, the bearing surface may be slightly elongated on some boattail bullets making for a tighter seal.

 

[Larry in SD]

DrMike it never made sense to me either. I wish I still had the article I read it in. If I remember right the author was trying to say that the shape of the boat tail would push the melting copper out into the rifling. Like I said that was a long time ago and I guess I load way more boat tail bullets these days than I do flat base.

Larry

 

[BeeTee]

Barrel quality has an affect on bullet choice too. Flat base bullets spin more accurately as they travel down a less than perfect bore because of a FB bullet's longer bore diameter length compared to a boat-tail bullet. This is why woodworking block planes are long. Top quality precision-made barrels should be less picky.

 

[Sas874runner]

I do believe mostfif not all flat base bullets are cup and core as well.