Flat base Vs. Boat tail

[jmad_81]

Have you ever had a gun that preffered one over the other?

My 338 WM will shoot the 225 TSX under an inch pretty easy. I can't for the life of me get it to do that with the 225 AB, or SST. I'm going to try some 225 PT that I have sitting on my bench to test this theory a bit more, but I was just wondering if anybody else has saw this with any of their rifles.

Thanks.

 

[DrMike]

Flat base bullets have a less complex design than the boat tail bullets. There is really no significant difference in trajectory until you have reached out quite a ways. Given the option, I usually opt for a flat base bullets. Then, again, virtually all my shots are under four hundred yards.

 

[Kodiak]

I came in likin' FB bullets and I guess I'll go out that way .Although I have used the ABs in a 257 Wby and see no difference in them and older FB bullets I also use.


Jim

 

[jmad_81]

Flat base bullets have a less complex design than the boat tail bullets. There is really no significant difference in trajectory until you have reached out quite a ways. Given the option, I usually opt for a flat base bullets. Then, again, virtually all my shots are under four hundred yards.

I'm not really to worried about the long range impacts of a slightly worse BC on this particular rifle. 500 yards is about as far as it will ever be shot. At 500 yards, your right, most 225 bullets out of a 338 WM a very close in numbers. I just want it to go where I tell it every time.

 

[DrMike]

Because there are fewer angles on a flat base bullet, it is easier to control the variables. For all practical purposes, this translates out to a potentially more accurate bullet. The boat tail bullet gains the advantage beyond about 450 yards or so, depending on velocity.

 

[338winmag]

Been there as well..

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16770

--- it really was the powder and slow the bullet down a bit. I fine tuned this just a tad with an additional .004 off the lands to make it .034. I have tested and retested and retested 4 different range times. I can shoot a consistent 3/4" or less 3 shot group off a bench rest at ---> yup.. 200 yards.. ..and the fun thing is I have had fellow shooter witnesses to validate it each time.

I will only use NABs now!!!

Try the 4831sc and slow your round down a bit.
Have fun.

 

[jmad_81]

I might have to try that. I have tried RL-19, H4350, IMR 4350, and Ramshot Hunter. The Hunter showed the most promise with the 225 AB.

Dr. Mike, just ran some numbers, a 225 AB going 2675, has the same numbers @ 500 yards as a 225 PT going 2850 at the muzzle. Bit more of a difference than I thought! Both are considerably better than the 225 TSX @ 2850 that my gun shoots now.

 

[338winmag]

I tried those and also IMR 4831 and for the silly fun of it, also RL22. Always had a flier.
The H4831sc was magic for my rifle. Hope it works for you.

 

[JD338]

I agree with DrMike, you will not see much difference with a boat tail until you get out to the 1/4 mile mark.
I have never messed with the VLD offerings. In my experience, if the rifle won't shoot a Nosler BT, there is a problem with the rifle.

JD338

 

[Elkman]

Most of my rifles don't care, however my 308 does not like boattails of any kind. I am curently relieving the barrel and will hopefully glas the recoil lug area by end of the day. It shot OK before but was picky perhaps free floating and bedding will help that. !

 

[R Flowers]

It may not be so simple as flat based vs boat tail. There could well be other factors envolved.

I am on my second 25-06 barrel that clearly prefers flat base over boat tail bullets, but for the most part it is not that simple.

The most accurate 338 caliber bullet I have ever tried is the Sierra 250 grain Game King (boat tail). I have had two 338 Win Mags and they both shot that bullet VERY accurately.

I am not at all surpised to hear the 225 AccuBond did not shoot well for you. When they first came out I just had to try them. I shot them in two 338 Win Mags, and two 340 Weatherby's all of them shot quite poorly-pitifull in fact. Then on a lark I tried them in a 338 Remington Ultra Mag and it repeatedly shot groups well under a half inch. Go figure.

You just have to find what YOUR gun likes. The 225 grain Partition has always shot well for me and works well on everything from wild hogs to 6x6 bull elk.

For an interesting test, you might want to try the 200 grain AccuBond. I have not shot it, but found the now discontinued 200 grain Ballistic Tip to shoot really great and it puts wild hogs down like you cannot believe. (These, of course, are boat tails) I have a stash of these, but cannot shoot them anymore in this part of California; just bought some 210 grain TSX bullets to try.

Keep trying other stuff, you will find a winner.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Some rifles do not like boatail bullets and will not stabilize them as well. I have had several rifles that would not shoot boatail bullets and did fine with flatbase. I think that bearing surface length and relationship to polar moment of inertia location have something to do with it. I also am aware that rifle throat condition can affect using boatails more than flatbased bullets.

 

[Kodiak]

and relationship to polar moment of inertia location

Yeah, WHAT ????????????? Huh ?????

Ya lost me in there somewhere, but thats OK :lol:

Jim

 

[tecumseh]

My 300 WSM Shoots a flat base better than a boat tail. I tried a couple different boat tails that were mediocre at best, it did great with speer grand slam's, sierra pro huters and the hornady 180gr interlock sp shot the best out of the three and is my goto bullet for now. I may try the partitions at some point.

My 280 rem on the other hand shoots boat tails better than a flat based bullet.

 

[Elkman]

My win mag shoots almost any bullet with pretty good accuracy. But the 180 gr. Seirra BT goes in under a dime when I am doing my part. The nosler 180 PT is in about an inch. The STW likes the 162 Hornady PSP (which I have a limited supply) the Nosler 160 AB, 160 TSX and the 175 PT, it seems to prefer longer bullets.

 

[DrMike]

All goes to prove that while we may make some generalizations, each rifle has its own individual characteristics. The generalizations do permit us to make some informed choices when we are first starting to look for a load.

 

[35 Whelen]

Here you go its simple math........................

 

[Oldtrader3]

Thanks for the diagram. I am too old and lazy to dig it out.

 

[Hamour]

Some of my Garands like flat based bullets, some like BT's. I do not know why but feed them what they like.

 

[Win_94]

I've never found a bullet that my firearms didn't like.

What I've heard is that if your crown is a bit flawed, a boat-tail will push on the boat-tail surface with the expelled gasses unevenly. Whereas a flat based bullet does not have a surface for the expelling gasses to have leverage against, creating the deviation.

It sounds reasonable.