What distance to use Boattail?

[HuntPA]

What distance would a boat tail spitzer profile out perform a flat base profile? (300 win mag nosler partition category) from muzzle to 1200 yards.

 

[3Sigma]

When the BC difference means the difference in wind deflection is greater than the precision of your system (rifle, ammo, shooter combined).

Otherwise too many unknowns and assumptions to matter.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Plug the both bullet numbers into a ballistic calculator and compare the results with 0 wind
and then again with 10MPH cross wind. Homework due Friday, and dont tell me the dog ate it.

 

[HuntPA]

Excellent

 

[HuntPA]

When the BC difference means the difference in wind deflection is greater than the precision of your system (rifle, ammo, shooter combined).

Otherwise too many unknowns and assumptions to matter.

Generally - is the boattail intended to solely increase BC?

 

[HuntPA]

Plug the both bullet numbers into a ballistic calculator and compare the results with 0 wind
and then again with 10MPH cross wind. Homework due Friday, and dont tell me the dog ate it.

Similar question - is the boattail solely intended to minimize deflection due to wind?

 

[HuntPA]

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Boattail vs. Flat-Base Bullets

Contributor Philip Massaro takes a look at how boattail and flat-base bullets perform at common hunting ranges in terms of both trajectory and wind deflection.

www.americanhunter.org

This article may agree with your responses. I.E. beyond 500 yards the accubond vs the partition differences become measurable enough to miss kill zone.


However, I must not be asking the question correctly.

 

[swd]

Generally - is the boattail intended to solely increase BC?

Yes that’s all it’s for. The increase in BC reduces drop and wind drift.

 

[3Sigma]

First, I'm not a projectile designer by trade. I understand supersonic aerodynamics better than many, but terminal ballistics are not my forte.

At the basic level, the boat tail reduces aerodynamic drag, thus improving BC and reducing wind deflection.

Nothing is free, and the cost is reduced stability and increased sensitivity to aerodynamic jump and transonic flight instability.

In other words, flat base are easier to shoot small at shorter distance which is why SR BR uses them. When you have wind deflection that is greater than what your rifle shoots it can matter. For example, if you can shoot 1 moa groups with a boat tail, and .75 with a flat base, there will be a distance for your rifle where the better BC wins out. That is specific to your rifle and loading, as well as the bullets used.

 

[LCazador]

80 % of shooter's, target or hunting shooters are using boat tails, from zero to 1000 yads!! Me too!!

 

[HuntPA]

First, I'm not a projectile designer by trade. I understand supersonic aerodynamics better than many, but terminal ballistics are not my forte.

At the basic level, the boat tail reduces aerodynamic drag, thus improving BC and reducing wind deflection.

Nothing is free, and the cost is reduced stability and increased sensitivity to aerodynamic jump and transonic flight instability.

In other words, flat base are easier to shoot small at shorter distance which is why SR BR uses them. When you have wind deflection that is greater than what your rifle shoots it can matter. For example, if you can shoot 1 moa groups with a boat tail, and .75 with a flat base, there will be a distance for your rifle where the better BC wins out. That is specific to your rifle and loading, as well as the bullets

I follow you - and thank you. I am about to invest in a BC truing technique out to 1200 yards with the nosler partition. Just curious if this is starting off on the wrong foot since its flat based - they clover at 100 nicely- and at the time of barrel break in and ladder testing only partitions and hotcors were available.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

We use bt bullets in short range br for a reason. Its not just stylish.

 

[Scrumbag]

I like boat tails because they are easier to seat and less likely to get a mistake which damages your case neck

 

[Fuj]

Then there is the rebated boat tail. but we'll save that tale
for another day.

 

[CharlieNC]

Also the hunting bullet terminal ballistic performance is designed to operate within a certain impact velocity range. Too fast may risk exterior fragmentation, while too slow can result in unexpanded pass through; both situations wounding but enabling escape. Another factor to consider.

 

[effendude]

I tested a 6.5-284 rifle and ammo in preparation for a moose hunt in Alaska a few years ago. My intended rifle I had built for the trip took a bad turn a month before the trip but that's another story. In testing the 142 gr Partition on target against the Berger 140gr VLD, I had virtually the same point of impact out to 600 yards. As good as I could hold and shoot a very accurate rifle, but with a hunting bi-pod and a 5.5-22X NF scope. Groups under good conditions landed within one MOA of each other. I had a sheep, grizzly, moose and (5) wolf tags on the trip. I planned on using the VLD's for sheep and wolves as I had the year prior and the partitions for moose and a bear if we ran across one.

Ballistic programs are good, but test with your rifle and load, you might be surprised at the results.
Good Luck,
Scott

 

[FeMan]

I assume you are talking for hunting. For "minute of meat" I don't worry about the BC much until after 600 yards. After that, it starts to make a difference in wind drift quickly.

 

[DirtySteve]

Why would some one not want to take an advantage from the instant to bullet leaves the barrel until it hits it's intended target regardless of the distance being shot...?

 

[darkangel_r2]

Practically It depends on your ability to read the wind and measure range. If you can make 100% perfect wind and range calls theoretically the projectile that groups the tightest and stays about 1.3x speed of sound at the max range is the one you should go with.

The worse you are at reading wind changes the higher BC bullets benefit you more. When the resolution of your wind calling ability is larger than the accuracy benefit of the flat base projectile that's when you should theoretically switch.

 

[David Milisock]

Why would some one not want to take an advantage from the instant to bullet leaves the barrel until it hits it's intended target regardless of the distance being shot...?

There was some argument years ago about the boat tail separating the core easier with high energy hits. I'm not sure how that plays out today but in any case in close avoid heavy bone is reasonable with any projectile that's being pushed hard.