Are boat tail bullets harder to manufacture than flat base?

[Tommie]

Just finished loading a couple hundred .17 Hornet. Those tiny bullets are a pain to get centered in the case mouth while slooowly raising the ram. While it’s doubtful that a boat tail would accomplish much ballistically, it sure would make seating small bullets a bunch easier. I’ve assumed that the flat base design of the commonly found .17 bullets was for cost reasons. But since I nothing about bullet manufacturing, maybe I’ve assumed incorrectly. Thus my question. Anyone know?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

@BartsBullets can shed some lite

 

[RegionRat]

Some of the big OEMs offer bullets that are nearly identical with the biggest difference being they are offered as both flat base and boat tail.

Based on being familiar with many of those in 30 and 22 for over 40 years, I will answer with my own opinion that it is not a significant cost difference. Many of the 22 bullets are within less than 5% of each other and sometimes you even see the flat base costs more. Take a scan of your favorite brands and you will see exactly what the cost difference is.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Here's one writer's take on yhat question plus the effect on the end products

Banging Out Boattails

Which shoots more accurately, a flat-base bullet or a boattail bullet? The answer, and the reason, will surprise you.

www.rifleshootermag.com

Another on manufacturing difficulties for boat tail vs flat base bullets.

Flat Base Or Boattail?

As hunters, we put a lot of thought into the tips of our bullets. Roundnoses, spire points, plastic tips and such are all worried over to ensure that the bullet we’re using is right for the game w…

huntforever.org

 

[jackieschmidt]

I make my own 30 caliber flat base bullets and my own 6mm BT.
The 30 flat base are 112 grn that I use in VFS.
The 6mm are for use in my 6BR at longer ranges.

Now, I have not been making bullets that long, but have definetally taken a crash course in what can go wrong.

From a custom bullet makers perspective, a BT is not more difficult to make, it is just more difficult to get things right.

The biggest problem arises in the core seating operation. You have to arrive at sufficient core seating pressure to insure that the core fills the forming boat tail 100 percent as the boat tail forms in the die. However, you also have to avoid the problems with too much core seating pressure. There seems to be a fine line between just right and too little and too much.

Through my own trial and error, I have pretty much arrived at what I think is right.

I have no idea how the major bullet manufacturers such as Sierra, Hornady, Berger, etc make bullets. Good grief, If I feel anything different about any pressure during any of the operations, I set that bullet aside. This is where the “art”, if you can call it that, of bullet making comes in. I am sure all of the mass produced bullets are machine made. I don’t have a clue how they control the various little things that can crop up when making bullets that are of Benchrest quality.

 

[Tim Singleton]

BT punches are fragile and expensive

 

[jackieschmidt]

BT punches are fragile and expensive

Yes.!!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I make my own 30 caliber flat base bullets and my own 6mm BT.
The 30 flat base are 112 grn that I use in VFS.
The 6mm are for use in my 6BR at longer ranges.

Now, I have not been making bullets that long, but have definetally taken a crash course in what can go wrong.

From a custom bullet makers perspective, a BT is not more difficult to make, it is just more difficult to get things right.

The biggest problem arises in the core seating operation. You have to arrive at sufficient core seating pressure to insure that the core fills the forming boat tail 100 percent as the boat tail forms in the die. However, you also have to avoid the problems with too much core seating pressure. There seems to be a fine line between just right and too little and too much.

Through my own trial and error, I have pretty much arrived at what I think is right.

I have no idea how the major bullet manufacturers such as Sierra, Hornady, Berger, etc make bullets. Good grief, If I feel anything different about any pressure during any of the operations, I set that bullet aside. This is where the “art”, if you can call it that, of bullet making comes in. I am sure all of the mass produced bullets are machine made. I don’t have a clue how they control the various little things that can crop up when making bullets that are of Benchrest quality.

They cant control it so they dont. The customers never know

 

[BartsBullets]

Boattails are more difficult to make for sure. As Tim pointed out, boattail punches are very easy to screw up. You’ve got to move slowly and precisely to make sure you don’t screw up your punch.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Boattails are more difficult to make for sure. As Tim pointed out, boattail punches are very easy to screw up. You’ve got to move slowly and precisely to make sure you don’t screw up your punch.

Bart, despite being very careful one of my point up punches stated getting ragged on that sharp edge.I finally faced about a .020 flat on one of my punches that was starting to flake on that sharp edge. It now produces a small rebate on the boat tail.

The bullets seem to shoot the same.

 

[BartsBullets]

Bart, despite being very careful one of my point up punches stated getting ragged on that sharp edge.I finally faced about a .020 flat on one of my punches that was starting to flake on that sharp edge. It now produces a small rebate on the boat tail.

The bullets seem to shoot the same.

Exactly. Punches are a pain.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Here is a picture of the small rebate on the boat tail.
I know it is cutting back on some BC.

I am thinking of making a punch from S-7 tool steel. The hardening will be critical. I’m thinking something in the 55 RC range.

 

[243winxb]

a pain to get centered in the case mouth

The Lyman type "M" die is made for flat base or cast bullets. It solves the problem.

Some call it a step die.

RCBS build it into pistol expanders, like this 9mm one.

But no M die is available in 17 that i know of? Custom made?

 

[Tommie]

Fellas thanks for all the excellent replies. Certainly learned a bunch.