SR Bench: Current Flat Base vs. Boat Tail *Experiences*?

[OldM1Shooter]

First, please know that I have known that "benchrest shooters all shoot flat base bullets" ain't true for several years. Both are in use here in the Southwest Region.

Specifically for 6mmPPC, what are the current experiences? I started with VFS and .30 BR where FB bullets are about all you can find, and have turned in a few 50-5X targets at 100 yards with them. 200 yards, my wind reading sux and the tighter windage dispersion of a BT won't help me there yet.

Every place I can shoot BR is limited to 200 yards, so if I can be competitive with FB bullets in 6PPC that would be great. But since I also didn't know that people were shooting groups in the low .1s and even in the .0XX area before I joined this buncha friendly nuts, I seek learning and enlightenment.

Thoughts and experiences?

Thanks!

 

[SeabeeKen]

For me, i shoot flatbase in my 22 and 6 PPCs because my rifles are 13 & 14 twist and the longer boat tail bullets wont stabilize. Practice reading the wind, its part of the adventure. The constant gusting and direction changes here in the mountains can frustrate ya. Watch for the up and down drafts too

 

[243Lapua]

Flat base for 100 , Boat tail for 200

 

[Schippergreg]

Both are capable of winning 100 and 200yd benchrest matches, but boattails are more common than flat base on the line.

 

[Bronsin]

You can be competitive with either style of bullet. You have to have it well tuned, and keep it in tune all day. FB bullets seem to have a larger window of tune, so that helps. If you shoot primarily club matches, don't even worry about it. BT bullets tune at a higher charge, and are slightly better in the wind, but a well tuned FB will beat the brakes off a BT that isn't.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have always felt flat base bullets are easier to tune in the short range game. In the PPC I have done well with them out to 500 yds.

 

[OldM1Shooter]

Looking at Litz’s 2nd Edition (2012), he says the benefits of boat tails start getting significant below 3,000 fps. Thoughts? Before I start generating 200-yard drift numbers using 6PPC velocities?

 

[JEFFPPC]

Looking at Litz’s 2nd Edition (2012), he says the benefits of boat tails start getting significant below 3,000 fps. Thoughts? Before I start generating 200-yard drift numbers using 6PPC velocities?

Get out of the numbers and get to the range with windflags,you will be way ahead of the game. Devlope a tuning process that works for you. Don't ever forget a lot of people making a living off this game. Keep that in mind and use common sense.

 

[steve210]

Whatever bullet shoots best in your gun will outweigh any ballistic advantage at 100- 200 yds. Period! my opinion only!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Whatever bullet shoots best in your gun will outweigh any ballistic advantage at 100- 200 yds. Period! my opinion only!

^^^THIS^^^