searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
There is quite a bit of practical explanation of the differences in boat-tail vs. flat base designs from folks involved in the commercial manufacture as well. I remember long ago reading in reloading manuals of the merits of flat-based bullet design due to the base of the bullet leaving the muzzle "square". The same defects in the base or taper of a bullet of either design will create inaccuracy - just as a defect in the crown does - and in much the same manner. I know I read something more "recently" on this subject so I just looked back on where I thought it was. Bryan Litz (I presume) wrote about the benefit of the flat-base on page 103 in the Berger loading manual and in much more detail in his book "Applied Ballistics For Long Range shooting", specifically on page 255. To not cite the page in entirety (which is worth reading if you have the book), a summary is stated as "over short range, the ballistic performance advantage of a boat tail is not enough to make up for it being less inherently precise". Granted, a well made boat tail will outperform a poorly made flat base but Bryan reviews the reasons why the assumed average boat tail will be inferior. Interesting and not surprising.
