Which is more accurate? Boat Tail or Flat base?
- Thread starter privateer
- Start date
I think that the flatbase bullets are a little more accurate at short ranges. I believe that they stabilizes quicker than the boatails.
The boatail bullets have less drag when moving through the air and maintain velocity at longer distance. This allowing them to shoot flater and stay stabilized longer.
The boatail bullets have less drag when moving through the air and maintain velocity at longer distance. This allowing them to shoot flater and stay stabilized longer.
The biggest advantage of the boatail is at long range. I was told many years ago that when you start with a new barrel, use a flat base bullet to see what it may do. Now days with the very good barrels and bullets, brass, ect., good equipment will shoot. Boatails reduce the base drag which is seen at longer ranges with less wind drift.
Like the others have said it takes the boattail bullet a little longer (range) to settle down (stabilize) so......... general rule of tumb 300yds and under = flat base. Over 300 yds = Boattail bullets. This will also depend on the type of shooting you intend to do. Hunting, competition, benchrest?
Good shooting, Jim
Good shooting, Jim
The 300 yard "transition" to boatail bullets has been confirmed by Kevin Thomas, formerly w/ Sierra for 20 yrs., now with Lapua. Not saying there isn't some "crossover", but I do generally use FB for 200 yd. & less, a mixture of FB & BT to 400, and nothing but BT beyond 400. Works for me. 
Many of the views on this issue go back to the days when boat-tail bullets simply couldn't be made as consistently well as flat base designs, thanks to the extra steps involved and difficulty in forming the rear ends without adding in distortions. Such views remain fuelled by observations that the really precise hand-made .22 and 6mm etc bullets used in short-range benchrest are all flat-base.
The manufacturers say they can make BT designs as well as FBs now and the quality isn't an issue any more. Certainly seems to be true given the univeral use of BT bullets in 600 and 1,000yd BR and the tiny groups that are shot. The 100/200yd BR bullets are all still FB because they don't need boat-tails at those ranges, but more to the point, it's almost impossible for the small workshop hand-made bullet supplier to make BT designs with the exception of the stepped-base or rebated boattail form, even if the customers wanted them.
The issue of BT bullets needing longer to settle down in flight is a bit contentious with a lot of bullet makers disputing the assertion. I reckon it happens sometimes beyond 100yd, but not always, and is more of a VLD type bullet issue than with the more traditional shorter bullet / tangent ogive designs. But this is a purely personal feeling, no science involved at all FWIW!
Laurie,
York, England
The manufacturers say they can make BT designs as well as FBs now and the quality isn't an issue any more. Certainly seems to be true given the univeral use of BT bullets in 600 and 1,000yd BR and the tiny groups that are shot. The 100/200yd BR bullets are all still FB because they don't need boat-tails at those ranges, but more to the point, it's almost impossible for the small workshop hand-made bullet supplier to make BT designs with the exception of the stepped-base or rebated boattail form, even if the customers wanted them.
The issue of BT bullets needing longer to settle down in flight is a bit contentious with a lot of bullet makers disputing the assertion. I reckon it happens sometimes beyond 100yd, but not always, and is more of a VLD type bullet issue than with the more traditional shorter bullet / tangent ogive designs. But this is a purely personal feeling, no science involved at all FWIW!
Laurie,
York, England
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