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Why is it called a "Boattail"?

HappyHellfire

Silver $$ Contributor
Hi, I'm Dr. John Stutz and I teach ballistics to engineers and scientists. I also have a new bullet design (AerospikeBullets.com).

The boattail bullet design was by all accounts an accident. At the turn of the 20th century, the mass production of bullets began. Spitzer bullets were the first to put a chamfer on the base of the bullet to make it easier for a machine to put the bullet into the case around 1901. During WW1, the accuracy of the boattail became apparent during the sniper battles across the trenches.

There have been multiple studies using computer simulations and live fire testing to find the optimal angle and length of a good boattail. The results depend upon the muzzle velocity and the shape of the nose or ogive of the bullet. This subject became important to me while I was developing the Aerospike base to replace the boattail. One thing my studies never dug up was the name. Why is it called a boattail?
 
Your saying your bullets are going to replace boattail bullets? Seems like a complex solution to something that's not a problem.
I think they eventually will. Or maybe I just hope they will. About 50% of rifle bullet drag is due to the base flow problems. About 120 years of study has gone into the nose design but I'm the first knucklehead to attack the base flow with math.

Less drag means a flatter trajectory (less drop) and less wind error. IT also extends the effective range of the weapon. I estimate that I could extend the effective range of the M4 out to over 500m with a aerospike tail.
 
Looks like a MOVING component. I want less moving parts myself. Anytime something moves it could fail. Good luck with your design.
 
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Looks like a MOVING component. I want less moving parts myself. Anytime something moves it could fail. Good luck with your design.
Nope, no moving parts. Just a weird little curved shape in the back. I'm still using full powder loads and regular reloading gear.
 
I think they eventually will. Or maybe I just hope they will. About 50% of rifle bullet drag is due to the base flow problems. About 120 years of study has gone into the nose design but I'm the first knucklehead to attack the base flow with math.

Less drag means a flatter trajectory (less drop) and less wind error. IT also extends the effective range of the weapon. I estimate that I could extend the effective range of the M4 out to over 500m with a aerospike tail.
Playing the devils advocate here…

Accuracy is the name of the game, not distance of trajectory. And unfortunately, regardless of boat tail design, I just don’t see how an all copper bullet will ever outshoot a good match grade lead core bullet at long range. Many have tried and failed. So unless you can figure out how to stuff some lead or other heavy metal in the aerospike bullets to give them good rotating mass at the axis, you might be fighting and uphill battle both ways to get in the game at this point.
 
There are other considerations that are more important than BC. First among them is accuracy. Looking on your website, it looks to me like your design is a bit shy on shank length. It will be interesting to see how they do in competition.
That is why I'm trolling this forum. I think there is a great amount of experience here. If I can get y'all shooting these then I can use the feedback to optimize them.
 
Playing the devils advocate here…

Accuracy is the name of the game, not distance of trajectory. And unfortunately, regardless of boat tail design, I just don’t see how an all copper bullet will ever outshoot a good match grade lead core bullet at long range. Many have tried and failed. So unless you can figure out how to stuff some lead or other heavy metal in the aerospike bullets to give them good rotating mass at the axis, you might be fighting and uphill battle both ways to get in the game at this point.
You are right about comparing copper and lead core. I hope to buy the swaging machines in two years and start with them but until then the solid copper are just so much easier to get out of the gate with. There is also several states that require lead free bullets that I might be able to fill the gap until then.
 
You are right about comparing copper and lead core. I hope to buy the swaging machines in two years and start with them but until then the solid copper are just so much easier to get out of the gate with. There is also several states that require lead free bullets that I might be able to fill the gap until then.
Yeah good point on states with lead restrictions.

Do you have any pictures of targets from testing your bullets at long range?
 
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The bullets were named after the cars of the time?
I love how you ask questions then answer your own question. I went to your site for shits and giggles, do you think that a $1.10 bullet is competitive?? Good luck with the sale. How many have you sold already? Where is the head to head testing results and/or testimonials??
Dave
 

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