Boat tail vs flat base bullets?

[Supporter]

Hi,

I'm a soon-to-be reloader gathering some info ahead of time for when I start doing my own hands loads.

Still deciding on some new rifles but expect to have something in the .270 win - 300 win mag range.

Boat tail bullets are obviously popular, but I see major brands like Sierra still do a huge range of flat bottom bullets like their pro-hunters.

I've been told boat tails are more accurate, but obviously if that was all there was too it no one would be making flat base bullets any more...

What does everyone recommend for a novice reloader in terms of bullet base?

[sneaker]

I've been told boat tails are more accurate, but obviously if that was all there was too it no one would be making flat base bullets any more...

Not quite.

Boat tails have less drag, giving them a better ballistic coefficient.

In theory that makes them more accurate over longer distances, but whether or not there is any practical benefit to them depends on how well they shoot in your rifle, how far you're shooting etc.

There is no reason not to start with boat tails, but don't discount flat base bullets. They could shoot great for you.

[Blackened]

As sneaker said - strictly speaking boat tails are not inherently more accurate, they just have a better BC.

One factor which can give flat base bullets an edge is that they have greater bearing surface on the rifling, which can lend itself to increased accuracy.

Try them both. Which ever works best, that's the bullet for you.

[Norton]

It's not unusual for flat-based to be more accurate at modest distances.

Plenty of benchrest shooters using them instead of boat tails for 100-300 metre shooting.

[Vati]

Plenty of benchrest shooters using them instead of boat tails for 100-300 metre shooting.

Sounds about right. Shooting up to 300m is flat-base bullet territory IMO.

[Lorgar]

Definitely don't discount flat-base bullets...

I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye chambered in .308 Winchester.

In my load development for this rifle I tried plenty of boat tails - Nosler Custom Competition, Ballistics Tips & Accubonds, Sierra Game Kings & Match Kings, Berger Hunting VLD's, Hornady SST's and A-Max etc.

From all these the best I could get out of them was about a 2" groups with the Nosler Ballistics tips, and the worst was 6" groups with the Berger Hunting VLD's.

Tried the Sierra Pro-hunters which are flat base, and got clover-leaf groups with them.

I have a photo somewhere of some load groups including the Pro-hunters, I'll dig it up and post back with it.

[Lorgar]

As promised...
Hornady 150gr SST's on the left, Sierra 150gr Pro-hunters (flat base) on the right.

Sierra 150gr Pro-hunters

sierra-150gr-pro-hunters-2.jpg (31.47 KiB) Viewed 5083 times

Both loads are using AR2208. Both groups shot by me, same day, same weather etc.

[Supporter]

Thanks Lorgar, that's great.