bullet shape

youngun · September 10, 2002, 02:07 AM

Why would you NOT want a boattail?
Obviously there's a reason, b/c they aren't all boattails.
I understand the BT increases BC, downrange performance; does it sacrifice something uprange?

youngun

Dogjaw · September 10, 2002, 05:55 AM

Youngun!
I seem to be following you around the board

. I just happen to have the Sept. 2002 issue of Shooting Times Magazine which talks about "shooting roundnose, spitzer, and boattail hunting bullets for drop". The author used a 30.06 (because of it's popularity) in an acutal test. He used a rifle with a 26 inch barrel and zeroed each load at 100 yards. He then shot at 300 yards to compare drop. He matched velocities between bullets to be nearly the same in each weight class.

From personal experience, boattails have less contact surface area in the barrel. They may shoot better or worse in any paticular rifle. I have one rifle that loves them, and another that doesn't. Out to 300 yards, it doesn't seem to make too much difference. They do get more money for them though.

Speer 150 gr. roundnose 11.0" drop
Hornady 150 gr SPT 11.0" drop
Hornady 150 gr SPT-BT 9.0" drop

Hornady 180 gr roundnose 15.0" drop
Nosler 180 gr SPT Partition 11.0" drop
Speer 180 gr SPT-BT 12.5" drop

Hornady 220 gr roundnose 21.0" drop
Sierra 220 gr HP-BT MatchKing 20.0" drop

dakotasin · September 10, 2002, 06:38 AM

boat tail bullets tend to lose their cores easier upon impact at close range (fragmentation). flat base bullets also tend to be easier to get accuracy from at close range (200 yards and closer).

when getting a rifle ready for a hunt, that is something that must be considered. because the terrain i hunt is conducive to long range shooting, i prefer boat tails. when i set a rifle up that i expect closer shots (woods), i usually go w/ a flat base.

Art Eatman · September 10, 2002, 08:50 AM

Sure, the boat-tail will shoot a bit flatter. I've used them a lot for that very reason. However, if I didn't hunt in country where extreme-range shots were reasonably likely, I wouldn't bother.

What I think is more important is to get "all married up" to a pet rifle and a pet load and learn the performance out to whatever you think your longest shot is likely to be. Since few shots are beyond 300, worrying about a boat-tail is like picking fly-specks out of pepper. Find the cheapest flat-base that is most accurate, and shoot it a lot.

, Art

youngun · September 11, 2002, 01:25 AM

Great.
Thanks all.
300 yds is a looong way for this boy.
Glad to know I don't need to spend the money.

youngun

September 10, 2002, 02:07 AM	#1
youngun Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2001 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 324	bullet shape Why would you NOT want a boattail? Obviously there's a reason, b/c they aren't all boattails. I understand the BT increases BC, downrange performance; does it sacrifice something uprange? youngun __________________ New firing pin: $12. New extractor: $15. Ballistic fingerprinting: worthless.

September 10, 2002, 05:55 AM	#2
Dogjaw Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2001 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 560	Youngun! I seem to be following you around the board . I just happen to have the Sept. 2002 issue of Shooting Times Magazine which talks about "shooting roundnose, spitzer, and boattail hunting bullets for drop". The author used a 30.06 (because of it's popularity) in an acutal test. He used a rifle with a 26 inch barrel and zeroed each load at 100 yards. He then shot at 300 yards to compare drop. He matched velocities between bullets to be nearly the same in each weight class. From personal experience, boattails have less contact surface area in the barrel. They may shoot better or worse in any paticular rifle. I have one rifle that loves them, and another that doesn't. Out to 300 yards, it doesn't seem to make too much difference. They do get more money for them though. Speer 150 gr. roundnose 11.0" drop Hornady 150 gr SPT 11.0" drop Hornady 150 gr SPT-BT 9.0" drop Hornady 180 gr roundnose 15.0" drop Nosler 180 gr SPT Partition 11.0" drop Speer 180 gr SPT-BT 12.5" drop Hornady 220 gr roundnose 21.0" drop Sierra 220 gr HP-BT MatchKing 20.0" drop __________________ There are three kinds of men: 1) The ones that learn by reading. 2) The few who learn by observation. 3) The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves..........

September 10, 2002, 06:38 AM	#3
dakotasin Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2002 Location: south dakota, U.S.A. Posts: 136	boat tail bullets tend to lose their cores easier upon impact at close range (fragmentation). flat base bullets also tend to be easier to get accuracy from at close range (200 yards and closer). when getting a rifle ready for a hunt, that is something that must be considered. because the terrain i hunt is conducive to long range shooting, i prefer boat tails. when i set a rifle up that i expect closer shots (woods), i usually go w/ a flat base. __________________ Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It is much more important than that.

September 11, 2002, 01:25 AM	#5
youngun Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2001 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 324	Great. Thanks all. 300 yds is a looong way for this boy. Glad to know I don't need to spend the money. youngun __________________ New firing pin: $12. New extractor: $15. Ballistic fingerprinting: worthless.

September 10, 2002, 08:50 AM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Sure, the boat-tail will shoot a bit flatter. I've used them a lot for that very reason. However, if I didn't hunt in country where extreme-range shots were reasonably likely, I wouldn't bother. What I think is more important is to get "all married up" to a pet rifle and a pet load and learn the performance out to whatever you think your longest shot is likely to be. Since few shots are beyond 300, worrying about a boat-tail is like picking fly-specks out of pepper. Find the cheapest flat-base that is most accurate, and shoot it a lot. , Art