flat base or boat tail in 55 gr bullets

rebs · May 25, 2012, 01:30 PM

In 55 grain bullets do you guys find better accuracy with the flat base like the Dogtown bullets or a boat tail bullet ?
I have had great results with the Hornady 55 gr fmjbt and was wondering about the flat base bullets .

4runnerman · May 25, 2012, 02:20 PM

60 gn V-Max for me. I thought i read some place that under 300 yards a boat tail really does not make a difference. It's after 300 yards that it comes into play

Jimro · May 25, 2012, 04:14 PM

At short ranges flat base is usually more accurate. You won't find a benchrester using boat tail bullets until you get beyond 300 meters.

Jimro

**Unclenick** · May 25, 2012, 05:18 PM

Yes. Bryan Litz points out that making a perfectly symmetrical flat base is a lot easier than making a perfectly symmetrical boattail. Also, a boattail of the same weight will usually have a shorter bearing surface, which is more prone to bullet tilt in the bore. Also, the boattail takes longer to clear the muzzle, offering it more opportunity to be made to yaw by muzzle blast. The blast tends to deflect perpendicularly off a square base, where the angular blast along moves partially over the sides of the bullet which can introduce still more yaw when the normal coning motion that eventually corrects the bullet from being coaxial with the bore over to the yaw of repose begins. This is what the rebated boattail in the Lapua Scenar D46 design is supposed to prevent.

The advantage of a boattail is it reduces drag up to about 15%. That typically becomes a significant improvement only at longer ranges.

rebs · May 25, 2012, 07:51 PM

Thank you for the replies. What bullet do you guys recommend in a flat base 55 grain weight ?

Is anyone using the dog town bullets from Midway USA ?

old roper · May 25, 2012, 09:15 PM

Rebs, I shoot FB bullets in all my 22 cal varmint rifles including my 22BR.

I just had a 222mag build and I'm shooting the Dogtown 55gr bullet in that rifle also in a 222AI and I've been shooting some of Midsouth bullets http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...from-midsouth/.

DeadCenter · May 25, 2012, 09:32 PM

I use the 55gr Dogtowns and have not found anything as accurate at 100-200 yards in my .223. The 53gr V-Max are close and I'm sure will will do better down field. I believe at 300 yards with the same muzzle velocity the 55gr dogtowns will have around 500 ft/pds of energy and the 53gr v-max are around 700 if I remember right.

rebs · May 26, 2012, 06:47 AM

thanks for the replies, I am going to give the dog towns a try and also the midsouth bullets. That sure is a good price from Midsouth

May 25, 2012, 01:30 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	flat base or boat tail in 55 gr bullets In 55 grain bullets do you guys find better accuracy with the flat base like the Dogtown bullets or a boat tail bullet ? I have had great results with the Hornady 55 gr fmjbt and was wondering about the flat base bullets .

May 25, 2012, 02:20 PM	#2
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	60 gn V-Max for me. I thought i read some place that under 300 yards a boat tail really does not make a difference. It's after 300 yards that it comes into play __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

May 25, 2012, 04:14 PM	#3
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	At short ranges flat base is usually more accurate. You won't find a benchrester using boat tail bullets until you get beyond 300 meters. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

May 25, 2012, 05:18 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Yes. Bryan Litz points out that making a perfectly symmetrical flat base is a lot easier than making a perfectly symmetrical boattail. Also, a boattail of the same weight will usually have a shorter bearing surface, which is more prone to bullet tilt in the bore. Also, the boattail takes longer to clear the muzzle, offering it more opportunity to be made to yaw by muzzle blast. The blast tends to deflect perpendicularly off a square base, where the angular blast along moves partially over the sides of the bullet which can introduce still more yaw when the normal coning motion that eventually corrects the bullet from being coaxial with the bore over to the yaw of repose begins. This is what the rebated boattail in the Lapua Scenar D46 design is supposed to prevent. The advantage of a boattail is it reduces drag up to about 15%. That typically becomes a significant improvement only at longer ranges. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 25, 2012, 09:15 PM	#6
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	Rebs, I shoot FB bullets in all my 22 cal varmint rifles including my 22BR. I just had a 222mag build and I'm shooting the Dogtown 55gr bullet in that rifle also in a 222AI and I've been shooting some of Midsouth bullets http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...from-midsouth/. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

May 25, 2012, 07:51 PM	#5
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Thank you for the replies. What bullet do you guys recommend in a flat base 55 grain weight ? Is anyone using the dog town bullets from Midway USA ?

May 25, 2012, 09:32 PM	#7
DeadCenter Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2006 Posts: 105	I use the 55gr Dogtowns and have not found anything as accurate at 100-200 yards in my .223. The 53gr V-Max are close and I'm sure will will do better down field. I believe at 300 yards with the same muzzle velocity the 55gr dogtowns will have around 500 ft/pds of energy and the 53gr v-max are around 700 if I remember right.

May 26, 2012, 06:47 AM	#8
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	thanks for the replies, I am going to give the dog towns a try and also the midsouth bullets. That sure is a good price from Midsouth