boat tail vs flat base for accuracy

[perazzisc3]

which of these bullet designs may be more accurate in a .223 bolt rifle??

 

[ksthomas]

Flat base bullets generally have an edge, especially in barrels that are less than perfect. That is, tight spots and loose spots. Realistically, I seriously doubt you'd be able to tell any difference in the inherent accuracy between these two styles in the vast majority of rifles out there. What you're more likely to find, is that your rifle has a preference for one or the other. If that turns out to be the case, that's the one to use in that rifle.

 

[perazzisc3]

Flat base bullets generally have an edge, especially in barrels that are less than perfect. That is, tight spots and loose spots. Realistically, I seriously doubt you'd be able to tell any difference in the inherent accuracy between these two styles in the vast majority of rifles out there. What you're more likely to find, is that your rifle has a preference for one or the other. If that turns out to be the case, that's the one to use in that rifle.

Your point makes sense but now you have added more variables and more work for me in finding my accuracy load
thanks for the intel.

 

[capreppy]

Bench rest shooters swear by FB bullets for under 300. With that being said, I'm not a bench rest shooter and shoot bullets that I can easily find (at least before this frenzy, I could find the Hornady 50gr Z-Max easily enough and was reasonably priced at $60/500 from most places). I was able to shoot sub 1/2 MOA doing basic load development. I could probably tweak it more and probably get 1/4 MOA, but for my purposes, sub 1/2 MOA is more than enough accuracy.

I have heavier BT bullets for longer distances. I'm sure there are FB heavy for caliber bullets, but the BT are easier for me to find.

 

[roggom]

The boat tail generally have a higher BC, but I find the flat base are easier to find an accuracy node, especially if you are using domestic, surplus, or even mixed headstamp brass. My 223 is 1:12 so a majority of shooting is done with 55 gr bullets closer than 500 yards. If you put enough work into it, the 52 SMK is one nice bullet out of a 1:12. If your rifle has a faster twist rate, i really cant comment .

 

[Deadshot2]

There are places for both. BR shooters prefer the FB because it gives them more case capacity when the pressure ring is just above the shoulder/Neck junction. No "boat tail" protruding into the case thus reducing powder capacity.

Boat Tail bullets are almost a necessity for long to extremely long ranges. They'll fly supersonic farther than most FB's. As always, there can be exceptions but more often than not it's the BT that is the choice for LR shooting. At point blank ranges (less than 300 yards) it's a matter of choice.